Vizag technicians provide smart industrial safety solutions

Visakhapatnam: A group of engineering and management professionals from Visakhapatnam have come up with smart solutions that provide warnings before a disaster can develop in factories.

Andhra Pradesh has more than 26,000 major industries, of which 300 are dangerous. In addition, there are 30,000 small and medium-sized enterprises.

The state has witnessed several industrial accidents in the last two decades. For example, a gas cloud exploded at HPCL’s Visakha refinery, killing 60 people in 1997. In 2020, styrene gas leaked at LG Polymers on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam, leading to the death of 14 people. This year, an accident at a chemical factory in Achyutapuram claimed 17 lives.

With the advancement in science and technology, experts have proposed IoT (Internet of Things) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) based solutions that can detect a developing disaster and quickly send alerts. These lead to preventive measures that prevent the disaster from developing further, thus saving human lives.

Factory Director D. Chandrasekhar Verma recently told this correspondent, “We are asking industries to adopt IoT and AI solutions to prevent accidents. These will not only prevent loss of life but also reduce the financial burden that a disaster places on the industry 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 leading the way in providing customized AI-powered industrial IoT solutions that prioritize modernization, efficiency and safety.

ANTAR IoT is known for addressing significant challenges across industries with a focus on sustainability and risk mitigation. One of the latest innovations – the ‘Equipment Safety and Modernization’ solution – solves common problems, including equipment failures due to inadequate maintenance.

“Such errors arise from over- or under-use. They shorten the lifespan of equipment and cause dangerous incidents, affecting both production and safety,” says Rajneesh Vasant, who leads a team of professionals.

The ANTAR IoT solution includes a retrofit device that can be connected to both legacy and modern machines. The company’s engineers conduct thorough inspections of an industrial unit to ensure the installation of optimal devices, allowing continuous monitoring of critical parameters. This system provides real-time alerts, allowing companies to take preventative measures to avoid accidents and reduce downtime.

A customized version of this solution is currently being implemented at GAIL (India) Limited, addressing the unique security requirements of the power sector. It uses a wireless alert system that also provides instant notifications to nearby communities in case of an emergency.

Unlike traditional wired warning systems, which can experience delays due to physical damage or maintenance issues, ANTAR IoT’s wireless solution is both resilient and fast. It uses transmitters and strategically placed receivers (horns) in surrounding villages, ensuring quick warnings during critical situations, such as gas leaks or equipment failures.

Rajneesh says he is keen to steer ANTAR IoT towards creating impactful Industry 4.0 solutions that ensure sustainability, safety and productivity in India’s industrial sector.