Kuka Robotics to expand footprint in India

New Delhi, Apr 17: Kuka Robotics (India), robotics manufacturer and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany's Kuka Roboter GmbH, today said it will expand its footprint in the country with a representative office in Chennai soon.

The company, providing a range of industrial robots and robot systems to Indian industries, has so far invested one million Euros and is open to further investments with a greater focus on the automotive sector in India.

''Indian companies are opening up to automation in a big way. Even small repair workshops are opting for the robots,'' Kuka Robotics Managing Director Raj Singh Rathee said.

The one-year old Kuka Robotics has ''significant'' plans to ramp up its scale in services, technology and collaboration with Indian technological institutes and people.

Kuka sold 350 robots last year and is optimistic of being profitable in the coming years. The company will also look at the general industry including foundry, welding, metal, plastics and logistics among others.

''India is a critical market for KUKA Robotics. We plan to become the number one robot manufacturer in the region with a countrywide customer base,'' Mr Bruno Geiger, Managing Director Asia, told reporters here.

Critical components of the robotic systems will be shipped from Germany but will be customised in India as specified and required by Indian companies, he added.

Services and solution will include consulting and development of robot solutions, planning, design, process technology robotic cells for welding, thermal spray, handling, machining and comprehensive customer support services.

The company has training and servies centre at Pune with a capacity to train around 300 people every year in different aspects of robotics.

UNI