LAHORE: The Synthetic Products Enterprises Ltd (SPEL) Pakistan has become the first industrial group in the country to have installed robots to work at its assembly lines.

The SPEL is one of the leading manufacturers of technology-intensive engineering plastic and packaging products in Pakistan.

The robotic system was jointly inaugurated by President and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Cars Pakistan Ltd Hironbou Yoshimura and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Almas Hyder at the company’s industrial unit in Ferozpur Road on Saturday.

SPEL CEO Zia Hyder Naqi and Vice President Production of Atlas Honda Cars Pakistan Ltd Kenichi Matsuo attended the inauguration ceremony along with others.

On this occasion, Mr Yoshimura said that installation of industrial robotic system was an impressive initiative. He said that the auto market of Pakistan has huge potential and they want to enhance business in Pakistan as despite challenges, customer demand is still there.

Also present, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Almas Hyder said that the global industrial robot market was expected to reach the growth rate of around nine per cent as the need for automation is rising.

He said that robotics and automation are key areas of focus, both as a potential new growth area, and as enablers to help the enterprises adopt advanced manufacturing processes to increase productivity.

“We live in an era where robotics and automation technology have brought fundamental changes in industries,” he observed.

Mr Hyder added that advantages commonly attributed to automation include increased productivity, efficient use of materials, improved product quality and safety, shorter workweeks for labour, and reduced factory lead times.

Higher output and increased productivity have been two of the biggest reasons in justifying the use of automation. Despite the claims of high quality from good workmanship by humans, automated systems typically perform the manufacturing process with less variability than human workers, resulting in greater control and consistency of product quality.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2019