"Safety is Not Just a Mandate, It's a Strategic Advantage in Smart Manufacturing"

...says Dhiraj Podutwar, Business Development Manager, Pilz India, in conversation with Kaushal Dighavkar.

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He explains how Pilz is helping semiconductor and battery manufacturers tackle complex safety challenges through advanced automation solutions, global compliance expertise and smart technologies aligned with Industry 4.0.

Industrial automation is revolutionising manufacturing, but safety remains a major concern, especially in emerging industries like semiconductors. What are the key safety challenges faced by such industries, and why is safety critical?

Industrial automation is transforming manufacturing, but safety remains a major concern, especially in industries like semiconductors and battery production. These sectors operate at high speeds, handle hazardous materials, and must comply with strict regulations, making safety an absolute necessity. In semiconductor manufacturing, processes like wafer fabrication, photolithography, doping, and etching involve toxic gases, corrosive chemicals, and high-energy equipment. Workers face risks like chemical burns, electromechanical hazards, and high-voltage exposure from ion implantation. Meanwhile, battery manufacturing brings its own set of challenges—fire hazards from volatile materials, risks of entanglement in high-speed assembly lines, and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), which can damage sensitive electronic components.

Without robust safety measures, these risks can lead to workplace accidents, costly downtime, and non-compliance penalties. But safety isn't just about compliance, it's about protecting workers, ensuring operational reliability, and maintaining efficiency in these high-stakes industries.

Given these safety concerns, how does Pilz help semiconductors and battery manufacturers overcome safety challenges?