Robot Tata Brabo: From Idea Generation To Launch

TAL Manufacturing Solutions, a subsidiary of India's Tata Motors (TTM), has started selling the nation's first "homegrown" industrial robot, making a mark for PM Modi's "Make in India" initiative.

IDEA

In May 2014, a tech genius Anil Bhirgunde, COO of Tal Manufacturing Solutions made a swift pitch on the TATA's robotic rove to company's chairman, Ravikant and to the board of directors. Bhirgunde during his presentation highlighted the potential of the robot to be a few hundred units per annum to which Ravikant joked "You have missed out on some zeroes, go find them and come," putting much needed emphasis on company's eye for automation.

DEVELOPMENT

To give birth to this high-tech and future driven robot in house, a team of six engineers whose average age is 24 years was organized, with Mr. Bhirgunde himself heading the team. The development cost for the entire project is estimated 10 crore. " These are made in India, made for India. The idea is to drive automation in the market by offering affordable and cost-effective solution," says Bhingurde.

The designing of the robot was done in-house by six-engineers at TAL, the styling part was carried out at TATA Elxsi, the manufacturing of some parts at TATA AutoComp, while the entire project was funded by TATA finance.

INDUSTRY SIZE AND MARKET

The purpose behind staring this project wasn't to compete with market biggies like Fanuc, ABB and Kuka's, but it intends to target the micro, small and medium enterprises with an economical robotic solution ranging from Rs. 3 lakh for 2 kg to Rs. 6 lakh for 10 kg playload. Every year there are almost 5,000 products being manufactured by India's small enterprises -from traditional business to high-tech products and such activities need robots to make work easier and much quicker. It is believed that the 9-lakh crore MSME industry is likely to grow 2 fold in the upcoming years, and for such expansion in this sector automation will play a pivotal role.

Apparently there is a market of approximately 1,000 robots a year in India according to International Federation of Robotics. It is presumed that the market will grow to 5,000 robots globally. Thanks to the creation of new beginning point, the market is likely to grow 10 times in 5 years to 15,000, says Bhingurde.

TAL Manufacturing Solutions, a Tata Enterprise, is a 100% subsidiary of Tata Motors. Telco Automation Limited (TAL) was formed in 2000 by merging two sub entities of Tata Motors -machine tools and growth.

EUROPE LICENSE

After capturing the Indian MSME market the company is all set to spread its wings over the European market. TAL BRABO now conforms to essential requirements relevant to European health, safety and environmental legislation, allowing export of the TAL BRABO Robot to customers in Europe.

TAL confirms that BRABO can be used to carry out simple to complex tasks from raw material handling, until packaging of finished product and can be programmed to operate 24/7 in all circumstances, for incessant production, with a high degree of flexibility and even perform highly complicated functions cost effectively. The BRABO can be used for varied applications for tasks like pick & deposit of materials, stocking of parts, machine & press tending, as a sealing application, camera and vision based jobs etc. The BRABO can also work steadily with human workforce by taking over dull, dangerous and monotonous jobs.

LAUNCH

On 11th April 2017, TATA launched its BROBO robot in two variants, priced between Rs 5lakh and 7 lakh with payloads 2 kilos and 10 kilos respectively.

The article is created under the expert guidance of BP Auto Spare Parts India's experts, largest Exporter of Tata Parts in India delivering TATA 1318 Spare Parts and exporting parts across countries.