Blog

Two years ago, the world’s biggest lockdown was initiated to curb the rapid global spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve of the pandemic, which affected lives and livelihoods worldwide. Healthcare and frontline workers desperately required Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), face masks, and other medical devices for which governments around the world were not prepared.

We are on the cusp of a new financial year, with things looking promising for businesses. Industries were able to withstand the consequent waves of the pandemic with resilience. They have continued to grow in all verticals of manufacturing and are expected to reach the pre-pandemic levels of growth, which is very encouraging.

In several industries, new and enhanced products have extremely stringent cleanliness specifications.

Amazon Web Services, Inc (AWS), an Amazon.com company, recently released findings from a new research report indicating that the need for digital skills training became more acute during the pandemic, with 95 percent of workers in India reporting that they need more digital skills – the ability and knowledge to apply digital technologies for tasks in the workplace – to cope with changes in their jobs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

TRUMPF, one of the world’s largest machine tool and solution providers, introduced ‘EdgeLine Bevel’, a technology that allows users to make bevels on components directly on the cutting machine.

According to Search Consultancy research, manufacturing is the most affected by a skills shortage than any other industry, with 85 percent of businesses feeling the pinch of a skilled worker shortage.

The increase in the adoption of digital technologies in manufacturing operations is leading to a spike in cyber threats.

Our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called startups the ‘backbone’ of the new India and declared January 16 as ‘National Startup Day’. As readers, you must know that MMI carries a segment on budding startups and their laudable growth. Curious, we did some research on startups and found out that India has the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world and is expected to witness year-on-year growth of consistent annual growth of 12-15 percent. These statistics are based on a study done by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce.

At the outset, I would like to welcome all the readers of Modern Manufacturing India (MMI) magazine to a very happy and prosperous New Year. While IMTEX 2022 has been rescheduled, we are committed to holding the exhibition safely and successfully as soon as the uncertainties diminish.

The year 2021 was all about recovery and getting back to business, and we now have that in our rear-view mirror as we drive on towards a promising 2022 and beyond. Perhaps this would be a defining moment for India to succeed in its aspirations of being technologically competitive. Meanwhile, despite all the challenges arising from the pandemic, Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA) continues to usher in a new era of growth and bring innovative and specific solutions for industries.