Micrologic India to invest on IIoT, R&D, vision technologies
Bengaluru-based Micrologic India, supplier of automated assembly lines to component manufacturers of two-wheelers, passenger cars and commercial vehicles, is working on vision technologies and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things). “In the coming years, we plan to invest considerably on R& D in these areas,” Jayaram M S, Director, Micrologic India, told Auto Components India. The core of Micrologic is software and a dedicated team has been working towards that by having right global partnership. In 5 to 8 years there would be a digital transformation, he said.
“We are in operation since 2002, and around 40% of our business is from passenger vehicles, 30% from two-wheelers and 10% from commercial vehicles. We believe automation enhances the efficiency, quality and productivity in manufacturing. Leanmate is our brand and these flexible assembly lines provide smart solutions which integrate assembly, inspection, test and packaging into a single flow,” he said.
“We provide complete end-toend solutions in automated manufacturing. We analyse their needs and provide bespoke solutions to the customers. Most of our customers are Europeans having their establishment in India and they have cognizance on all these automated techniques. For the Indian customers we get the entire layout of their plan, educate and design tailor-made solutions. TVS is our major Indian customer in two-wheeler segment and we have installed zero defect lines in their shop floor,” Jayaram said.
The Micrologic Leanmate lines
are cellular with each cell performing a specific operation of assembly, inspection, test and packaging. Assembly operations are either automated or automation- assisted depending on the criticality of the operations, he said.
The testing solutions begin at PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) stage. Micrologic has standard equipment for in-circuit testing, boundary scan testing, flashing, functional testing of the boards and end of line testers for the final products. All these are completely automated. The company also has testers which can get integrated into a SMT conveyor called the in-line testers and it also has off line testers and combi testers for electronics. Combi testers can perform ICT (In Circuit Test) checking for shorts, opens, resistance, capacitance and other basic quantities and authenticate the fabricated assembly.
“The uniqueness of our PCB testers is that there is a minimal or no wiring to the hardware. This eliminates or nullifies most of the problems due to wiring. The test cards get integrated onto the Mass Interconnect (MI) terminals and get connected to the bed of the nail fixture directly. The following tests like functional test, LED colour verification, communication tests, CAN, LIN, RS 485, ethernet, boundary scan testing, device flashing, in-circuit test and other basic measurement tests are performed with our testing solutions,” Jayaram said.
There will be at least 50 Electronic Control Units (ECUs) in a car. All these are interconnected via communication networks like LIN or CAN. These ECUs being decentralised have major advantages. There are things getting integrated more and more.
The Leanmate provides real time machine health management and notifies incase of any defects through alerts to mobile phones. It also manages preventive maintenance schedules. The server keeps track of all the manufacturing information in the real time receiving data from robots, monitors and the workforce.
“We began as a start-up and have an installation base of about 300-odd equipment lines. We now aim to scale. We are now have a turnover of Rs 18 crore and our aim is to double it by 2020, and also to look at exports”, Jayaram said. He said Micrologic was expanding its operational space which would be ready by August 2017.