For Sugatsune, India is a canvas of possibilities: Anil Rana

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For Sugatsune, India is a canvas of possibilities: Anil Rana

For Sugatsune, India is a canvas of possibilities: Anil Rana

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Aug 29,25

In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Anil Rana, MD, Sugatsune India, explains how the company wants to become a trusted partner for Indian industries by deepening collaborations and expanding local capabilities.

For Sugatsune, India is a canvas of possibilities: Anil Rana

Sugatsune, a Japanese brand with a 95-year legacy in precision hardware, has steadily built a strong presence in India over the past decade by blending Japanese engineering excellence with local agility. Its high-performance components are supporting sectors such as machine tools, robotics, aerospace, EVs, and advanced manufacturing, while localisation efforts are helping Indian manufacturers overcome supply chain challenges. In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Anil Rana, Managing Director, Sugatsune India, explains how the company wants to become a trusted partner for Indian industries by deepening collaborations and expanding local capabilities.

Could you briefly outline Sugatsune’s business globally, and how has the company’s journey in India been so far?

Sugatsune is a Japanese brand with a legacy of more than 95 years in designing and manufacturing high-quality industrial component hardware. Globally, we are recognised for our precision engineering, innovative designs, and timeless aesthetics. Our products are widely used across industries such as machine tools, robotics, aerospace, electric mobility, and advanced manufacturing.

In India, our journey over the past decade has been both inspiring and fulfilling. Our mission has been to introduce Japanese quality and design excellence to the Indian market while raising awareness about hardware solutions that combine functionality, durability, and precision. Over the years, we have built strong relationships with OEMs, system integrators, and manufacturing partners, steadily expanding our presence across multiple industrial sectors. The warm and encouraging response we have received reaffirms that India is increasingly ready for premium, reliable, and well-designed hardware solutions.

Sugatsune serves diverse sectors such as transportation, medical devices, and defence. How do you balance Japanese engineering precision with India’s fast-paced and cost-sensitive market?

At Sugatsune, precision is more than engineering — it is a commitment. Our Motion Design Technology ensures that every piece of hardware performs with the same grace and accuracy, whether it is used in medical devices, defence equipment, or high-end transportation systems.

India’s business environment is dynamic and highly price-conscious, and we embrace that challenge by blending our Japanese heritage with local agility. Our in-house design, prototyping, and testing teams work closely with clients to tailor solutions to their specific requirements. At the same time, we maintain a large local inventory to ensure speed of delivery. This balance helps us maintain the global trust our brand commands, while also meeting the realities of the Indian market.

How is Sugatsune supporting the Indian machine tools sector, and how do your solutions help address its challenges?

The machine tools industry thrives on precision, durability, and reliability — values that are central to Sugatsune. Our components, including torque hinges, linear guides, and specialised latching systems, are engineered to perform reliably even in the most demanding industrial environments. They provide exceptional load capacity, ultra-smooth motion, and long-term stability, making them ideal for high-precision machinery.

In India, we do not position ourselves merely as a supplier, but as a partner. We provide customised solutions, rapid prototyping, and local inventory for timely delivery. By combining our Japanese engineering ethos with local technical support, we help manufacturers improve operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and deliver world-class quality within competitive timeframes.

With rapid industrial automation, how do you see the role of precision-engineered components evolving in aerospace, EVs, and robotics?

In today’s fast-evolving sectors like aerospace, electric mobility, and robotics, precision-engineered components have moved from being supportive elements to becoming strategic advantages. At Sugatsune, we design for environments where tolerances are measured in microns. Our torque hinges, for instance, deliver controlled, multi-directional motion with uncompromising stability, making them invaluable in aerospace structures and robotic assemblies where space, weight, and flawless movement are equally critical.

As industries demand components that can endure extreme conditions and integrate seamlessly into intelligent automated systems, we remain committed to delivering solutions that combine Japanese craftsmanship with forward-looking innovation — not just for the next product cycle, but for the next era of engineering.

Global supply chain disruptions have affected the flow of industrial components. How is the Indian manufacturing ecosystem adapting to become more resilient?

The recent supply chain disruptions have been a wake-up call, underlining the importance of agility and self-reliance. In India, I see a decisive shift towards localisation of critical components, supplier diversification, and the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies.

Take the machine tools sector, for instance. Until recently, high-precision hinges or motion-control components were largely imported. Today, manufacturers are partnering with us to create customised, locally available solutions. Sugatsune India has strengthened its domestic inventory and expanded OEM/ODM capabilities, ensuring customers have access to Japanese-quality hardware without long lead times. By combining our engineering ethos with India’s growing capabilities, we are not merely responding to volatility, but actively shaping an ecosystem that is faster, leaner, and better prepared for the future.

With ‘Make in India’ and localisation gaining momentum, what opportunities and challenges do you foresee for the industrial components sector?

‘Make in India’ and localisation present a unique inflection point for the industrial components sector, an opportunity to reimagine India’s place in the global engineering landscape. For decades, many precision components — such as torque hinges for automation lines or linear guides for CNC equipment — were sourced almost exclusively from overseas. Today, that is changing. We are seeing more components being engineered, stocked, and customised within India itself, while meeting world-class standards.

At Sugatsune India, we have strengthened our domestic supply chain by maintaining a ready inventory of critical components, ensuring OEMs and integrators have access to Japanese-quality solutions within days, not months. The real opportunity lies in scaling this model to serve both domestic and export markets. The challenge, however, will be to maintain uncompromising precision and durability as production volumes increase.

How is Sugatsune incorporating smart technology and automation into its product line?

For us, smart technology is not an add-on; it is the natural evolution of engineering. We are integrating intelligence into hardware so that motion is no longer just mechanical, but intuitive, precise, and responsive. For example, our torque hinges and motion-control systems are being enhanced with sensors and automated actuation, enabling real-time adjustments in robotics, medical devices, and advanced manufacturing cells.

Our goal is to create seamless, intelligent components that anticipate operational needs, minimise human intervention, and extend product lifecycles. By blending Japanese craftsmanship with forward-looking automation, we are building solutions that are as refined as they are resilient.

What are Sugatsune’s growth and expansion plans for the Indian market?

For us, India is not just a market; it is a canvas of possibilities. Our growth vision has two key dimensions: deepening our presence in core industrial hubs through stronger OEM collaborations, and broadening our reach into emerging sectors such as clean energy, EV manufacturing, and precision robotics.

We are investing in local inventory hubs, technical training initiatives, and design partnerships to bring Japanese-quality engineering closer to our customers — in both speed and spirit. Our aim is clear: to build Sugatsune India into an agile, indispensable partner aligned with the nation’s ambition of becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse.

4 Blurbs (optional)

‘Make in India’ and localisation present a unique inflection point for the industrial components sector, an opportunity to reimagine India’s place in the global engineering landscape.

In aerospace, EVs, and robotics, precision-engineered components have become strategic advantages, not just supporting elements.

By blending Japanese heritage with Indian agility, Sugatsune delivers world-class precision within cost-sensitive, fast-paced markets.

Localisation is no longer optional — it is the path to resilience, speed, and self-reliance for Indian manufacturing.