For over five decades, Electronics Devices Worldwide (EDWPL) has quietly but decisively contributed to India’s manufacturing evolution. From introducing the country’s first dielectric heater in the 1970s to country’s first induction cap sealer to developing cutting-edge inverter-based welding power sources and induction heating systems today, the company has consistently transformed technological challenges into indigenous engineering solutions.Founded in 1974 by visionary engineers Shirish Vinoo Chinoy and RambahalRamsurat Singh, EDWPL began as a modest enterprise in a 100 sq. ft. facility in Mumbai. Today, it has grown into a globally respected engineering company with three specialized divisions-SigmaTherm, Sigma CapSeal and Sigma Weld-serving over 30,000 customers across more than 80 countries.
Innovation has remained the cornerstone of EDWPL’s philosophy. The company has introduced numerous “India’s First” products in induction heating, cap sealing and welding technologies, while continuously investing in research through its DSIR-approved R&D centre. Its solutions today find applications across automotive, aerospace, railways, pharmaceuticals, defence, power generation, electronics and general engineering, helping customers improve productivity, energy efficiency and product quality.As manufacturing embraces automation, digitalisation and sustainability, EDWPL continues to redefine industrial heating and welding technologies through smart inverter power sources, IoT-enabled process optimisation and energy-efficient induction heating solutions. In this exclusive interaction with Machine Tools Word, Nimesh Chinoy, Director (SigmaWeld)at Electronics Devices Worldwide reflects on the company’s remarkable journey, technological milestones and vision for the future. Excerpts:
Q. Electronics Devices Worldwide has been a pioneer in high-frequency dielectric heating, induction heating, and welding technologies for over five decades. Could you take us through the company’s journey and some of the key milestones that have shaped its growth and
reputation?
Electronics Devices Worldwide was established in 1974 with a vision of developing indigenous high-frequency dielectric heating equipment in India. Starting from a small workshop in Mumbai, the company gradually expanded into induction heating, cap sealing and advanced welding technologies.
Several milestones have defined this journey. EDWPL introduced India’s first dielectric heater in 1976, supplied induction heating equipment to ISRO, became a trusted technology partner for customers such as Godrej, Maruti and Bharat Forge, and today exports to over 80 countries.
With more than 250 employees, three manufacturing facilities and over 30,000 customers worldwide, EDWPL has built its reputation through continuous innovation, quality engineering and dependable customer support.
Q. EDWPL was founded with the vision of developing indigenous technologies and reducing dependence on imports. How has this vision evolved over the years, and how relevant is it in today’s manufacturing ecosystem driven by the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives?
Our founding objective was to provide Indian industries with world-class technology developed within the country. At that time, sophisticated heating equipment had to be imported.
We have been Making in India and contributing to Atmanirbhar Bharat since 1974. Over the last 51 years what started as an import substitute objective is today catering to the world market, with our products working in over 80 countries and growing.
Our focus continues to be designing products that meet international standards while remaining cost-effective and customized for Indian industry.
Q. Your solutions cater to a wide spectrum of industries, including automotive, aerospace, railways, electrical, electronics, and general engineering. Which sectors are currently driving growth, and what emerging opportunities do you foresee?
Process Plant and Machinery, Heavy Fabricators remain one of our largest markets, particularly for induction heating and welding applications. We also see strong growth from aerospace, defense, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, renewable energy and general engineering.
Looking ahead, sectors such as electric mobility, alternate energy, small modular reactors, advanced materials and aerospace manufacturing offer tremendous opportunities for specialized joining and heating technologies.
Q. Innovation has been central to EDWPL’s success. Could you highlight some of the recent technological developments or product innovations that have strengthened your competitive edge and delivered value to customers?
Innovation has always differentiated EDWPL. We invest nearly 2% of our turnover in research and development through our DSIR-approved R&D laboratory.
Our innovations include India’s first dielectric heater, induction cap sealing machine, 2000 kW annealing machine, roll-fed wad inserting machine, keyhole TIG welding power source, 10kW to 200kW air-cooled induction solutions for Pre Weld, Post Weld Heat treatment applications, 2000 and 3000 Amp Electroslag Strip Cladding power sources and the Twin Port Euro Cap Sealing Machine.
Each innovation has addressed specific industry requirements while enhancing productivity, quality and operational efficiency.
Q. The welding industry is witnessing a significant shift towards energy-efficient, digitally controlled, and inverter-based technologies. How has SigmaWeld adapted to this transformation, and what differentiates your welding solutions in the market?
Modern manufacturing demands greater precision, energy efficiency and digital control. Accordingly, Sigma Weld has developed inverter-based welding power sources that deliver superior arc stability, lower energy consumption and higher process reliability.
Our modular architecture allows customers to configure systems according to specific applications, making them suitable for both standalone operations and automated manufacturing environments.
With the latest releases all our models will include IoT based data monitoring solutions. Users will be able to see the welding parameters and utilization on their servers or app as they would like to choose.
Q. With increasing demands for superior weld quality, higher productivity, and process consistency, what technological advancements have you incorporated into your inverter welding equipment?
SigmaWeld inverter-based power sources incorporate advanced digital controls that optimise welding parameters in real time. They support specialised processes such as SigmaWeld Accelerated TIG (SWAT) a Keyhole TIG variant welding and Electroslag Strip Cladding.
One notable innovation is our SWAT TIG Welding technology, which enables nearly 30x faster welding, reduces consumable usage by approximately 95%, and achieves single-pass welding up to 10 mm thickness while delivering excellent weld quality, while keeping heat input extremely low and very low distortion.
Q. Automation and Industry 4.0 are reshaping manufacturing. How is SigmaWeld integrating smart controls, digital monitoring, connectivity, and automation into its welding solutions?
Industry 4.0 is transforming manufacturing, and our solutions are evolving accordingly.Our inverter power sources are increasingly integrated with IoT capabilities for process monitoring, data collection and optimisation. We are also developing equipment suitable for robotic welding cells and automated production environments, enabling customers to improve productivity, traceability and quality consistency.
Q. EDWPL has established a presence in international markets over the years. How significant is the export business today, and what opportunities do you see for expanding your global footprint?
Exports form an important part of our business, with our products reaching more than 80 countries across Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas.
We see significant opportunities in emerging markets for SigmaWeld, particularly in the Middle East and Africa, where industrialization is accelerating. Going forward, we expect exports to become an even larger contributor to our growth.
Q. In an increasingly competitive market, what are the key factors that differentiate SigmaWeld and EDWPL?
Our biggest strength lies in our ability to combine indigenous innovation with deep application knowledge and a strong customer-centric philosophy. In an increasingly competitive market, customers are looking beyond products-they seek technology partners who understand their manufacturing challenges and can deliver solutions that create measurable value. This is where SigmaWeld and EDWPL have consistently differentiated themselves.
Rather than offering one-size-fits-all products, we focus on developing bespoke welding solutions tailored to the unique requirements of each customer, industry and application. Our in-depth understanding of diverse welding processes, coupled with years of practical field experience, enables us to recommend solutions that enhance productivity, improve weld quality, reduce operating costs and ensure long-term reliability.
Innovation is another key pillar of our growth. Our dedicated R&D team continuously works on developing advanced welding technologies that address evolving industry needs. This enables us to provide world-class products that are not only technologically advanced but also cost-effective and backed by local expertise.
Equally important is our unwavering commitment to customer support. From application engineering and installation to operator training, preventive maintenance and prompt after-sales service, we ensure that our customers receive comprehensive support throughout the product lifecycle. This proactive approach helps maximize equipment uptime and enables customers to derive the best possible return on their investment.
We firmly believe that our role extends beyond being an equipment supplier. We work as long-term technology partners, collaborating closely with customers to optimize their manufacturing processes, improve operational efficiency and address emerging production challenges. This partnership-driven approach has earned us the trust of customers across diverse industries and has been instrumental in building enduring relationships.
Q. How do you contribute to sustainability?
Sustainability is embedded in our technologies.
Induction heating offers significant advantages over conventional heating methods by eliminating combustion, reducing emissions and improving operator safety. Depending on the application, customers can achieve energy savings of nearly 30%.
Similarly, our inverter-based welding systems reduce power consumption while improving welding efficiency and minimising material wastage.
We have an interesting case study of decarbonization at a customer’s place where they used Electrical Induction Heating instead of PNG for pre/post heating applications. The project summary goes like this:
- Project location: Dahej
- Energy Saving(PNG): 1,78,785 SCM/Yr
- Carbon Offset : 342.07 t CO2e/Yr
- Simple payback period : 2.6 years
In addition to energy savings, safety has improved remarkably due to elimination of fire hazard. The health and comfort of the welder has improved as they do not feel the “Heat” in the surroundings, leading to productivity improvement upto 30%.
Q. Could you elaborate on your investments in R&D, manufacturing infrastructure, and talent development, and how these initiatives are preparing EDWPL for the next phase of growth?
Research remains one of our highest priorities.
Our DSIR-approved R&D centre continually develops new products and process technologies. We invest approximately 2% of our turnover in R&D while simultaneously strengthening manufacturing capabilities and developing skilled engineering talent.
These investments ensure that EDWPL remains prepared for future manufacturing challenges.
What are some of the key challenges and opportunities you foresee for the welding and industrial heating equipment industry in the coming years, particularly in India?
The industry is undergoing rapid transformation with increasing adoption of automation, robotics, digital manufacturing and new materials.
While keeping pace with evolving customer requirements is a challenge, it also creates enormous opportunities. Advanced joining technologies will play an increasingly important role in electric vehicles, aerospace, defence, renewable energy and next-generation power systems.
Q. Looking ahead, what is your vision for Electronics Devices Worldwide over the next five years, and what role do you envision the company playing in shaping the future of industrial welding and heating technologies?
Our vision is to strengthen EDWPL’s position as a global technology leader in industrial heating and welding solutions.
We expect significant growth in exports while expanding our presence within India. Our future research will focus on technologies supporting alternate energy, aerospace, power generation, advanced materials and smart manufacturing.
As Indian manufacturing becomes increasingly competitive on the global stage, we are confident that EDWPL will continue delivering world-class indigenous technologies that contribute to the nation’s industrial progress.
