Messer Cutting Systems acknowledges growth in the thermal cutting sector despite supply chain challenges. Laser cutting, automation, and digitalisation play crucial roles in industry advancements.

Messer, a leading player in the thermal cutting sector, acknowledges the industry’s growth, which is attributed to sustained demand conditions. Despite facing global supply chain challenges, the manufacturing sector’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) has witnessed a significant increase from 2.8 percent (2015–16) to 21.2 percent (2021–22). The Press Information Bureau (PIB) reports that the Indian economy has risen from the 10th to the 5th largest in the world within the past nine years.

Additionally, the 2023–24 union budget presents immense growth opportunities for industrial sectors, particularly Infrastructure and Investment (Project Saptarishi) and Railways (with a capital outlay of ₹2.40 lakh crore). Messer foresees numerous prospects in infrastructure development and related domains.

Transformation of the Indian Industry in the Last Decade

The industry has transitioned from traditional engineering practices to embracing technological advancements such as process automation, digitalisation, and robotics. Moreover, India has witnessed the emergence of numerous technology-based startups catering to these requirements.

Challenges in the Current Scenario

One of the major hurdles faced by industries is the scarcity and rising cost of skilled manpower. The labour costs for skilled manufacturing personnel are approaching those of the IT industry. To bridge this gap, digitalisation and automation are seen as the way forward to enhance productivity. The government has also initiated programs like Industry 4.0 through SAMARTH (Smart Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Transformation Hubs) and UDYOG Bharat 4.0, which aim to promote technological solutions in the Indian manufacturing sector. However, the re-emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic may introduce disruptions in the supply chain.

Industry Focus

Laser cutting has emerged as the preferred cutting technology due to its exceptional performance and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, the integration of processes like beveling and plasma drilling has enabled a reduction in multiple post-cutting operations. Industries have increasingly adopted automation to boost productivity, streamline material movement, manage inventory, and save time and costs. Similar to the growth trajectory of the mobile phone industry in India, automation is expected to permeate and flourish in every sector of the Indian industry. Process automation and digitalisation will be widely embraced due to the scarcity of skilled manpower.

Preferred Partner

With a rich heritage of 125 years serving the thermal cutting industry worldwide, Messer is recognised as a pioneer and partner of choice. We possess extensive application knowledge, the ability to provide solutions to complex customer problems, innovative products featuring state-of-the-art technology, a robust after-sales support infrastructure, and personalised service support. Our product portfolio covers all three energy sources—Oxyfuel, Plasma, and Laser—and caters to diverse customer segments. Furthermore, we offer solutions encompassing material handling and automation nationwide.

We provide modular products tailored to meet various customer needs, including bevel units for weld edge preparation, OmniWin—a professional nesting tool—and automation products such as Machine Insight (MI) for machine monitoring, Production Data Capture (PDC) for real-time data, ERP Connect for integration with customers’ ERP systems, auto-plate management, and integrated machines with software solutions.

As a dedicated solution provider, Messer India has a robust and well-established continuous product development process, ensuring our ability to meet any requirements in the thermal cutting industry.

Authored by – Ravichandran Duraisamy, Senior Product Manager, Messer Cutting Systems India Private Limited