Electronics manufacturing is complex, and automation often comes at a high cost. To bridge this gap and offer a more affordable solution in India, Shrikrushna Kakade and his co-founders introduced a robotic soldering system. In an interaction with EFY’s Nitisha Dubey, Shrikrushna Kakade, Nikesh Gondchawar, and Nikhil Kakade discuss the technology and its key aspects.
Q. Please talk about Slightgen Solutions’ offerings.
A. Our primary focus is on developing indigenous automation solutions for electronics manufacturing. Our core product is a robotic PCB soldering system designed to automate through-hole soldering processes. Beyond this, we also develop embedded systems products such as data loggers, biomedical devices, including brainwave-sensing headsets, IoT-based smart locks, and automatic switches. Overall, we operate in the embedded systems and industrial automation domain.
Q. What inspired you to develop a robotic soldering solution?
A. The idea originated from a clear gap in the market. Most high-quality soldering robots are imported from countries like Japan, China, and Korea. These systems are either very expensive or low-cost but lacking in quality. We wanted to create a solution that balances performance, flexibility, and affordability while remaining accessible to Indian MSMEs.
Q. What makes your product different from competitors?
A. The key differentiator is complete customisation across mechanical design, control systems, and software. The system supports Gerber file import for faster and more efficient programme generation, reducing setup time and simplifying production preparation. Barcode-based job selection and logging improve traceability by ensuring accurate job identification and maintaining detailed production records.
Video recording and playback enable process review and validation, helping operators analyse workflows and verify production quality. Temperature profile logging provides continuous process monitoring and supports quality control by recording critical thermal data. In addition, a production statistics dashboard offers insights into machine utilisation and productivity, enabling manufacturers to track performance and optimise operational efficiency.
Q. Who are your target customers?
A. Our primary target audience is MSMEs involved in PCBA. With the growing emphasis on the ‘Make in India’ initiative, there is an increasing demand for locally developed automation solutions.
Q. How does your solution improve productivity in manufacturing setups?
A. Manual soldering often leads to inconsistencies, human errors, and lower productivity. Our automated system ensures high precision, repeatability, and consistent output. It also improves safety and reduces dependency on skilled labour, which is often difficult to manage.
Q. How quickly can businesses start seeing efficiency gains after implementation?
A. Typically, within a week of deployment, companies start seeing improvements. Initial time is required for fine-tuning and operator training, but the system is designed to be user-friendly.
Q. How does your solution reduce operational costs?
A. It reduces dependency on manual labour, minimises training requirements, and ensures consistent output. It also eliminates issues related to labour attrition and performance variability, which significantly impact operational efficiency.
Q. What is the typical ROI timeline for your customers?
A. Depending on production volume, utilisation, and labour costs, many customers can potentially achieve a return on investment within approximately one year.
Q. Is your system scalable for small and mid-sized manufacturers?
A. Yes, our solutions are highly scalable. We offer different configurations, including single-head, double-head, single-bed, and double-bed systems, depending on the customer’s requirements and budget.
Q. Can your technology integrate with existing machinery or factory systems?
A. Yes, we can integrate with existing PLC or SCADA systems. While ERP integration is not standard, we can customise the software to connect with customer systems using APIs if required. The system can also integrate with conveyor-based production lines and support automated production workflows.
Q. How does your system help with data logging and quality control?
A. Our software records detailed data, such as soldering temperature, at each point on the PCB. This data can be linked with barcodes and used later for quality analysis, troubleshooting, and process improvement. The platform also provides production statistics dashboards and process reports that help manufacturers analyse productivity trends and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Q. Where are your operations based?
A. Our R&D office is located in Pune, where all the design and development work takes place. Manufacturing is carried out in Mumbai.
Q. Do you manufacture everything in-house?
A. We maintain full control over the design, including mechanical systems, electronics, and software, all of which are developed in-house. However, we source certain standard, well-proven components, such as soldering stations and displays, from established vendors to ensure reliability and avoid reinventing existing technologies.
Q. Is your product currently available in the market?
A. Yes, the product is available, and we have already conducted pilot runs at multiple facilities. We have successfully deployed multiple systems since commercialisation began last year.
Q. What is the price range of your machines?
A. The price ranges from approximately ₹8,50,000 to ₹1.45 million for standard models, and it may vary depending on customisation.
Q. How do you customise your solution as per customers’ needs?
A. After understanding the customer’s requirements, we conduct trials with sample PCBs. Once validated, we proceed with commercial discussions, delivery, installation, and operator training. We also provide a one-year warranty and ongoing support.
Q. What are your revenue sources and recent performance?
A. Our revenue comes from both product sales and engineering/R&D services. We have seen encouraging market acceptance and continue to expand our customer base.
Q. What are your future plans?
A. We aim to expand product adoption, strengthen our presence in the automation sector, broaden our product portfolio, and scale deployments across industries.
