The event was a two-day Automation Week program held at Ileaf Grand Banquets at Palm Beach Galleria Mall, Navi Mumbai.
The Instrumentation Experts Club (IEC), a premier non-profit organization dedicated to advancing industrial automation in India, recently celebrated its 23rd anniversary with a highly successful two-day Automation Week program. The event provided a vital platform for industry professionals to share knowledge, enhance leadership capabilities, and foster robust networking in the critical fields of controls and instrumentation.
Held on November 14th and 15th at the Ileaf Grand Banquets in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, the event underscored the IEC's mission as it embarks on its 24th year: to set progressive
industry standards and ensure its members are at the forefront of the latest advancements in Futuristic Automation. The club serves as an essential hub for information exchange, driving innovation through shared professional experiences.
Day 1: Driving Semantic Depth and Industry Standards in Automation
The Automation Week commenced with the traditional Lighting of the Lamp ceremony, presided over by the Keynote Speaker and Core Committee members. Professor Dr. B. R. Mehta, Chairman of IEC, delivered the opening address, detailing the club’s transformative journey, outlining its Mission, Vision, and Goals, and summarizing the extensive activities undertaken over the past 23 years. The program saw impressive attendance, with more than 290 participants from the automation sector.
The highlight of the inaugural session was the keynote address by Dr. Pawel Kluczynsi, CEO of Airoptic, Poland. Following the address, the Souvenir of Automation Week 2025, aptly titled ‘Automation Unites Here,’ was officially unveiled by Dr. Kluczynsi and core committee members.
Expert Sessions: Focusing on Cutting-Edge Controls and Instrumentation
The exhibition’s inauguration paved the way for a series of highly insightful presentations by industry stalwarts. These sessions provided deep dives into crucial areas of industrial automation:
- Ethernet APL & End-User Perspective: Dr. Kartik Fojdar, Sr. VP, Reliance Industries Limited, highlighted industry requirements for solution providers, focusing on the development needs of Ethernet APL technology.
- Cybersecurity OT Risk Assessment: Mr. D. P. Shah (GM, thyssenkrupp) and Mr. Vijay Kulkarni (AGM, Adani Petrochemicals) shared their practical experience in carrying out high-level risk analysis for Operational Technology (OT) environments.
- Industrial Automation Cybersecurity Trends: Dr. Sudhir Pai, Country Head India of Exida Consulting, discussed the Recent Trends in Industrial Automation Cybersecurity, a critical topic for modern industrial infrastructure.
- Purge Solutions & IS Signal Isolators: Mr. Alain Schellings, Sales Director of Pepperl+Fuchs, presented on EX Purge Solutions and Unique Intrinsically Safe (IS) Signal Isolators.
- AI/ML for Real-Time Monitoring: Mr. Parthik Gajjar of Axis Solutions Ltd introduced the Integrated Online Effluent, Emission, and Ambient Real Time Monitoring System 2.0, emphasizing how AI/ML-enabled solutions enhance reliability and sustainability.
- Sustainable Valve Services: Ms. Defina Rajakumar, Process Engineer of Samson AG, detailed a digital journey towards Sustainable Valve Services at the plant level.
- Process Industry Digital Transformation: Mr. Sunsuke Takaji of Yokogawa detailed the acceleration of Process Industry Digital Transformation through a Smart Manufacturing Approach.
Mr Jack Li, President, SUPCON, SEA
The CEO Conclave: Navigating the Future of Industrial Automation
A key feature of Day 1 was the high-powered CEO Conclave, where five industry leaders shared their views on Futuristic Automation and the strategic direction of their companies. The participating CEOs included Mr. Albert Devadasan (MD, Yokogawa), Dr. Abhijit Chaterjee (CEO, Adage Automation), Mr. Atul Raje (Director, Samson Valves), Mr. Jack Li (President, SUPCON, SEA), and Mr. Sachin Samant (Director, Intellect Process Solution). Their collective leadership capabilities provided a clear roadmap for the industry’s near future.
The Conclave also served as the platform for the unveiling of two significant books: 1001 QA by Dr. B. R. Mehta and The Silo Whisperer by Dr. Ravinder Goyal and family, further enriching the knowledge base shared at the event.
Day 2: Enhancing Skills and Embracing Futuristic Automation Technologies
Day 2 kicked off with Dr. Keyur Vora briefing participants on the day’s activities. The agenda included nine more specialized presentations, focusing heavily on technology adoption and skills improvement in controls and instrumentation.
Mr Sachin Samant, Director, Intellect Automation.
Key sessions included:
- Data Integration & Value Creation: Mr. Prabhakar Singh (Yokogawa) spoke on Value Creation through Yokogawa’s Data Integrating Platform Solution as a Single Source of Truth (SSOT).
- Predictive Analysis and AI: Ms. Defina Rajakumar (Samson AG) returned to present on Predictive Analysis AI Powering Smarter Production Lines.
- Revolutionizing Control Systems with Industrial AI: Mr. Kenneth Lim, Director of Technology Services at SUPCON International, delivered a presentation on Revolutionising Traditional Control Systems and Enhancing Industrial AI.
- Specialized Measurement Techniques: Mr. Tejas Trivedi (Ametek Magnetrol USA LLC) provided insights into Multiphase Level Detectors and Level Measurement in critical industrial equipment.
- Smart & Futuristic Gas Chromatography: Mr. Vilas Sawant (Head of COE, Adage Automation) presented on Smart and Futuristic Gas Chromatography Applications.
- AI/ML for HVAC Energy Efficiency: Mr. Sanjeev Chakravarty (Axis Solutions Ltd) introduced Smart HVAC 2.0, leveraging AI and ML for energy efficiency, service, comfort, and sustainability.
The Automation Week program concluded with the highly anticipated Honours and Awards ceremony, recognizing the contributions of 24 industry experts. The successful 23rd-anniversary celebration of the Instrumentation Experts Club (IEC) firmly re-established its position as a paramount source for knowledge and a driving force behind setting industry standards in the dynamic landscape of industrial automation and Futuristic Automation.
