We will let the market drive the expansion of our new facility

Bastian Solutions, a Toyota Advanced Logistics firm, announced the launch of its new manufacturing facility just outside Bangalore, Karnataka, in May 2023. Bastian's first manufacturing facility in India is planned to be operational by October 2023.

The new manufacturing site for Bastian Solutions spans approximately two acres. The first hiring efforts at the facility will focus on mechanical and electrical engineers to assist production, to subsequently increase their staff in the nation. The facility will be located in the Indospace region just outside of Bangalore, offering an ideal position for distribution throughout the country.

“We will let the market drive the expansion of our new facility. As a result, we will begin with our DC conveyor product line and from there fulfil the needs of the Indian market consumer, that's what we are going to drive into that business. We aim to swiftly exceed that facility's capacity, but we'll let the market determine when that happens,” said James Clark, VP of Manufacturing Strategy and Operations, Bastian Solutions.

At the new Banglore facility, Bastian Solutions plans to bring almost a replica of what they are using in their Westville, Indiana facility in the United States.

“We will begin operations in Bangalore with an automated assembly line that will allow us to manage track time and so push quality back into the product. We don't have circumstances where team members are hurrying or attempting to hurry through an operation since the automated assembly line stops that from happening. It keeps workers safe and guarantees quality is built into them. Every product will also contain our Quality Management System, which will be digitally integrated into the production process,” added Clark.

According to the India Warehouse Market Report 2023, warehouse leasing operations in Bangalore remained strong in FY 2023, owing to high occupier interest in the sector. In FY 2023, the manufacturing sector dominated the occupier pie, accounting for 47% of total leasing.

“We see a huge growth rate in the Indian warehousing business, and we are here to deliver solutions for our clients who realise they need to increase their warehousing speeds. They want to get into micro fulfilment and warehouses which is why we are developing this new facility to help them succeed. We are putting our time and talents into Bangalore to truly provide a solution for warehouse customers,” Clark said.

Modern warehousing is becoming increasingly competitive as technology advances, leading businesses to consider incorporating robots into their existing warehouses. Robots are set to become a vital element of the warehousing sector, enhancing productivity, accuracy, and efficiency.

“Bastion Solutions is well-versed in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation in general for the warehouse business. Right now, a few fresh offerings have been brought to the market, as well as new products under research and development, which allow right along with that leveraging AI to better distribute products inside of a warehouse and out to a client. So it's crucial for us, and we are investing heavily in research and development as well as manufacturing operations,” added Clark.