Introduction:

What is fabrication? 

The process of Fabrication involves construction of various components using a diverse range of materials, including metals, laminates, wood, and other solid surfaces, utilising one or more manufacturing techniques such as cutting, welding, machining, forming, forging etc.

It is a critical process for manufacturers to ensure production of high-quality, finished products from raw materials or components. The process involves a range of techniques and equipment to transform the raw materials into the desired shape and size, before assembling them into the final product.

Types of fabrication:

Fabrication can be classified based on location and materials. The process can be performed on-site or in a factory, and the materials used can include metals, laminates, wood, and other solid surfaces.

Some common types of fabrication include boiler structures, pipe racks, bulk storage tanks, piping, tanks and vessels, PEB (Pre-Engineered Buildings), and machine parts.

Importance of Fabrication for Manufacturing:

Fabrication plays a critical role in manufacturing by enabling them to create custom products that meet specific requirements. The process allows manufacturers to produce complex products that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to create using off-the-shelf components.

• Enables manufacturers to produce high-quality and reliable products that meet specifications.
• Ensures consistency and precision in production
• Enables customization and flexibility in design
• Helps to control costs and improve efficiency in production processes
• Can result in improved durability and performance of products
• Plays a critical role in ensuring safety and reliability of products for the end-users.

Now that we have a clear understanding of what it is and its importance in manufacturing, it's important to note that many businesses in India seek the services of fabrication vendors to help them produce custom-made components or products.

This is where the concept of "fabrication as a service" comes in.

What is Fabrication as a Service (FaaS)? 

Fabrication as a service is a business model where fabrication vendors offer their expertise and equipment to produce custom products for businesses who may not have the necessary resources or expertise to fabricate the components in-house.

What is the difference between Fabrication vs Fabrication as a Service? 

The main differences between Fabrication and FaaS are that:

• FaaS is a service-based model that provides access to fabrication capabilities without requiring businesses to have their own equipment or staff.
• Fabrication, on the other hand, can refer to either the in-house manufacturing process or outsourcing to a traditional fabrication company.
• FaaS providers often provide a more hands-off approach. Businesses using FaaS can typically choose from pre-existing designs and materials, rather than designing and fabricating products from scratch.

Overall, they are related concepts but they offer different benefits and approaches to manufacturing.

Benefits of Fabrication as a Service (FaaS):

• Fabrication as a Service or FaaS providers offer design, prototyping, and services to customers on demand, allowing businesses to quickly and easily create the products they need without investing in expensive manufacturing equipment or hiring specialised staff.
• The FaaS model allows businesses to benefit from a wider range of manufacturing capabilities and expertise than they may have in-house, while also reducing costs, improving quality, and speeding up the production process. FaaS is often used for prototyping, short-run production, and specialty parts manufacturing.

Major Tools and Equipment:

1. CNC machines: Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines are used for precision cutting and shaping of various materials, including metals, plastics, and wood.
2. Laser cutting machines: These machines use high-powered lasers to cut through materials with high precision and accuracy.
3. Welding machines: Welding is a common process that joins two or more pieces of metal by heating them to a molten state and fusing them together.
4. 3D printers: 3D printing is a relatively new technique that uses computer-controlled printers to create three-dimensional objects from digital designs.
5. Plasma cutters: These machines use plasma to cut through various materials with high precision.

Considerations While Choosing a Fabrication Service Vendor:

When selecting a fabrication service vendor, it is important to consider several key factors. The most common ones include overall experience, quality, production capacity, equipment and technology, safety norms etc. On Venwiz, you get a higher level of insight to help you shortlist vendors more efficiently. These include:

• Experience in similar jobs: Look for a vendor who has experience working/have worked on similar projects as yours. This can help ensure that they have the necessary skills and expertise to complete the job to your satisfaction.

• Location: Consider the location of the vendor in relation to your site or project. A vendor who is located nearby can help reduce transportation costs and lead times.

• Turnover: Check if the vendor has the financial resources and capacity to handle the turnover required for your project. This includes the ability to purchase raw materials, pay their staff, and meet other expenses required to complete the job.

• Availability of in-house resources: Check if the vendor has the necessary in-house resources, such as equipment, manpower, and materials, to complete your project without relying on third-party vendors.

• Previous clients: References from previous clients help build trust and help you  gauge their satisfaction with the vendor's work, including their ability to meet deadlines and quality standards etc.

For a more refined and easier search experience, Explore Venwiz today. Below are a few of our qualified Fabrication service vendors:

Venwiz Vendors for Fabrication as Service:

1. M/s Primesol And Ergo System
   
2. Sharma Fabricators & Erectors Pvt Ltd
   
3. Oriental Manufacturers
   
4. Acme Process Systems Pvt Ltd.
   

Despite an unsteady economic climate, the manufacturing industry has continued to exceed expectations and showcase favorable trends for 2023.

According to a monthly survey, India's manufacturing sector activity rose to a 13-month high in December, supported by healthy inflows of new business and strong demand conditions.

Let us look at what we can expect in manufacturing trends 2023

IIoT still reigns supreme

When we looked at trends back in 2022, IIoT and the digitisation of the manufacturing industry emerged as a major trending theme. 2023 will not be very different, as we move into the future of manufacturing with Industry 4.0

It is said that nearly 70% of light-duty trucks and cars will be connected to the internet.

And according to forecasts, the market share for connected automobiles will represent 39% of all 5G IoT endpoints

The spotlight shines on Procurement as a Service

As technology like IIoT, AI etc matures, it also becomes more affordable and accessible, with reliance on digitization to to execute everything, including sourcing & procurement tasks.

Thus making procurement as a service popular throughout the globe.

The global procurement as a service market size was estimated at USD 6.15 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 6.49 billion in 2023.

Predictive maintenance gets smarter & more efficient

Predictive maintenance evolves in a new direction in manufacturing trends  2023.

Manufacturers are now moving from predictive maintenance towards predictive resolution.

• Predictive maintenance uses data analysis to identify anomalies in an equipment's performance,
• Predictive resolution takes this concept one step further by offering insights on exactly how to resolve those issues with greater certainty thus reducing frequent interventions.

Better Production Efficiency using Digital Twins

A digital twin is a replica of an equipment or a particular component in appearance & functionality, that is rendered within a virtual environment.

Market Strategies, Challenges & Future Outlook, 2019-2023 forecasts that Digital Twin revenues from manufacturing will reach an estimated $4.5 billion in 2023, up from $1.4 billion in 2019.

Employees Seek More Favorable Working Conditions

Given the current state of the market, Manufacturing employees have more leverage thanks to technology, now more than ever before. 

From flexible hours to advancement opportunities, workplace wellness programs, we’re seeing manufacturers implement new programs & policies to change how they manage operations.

Health & safety, of course remains a top priority for manufacturers everywhere. 

To learn more about the trends in the manufacturing industry, head over to our LinkedIn page

Double food production by 2050 for population, income growth. Focus on sustainable, cost-effective tech for environmental protection and sustainability.

India has long been associated with agriculture and farming & the agricultural industry continues to contribute significantly to our country’s GDP (20.19% in 2022).

In fact, agriculture is a way of life & livelihood for most Indians & our history is deeply intertwined with celebrating agriculture & harvesting.

As the first of the harvest festivals roll in, we briefly look at its origin.

A brief history of harvest festivals in India:

Harvest festivals in India are celebrated to mark the end of a crop cycle and the beginning of a new one. They are a way to honour the hardworking farmers for their labour and dedication to the land.

The harvest festivals take place around the time of the main harvest of a particular region based on their climate and crops starting in Jan with Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Uttarayana, Lohri, and Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu, Holi in February–March, Baisakhi in April and Onam in August–September.

There are numerous other harvest festivals in India like Basant Panchami, Bhogali Bihu, Wangala, Nuakhai, Gudi Padwa, Nabanna, Ugadi etc with each region celebrating in its own unique way.

For farmers in India, these festivals provide an opportunity for them to sell their produce and make a profit.

Harvest festivals celebrated in India, but sustainable sourcing still a concern.

Embracing Sustainability in Supply Chain Management:

Sustainable sourcing in India through organic farming, integrated pest management, and resource conservation.

But, these practices of sustainable sourcing have been tough to scale up, especially since India has a large population. 

2022 was an especially challenging year for the global food system that exposed the structural weaknesses when faced with challenges such as extreme weather conditions, supply-chain disruptions, geo-political tensions, international conflicts and food wastage in the face of the pandemic COVID-19.

India ranked 107th in GHI 2022, highlighting urgency for sustainability solutions to hunger and food security.

Before we proceed, let us look at the current challenges in terms of sustainable sourcing & sustainable agricultural practices, starting with agricultural supply chain disruptions: 

Agricultural supply-chain disruptions refer to the interruptions in the flow of agricultural goods from the producer to the consumer. Disruptions caused by natural disasters, transportation, labor shortages, and consumer demand changes.

Other major causes of agricultural supply-chain disruptions in India include

• Lack of proper infrastructure and logistics. Rural areas in India still lack proper roads, storage facilities, and transportation networks, which can make it difficult to get products to market leading to delays resulting in spoilage of produce. 
• Lack of coordination and communication between different actors in the supply chain. This can lead to mismatches between supply and demand, resulting in a surplus or shortage of products. Additionally, the lack of transparency and traceability in the supply chain can make it difficult to identify and address problems.
• Pollution and extreme weather events like droughts, floods and landslides can damage crops thus affecting transportation and logistics, ultimately resulting in supply-chain disruptions.

To understand the landscape of sustainability in farming better, we spoke to Ajit Narra, founder of  FarmChakra, India's first crop investment product for sustainable farming.

Q1: What are the top polluters or distorters in the Indian agricultural sector in 2023?

A1: Indian agriculture contributes to pollution and degradation with major sources of pollution. Some of the top polluters or distorters include

• Soil degradation due to excessive fertilizer use and not practising regenerative farming to conserve the soil i.e. Monoculture cropping, the practice of growing a single crop year after year in the same field can lead to soil degradation and reduced crop yields.
• Crop stubble burning: A practice in which farmers burn the leftover straw and stalks of crops (stubble) after harvest. This practice is common in states across India. It has a number of negative impacts such as
  • Air pollution
  • Soil degradation
  • Greenhouse gas emissions
  • Loss of biodiversity
  • Reduced soil moisture
  • Reduced soil fertility etc. 
• Post-harvest loss due to lack of common processing facilities: Some of the key ways that lack of processing facilities can lead to post-harvest loss include:
  • Lack of storage facilities: Many farmers in India lack access to proper storage facilities, which can lead to the spoilage of crops due to exposure to heat and moisture.
  • Lack of transportation infrastructure: Poor transportation infrastructure can make it difficult for farmers to get their produce to market in a timely manner, leading to spoilage and loss.
  • Lack of value-added processing: Many farmers in India lack access to value-added processing facilities such as canning, freezing, or packaging, which can lead to reduced income from their crops.

Polluters and distorters harm the environment, addressing needed for sustainable ag in India.

Q2: What are the top scalable solutions to ensure sustainability? 

A2: The top scalable solutions to ensure sustainable farming practices include: 

1. Provision of post-harvest management solutions: Mitigation of wastage, and ensuring the safety of the produce until the last-mile delivery, has become important and Agritech is at an evolution stage
2. Risk management solutions for farmers

FarmChakra provides a unique solution for risk management

3. Crop stubble value creation: What needs to go right for us to drop burning from 30% to 10%?

• Suitable equipment: We need equipment to lift bales that can work at scale without labour involvement. We also need seeders that work in clayey soils etc. 
• Expertise in growing a variety of crops: As our expertise in growing increases we will be able to target crops that have suitable planting windows that buy us time to deal with the stubble. No market linkage challenges for our current scale.
• No last-minute weather surprises: Field moisture conditions need to be carefully monitored before harvest to ensure that there is enough moisture for the decomposers to work properly.

Q3: What is Farmchakra’s vision & how do you plan to scale in the future? 

A3:By taking a planet-first and people-focused approach, Farm Chakra is advancing modern which supports sustainable farming for a better world. The company is constructing a portfolio of farms that follow environmentally friendly practices and produce crops without any residual substances

Sustainable farming also for efficient, high-quality produce. 

Enhancing yields with science and farming experience

Farming is rewarding – mentally, spiritually, and financially. But it is not without risk: it requires serious investment, crisp execution, and systematic experimentation. We are confident that over time we will be able to create value for our crop investors and the community.

We appreciate the insights shared by Ajith & the team at FarmChakra - learn more about them by visiting: https://farmchakra.com

All in all, In 2023 we can expect some significant movement in agri-food industry trends:

• Agri-financing and sustainability investments will accelerate
• There will be a huge and rapid shift towards digitization of agriculture for maximising the visibility, sustainability & transparency of food systems 
• Improved access to resources for sustainable agriculture in India.
• Better coordination and communication between different players in the supply chain.
• Nations will build self-reliance and self-sufficiency in food production.

To learn more about the trends in the manufacturing industry, head over to our  website 

Excited for new year and milestones at Venwiz, grateful for fantastic achievements as a team in 2022.

Beginning with

1. The assurance showed by 10 marquee enterprises, which promises to take us to greater heights as a capex & services procurement platform. We would like to specifically recognise the efforts by Shubham in this endeavour; followed by Prasad's team for strengthening these engagements.

2. In 2022 we focused on streamlining the pace of our product and tech dev with a high focus on building a platform packed with features to enable a seamless procurement experience for our manufacturing clients & vendors (customers).

We proceed with a clear vision of what’s going to come in 2023.
A huge shoutout to Shrikant & Junaid’s teams whose dedication & focus on high output made this happen.

3. Next, our pace of vendor addition/qualification has reached ~3000/m. With a significant capability to tap onto, in 2023. Led by Rakesh­, Philip with the rest of the team, who have been phenomenal in this.

Coming to the rest of our achievements, looking back, 2022 has been an action-packed year for us.

4. We grew from a small team of 10 to 15 to now 35+ each bringing an immense amount of potential. Our teams continue to value & represent the culture we’re building at Venwiz, from various locations across the country!

5. From org workshops to vendor engagement sessions our strategy & marketing teams led by Siddhant & Mehul have been driving engagement & have big plans for 2023.

6. Our emphasis on OKRs for performance management has only eased our way of working; many thanks to the perseverance shown by Siddhant & Abhimanyu in driving this.

We would like to thank the whole team at Venwiz for a wonderful 2022!
Special mention to the team at Bizcraft(Prashant & team) for their continued support.
Last but not the least grateful to Barath, Sameer and Accel/Nexus Venture Partners teams for their continued belief in Venwiz and support as and when needed.

Sandesh & Rajesh take this as an opportunity to thank everyone & look forward to a successful year ahead!

Visit our website here!

Index:

1. What is the electrical panel?
2. What are the different types of electrical panels?
3. Where are electrical panels used?
4. Characteristics of electrical panels

What is the electrical panel?

The electrical panel is an enclosure that accommodates the main electrical circuitry for a building. It typically contains circuit breakers, fuses, and wiring for the entire electrical system. It is also often referred to as the breaker box, breaker panel, electrical control panel or service panel.

An electrical panel comprises two main categories

1. Panel Structure
2. Electrical component

What is electrical panel structure?

The electrical panel structure consists of a box-like structure that accommodates and protects the circuit breakers. Circuit breakers control the electrical system for a building. These electrical panels are usually installed in areas like a garage, basement, or utility closet, and are designed to keep people and property safe from potential electrical hazards.

Inside the panel are several circuit breakers that can be switched off or on to supply or cut off the power to different parts of the building. In larger buildings, multiple electrical panels may be connected together in an electrical network.

What is electrical component?

An electrical component is an object that is used as part of the electrical system. Examples of electrical components include switches, circuit breakers, relays, resistors, capacitors, transistors, transformers, motors, and more. These components are connected together, along with an electrical power source, in order to create an electrical circuit. The components all interact together in order to produce the desired result, whether it is to power a light, activate a motor, or control a device.

Electrical components at a glance.

• Main circuit breaker
• Surge arrestors
• Transformer
• Terminal blocks
• Programmable logic control
• Relays and contractors
• Circuit breakers
• Human-machine interface

What are the different types of electrical panel?

There are several types of electrical panels, including

• Main breaker,
• Subpanel, and
• Tandem circuit breaker panels.

Main breaker panels are the most common type of electrical panels, and they accommodate all of the main electrical circuitry for the buildings.

Subpanels are installed as additional circuits or aid in increasing the circuit capacity of an existing electrical panel.

Tandem circuit breaker panels are generally used in small-space applications, as they allow two circuits to be controlled via a single circuit breaker.

What is a circuit breaker?

A circuit breaker is an automatically managed & operated electrical switch that is designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overload or short circuits. Its basic function is to detect a faulty condition, such as an overload or short circuit and then it acts to interrupt the current flow. Circuit breakers come in various sizes and can be manually or automatically operated.

Where are electrical-panel used?

Electrical panels are used in:

• Homes,
• Businesses,
• Factories; and a variety of other settings.

In residential settings, the panel is typically installed in a garage, basement, or utility closet.

In commercial settings, they may be installed in a dedicated electrical room or equipment shed.

Electrical panels are also found in factories, where they are used to control large, complex electrical systems.

Electrical panels use in factories

In factories, electrical panels are used to control a variety of machines and processes. They supply the power required to operate motors, pumps, and other equipment, and they provide the safety features needed to protect personnel and property. Electrical panels are also used to control lighting, heating and cooling systems, and other utilities.

Characteristics:

The primary characteristics of electrical panels are their size, enclosure material, and the number of circuit breakers.

1. Size: The size of the panel depends on the amount of current it needs to handle and the number of circuits it needs to manage.
2. Enclosure material: The enclosure material can be metal or plastic, and it must be rated to provide protection against electrocution, shock, and fire.
3. The number of circuit breakers: Number of circuit breakers in the panel depends on the electrical system's needs; more circuit breakers may be added if more power is needed.

The panel also includes other features, such as the main disconnect switch and grounding busbar.

To learn more, visit our resource centre on the website for the complete rundown on all your electrical panel systems and features.

[caption id="attachment_723" align="alignnone" width="471"] Legalities in Vendor Contract vs SLA vs NDA[/caption]

To stay updated on more manufacturing trends, follow our LinkedIn page and visit our resource center.