Precision Testing's new welding machine

With most vehicle makers turning to lightweight materials and high-performance engineering plastics to reduce overall vehicle weight, new opportunities are opening up for the garage equipment business as these vehicles need specialised tools when they come in for service or repairs.

This emerging trend has made the New Delhi- based Precision Testing Machines to recently launch an inverter-based spot welding machine. Indivar Arora, managing director, says that the company has developed the equipment in-house and got it manufactured locally. Its highlight is that it uses direct current (the conventional machines use alternating current) with high frequency switching, resulting in less power consumption and lesser operational time. The primary advantage is that it helps service centres weld special materials including high-tensile steels. Materials like high- tensile steel require higher current for perfect welding, which calls for bigger sized conventional machines besides demanding auxiliary cooling systems, all of which add to costs.

The inverter-based technology helps reduce product size and also contain heat generation. “Due to high frequency switching in the machine, the fusing is better. In addition the equipment comes with a kit containing software for all car models, while these have to be bought out separately in the case of imported equipment,” says Chopra.

The company sees good potential for this equipment in the near future. “We see significant growth for this equipment this year and hope to sell about 100 equipment this year, beginning from the second half of this fiscal,” says Arora. The equipment has recently been approved by Renault Nissan India and is also to be sent for validation to Maruti Suzuki and Honda Siel.

Meanwhile, Precision Testing has recently signed an agreement with Blackhawk of France to assemble crash repair systems in India. The company will import CKD kits from Blackhawk and assemble them in India, which will help cut costs. As the demand for two-post lifts is increasing in India, Precision has tied up with Stenhoj of Denmark to manufacture them in India. “In the first phase we will make hydraulic lifts and ours will be the first production plant in India to do so,” he claims. Towards this, one of its contract manufacturers will set up a greenfield facility in Noida. Initially it will make about 100 units a month, adds Arora. Currently the requirements of these lifts are being catered to by imports, predominantly from China.

In the next phase, Precision Testing will be looking at manufacturing other models in Stenhoj’s portfolio including electro hydraulic and scissors lifts. The cost will be half when compared with those imported from the Scandinavian country Founded in 1988, Precision Testing Machines is one of the largest suppliers of sophisticated automotive diagnostic and body shop equipment manufactured in India with technology at par with some of the global brands. Most of the machines offered by the company are manufactured in plants accredited with international quality standards. Technical alliances with proven brands all over the world have provided experience and maturity to its product range.

The company has an installation base of more than 7,000 different machines and offers after-sales service support from more than 20 locations all over India. Coupled with technical approvals from almost all the major automobile, tyre and paint manufacturers, it supports customers by providing end-to-end solutions. And a system of nationwide complaint lodging on a toll-free number and tracking systems ensures timely aftersales services.