Visakhapatnam: A group of Visakhapatnam-based engineering and management professionals has come out with smart solutions, which provide alerts before a disaster can develop in factories.
Andhra Pradesh has over 26,000 major industries of which 300 are hazardous. In addition, there are 30,000 small and medium scale enterprises.
The state has witnessed several industrial accidents during the last two and half decades. For example, a cloud of gas exploded in Visakha Refinery of HPCL, killing 60 people in 1997. In 2020, styrene gas leaked at LG Polymers on outskirts of Visakhapatnam, leading to the death of 14 people. This year, a mishap in a chemical factory in Achyutapuram claimed 17 lives.
With advancements in science and technology, experts have suggested IoT (Internet of Things) and artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions that can sense a developing disaster and quickly send alerts. These trigger preventive measures that prevent the disaster from developing further, thereby saving human lives.
Director of factories D. Chandrasekhar Verma told this correspondent recently, “We are asking industries to adopt IoT and AI solutions to prevent accidents. These will not only prevent loss of life but reduce the financial burden that a disaster puts on industries and government.”
A start-up company ANTAR IoT, founded by IIM-Calcutta management graduate Rajaneesh Vasant and headquartered at Innovation Valley IT SEZ, Visakhapatnam, is at the forefront of providing customised AI-powered industrial IoT solutions that prioritise modernisation, efficiency and safety.
ANTAR IoT is known for addressing significant challenges across industries, focusing on sustainability and risk mitigation. One of its latest innovations – “Equipment Safety and Modernisation” solution – resolves common issues, which include equipment failures due to inadequate maintenance.
“Such failures stem from overuse or underuse. They shorten equipment lifespan and cause hazardous incidents, affecting both production and safety,” said Rajneesh Vasant, who heads a team of professionals.
The ANTAR IoT solution includes a retrofit device, which can be attached to either legacy or modern machinery. The company’s engineers conduct thorough inspections of an industrial unit to ensure installation of optimal devices, enabling continuous monitoring of critical parameters. This system provides real-time alerts, empowering firms to take preventive measures that avoid mishaps and reduce downtime.
A tailored version of this solution is under implementation at GAIL (India) Limited, addressing the unique safety requirements of the energy sector. It deploys a wireless alert system that also provides instant notifications to nearby communities in case of emergencies.
Unlike traditional wired alerting systems, which may face delays due to physical damage or maintenance issues, ANTAR IoT’s wireless solution is both resilient and rapid. It uses transmitters and strategically positioned receivers (hooters) in surrounding villages, ensuring prompt alerts during critical situations, such as gas leaks or equipment failures.
Rajneesh says he would like to steer ANTAR IoT towards creating impactful Industry 4.0 solutions that ensure sustainability, safety and productivity in India’s industrial sector.
