India is growing market with a great potential for welding

Ville Vuori, CEO, Kemppi Oy

Kemppi is a pioneer within the welding industry. The company, with a legacy of 70 years, states that its role is to develop solutions so that its customer wins in his business. Headquartered in Lahti, Finland, Kemppi employs over 600 welding experts in 13 countries and has a revenue of over 110 MEUR. Its offerings include welding solutions – intelligent equipment, welding management software and expert services – for both demanding industrial applications and ready-to-weld needs. The company has its Indian arm operating from Chennai, and has a global partner network covering over 60 countries. Kemppi recently set up a Robotic Welding Application Center in Pune with a view to working closely with Indian customers in developing and perfecting welding applications in their production shops. Mr. P.K. Balasubbramaniian spoke to Mr. Ville Vuori, CEO, Kemppi Oy on the sidelines of the inaugural function to ascertain the focus of Kemppi and the significance it attaches to India as a growth market. Excerpts:

Mr.Ville Vuori lights the traditional lamp to inaugurate the new Robotic Welding Application Center of Kemppi at Chinchwad, Pune

Q. The general perception in the industry is that Kemppi is a weld wizard. What precisely is your niche?

Yes, we are known for our knowledge base emanating from our in-depth knowledge of software, extreme R & D focus, and vast experience. When I say vast experience, you must know that we are a technology driven company with a heritage of 70 years and a reputation for reliability, quality and technical excellence. And our niche is in optimizing the arc properties.

Q. What’s your standing today in the welding world?

If what you mean is our market share, we have a market share of 20% in Europe, and 5% globally. Our focus is on quality and not quantity.

Q. You are primarily in welding equipment. What is exciting in your offerings?

I would say our X8 MIG Welder is currently the most exciting offer. This equipment unleashing the enormous potential of IoT, redefines performance, usability and welding management in demanding industrial MIG/MAG applications. It has the best arc characteristics for high speed and aluminum, narrow-gap, root pass, thin sheet and low spatter welding in globular transfer mode. It has precisely controlled, upgradable welding current up to 600A, and can be used for advanced MIG brazing, cladding and heavy-duty gouging as well. Coming to usability, it features fast and easy to change system and welding settings, can adjust and control welding values, and view WPS content. It uses welding guns with ergonomic handle design, and a wire feeder with ultimate user-friendliness. To speak of welding management, the equipment, the equipment has digital WPS feature which obviates printed WPSs. It enables automatic setting of welding parameters based on the WPS. It has connectivity to WeldEye welding management software modules, welding procedure and qualification management, welding quality management and welding production analysis. All in all it is a amazing product from the stable of Kemppi.

Q. How do you make welding a joy?

Our whole stress is on the usability of our equipment. The welder is happy when the equipment is user-friendly. The welding guns are ergonomically designed. It is easy to change the welding settings to adjust and control the welding values. All controls are at his finger tips. The whole process is digitally controlled so as to avoid human error, reduce reworking and enhance productivity. We ensure the health and safety of the welder. All this contributes to make welding a pleasure and a joy!

Q. How rewarding is your spend on R & D?

We are a technology driven company. R & D is an integral part of our continuing development process. We develop new machines, add new features to the existing ones, improve the existing products and processes… We see that we get everything right. Sometimes it takes months, sometimes it takes 5-6 years as well. We have to have patience. We invest almost 8% of our annual sales turnover in R & D. A machine involves not just one discipline. It involves electrical, electronics, mechatronics, power electronics, digital control, actual welding development and many other aspects. We have to get the technical content right. So to answer your question – R & D is inevitable and it is rewarding.

Q. What’s the value addition you give to the Indian customer with the launch of the Robotic Welding Application Center in Pune?

The Indian welding industry is maturing. Welding as such is attaining sophistication. Automation in welding is gaining momentum. In this scenario, Kemppi, as a technology leader, has a lot to offer in terms of cutting edge solutions for robotic and automated arc welding applications. Our Robotic Welding Application Center in Pune has been set up with a view to working closely with our customers in developing and perfecting welding applications in their production shops. Kemppi arc welding process packages are easy to install. We work in tandem with all well-known robot brands. Our solutions can utilize all modern fieldbus protocols for communication between the robot controller and the power source.

Q. How do you look at the Indian market and its growth potential for your business?

India is certainly a growth market and has a great potential for welding and our business. So our focus is on offering the benefit of technology, quality features and proven solutions – just as we do to 70 other countries worldwide.