As India’s energy storage ecosystem matures rapidly, the demand for robust, precision-based battery assembly, automation, and testing solutions is higher than ever. At The Battery Show India 2025, The Battery Magazine sat down with Mr. Neeraj Kumar Singal, Managing Director of Semco Infratech, to understand how the company is aligning itself with this momentum.
Founded in 1998, the Semco Group initially catered to key industrial sectors like railways, defence, and steel forging. Since 2017, the company has strategically diversified into battery testing and automation, establishing itself as a reliable partner to some of India’s fastest-growing battery manufacturers and energy storage integrators. With specialised solutions for battery pack testing, energy regenerative equipment, and high-voltage automation systems, Semco is focused on supporting India’s transition from import dependence to a self-sufficient energy manufacturing base.
Q: How has your experience been at Battery Show India 2025?
It’s been a fantastic event. Every year, we see increased engagement, but this time the footfall and interest have surpassed all previous editions. The level of industry interaction and the quality of conversations we’ve had here reflect just how fast the battery sector is evolving in India. For us, the show kept our entire team actively engaged for all three days. That’s a strong indicator of industry traction and opportunity.
Q: Could you give us a brief overview of Semco’s background and its current areas of focus?
Semco Group started in 1998 with a strong presence in traditional industrial sectors such as railways, defence, and forged components. As the energy landscape shifted, we identified battery energy storage as a high-potential domain. Since 2017, we’ve focused heavily on electrical energy storage, particularly on the equipment side of battery pack manufacturing.
Today, Semco is a full-service solution provider offering testing systems, automation lines, battery pack assembly infrastructure, and after-sales technical services. We support the entire lifecycle of a pack—from prototyping and pilot-scale assembly to fully automated giga-scale production.
Q: What steps do you take to ensure quality, accuracy, and safety in your equipment and services?
At Semco, we follow a customer-first approach. Each piece of equipment we deliver comes with comprehensive documentation, SOP development, training programs, and real-time support. We have a well-trained technical team that guides the client through installation, calibration, and usage.
We also maintain a large spare parts inventory — over 10,000 items in our warehouse — to provide fast response and zero disruption to our clients’ operations. Whether it’s a new plant or a retrofitting project, we offer hand-holding at every stage, including AMC (Annual Maintenance Contracts) to ensure long-term reliability.
Q: With gigafactory-scale setups emerging across India, how is Semco preparing to meet this demand?
We’ve seen a massive increase in interest from companies entering the BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) space. To support this, Semco has developed a suite of high-end equipment, including high-voltage cell testers, high-current pack testers, containerised battery testing systems, and automated pack assembly lines.
Our engineering team works closely with each client to customise setups that meet the complexity and volume requirements of giga-scale production. Whether it’s for stationary storage or EV-grade systems, our goal is to offer scalable, future-ready infrastructure.
Q: What role does Semco play in the R&D process for your clients?
Our direct role is not in the chemistry R&D space, but we play a critical part in enabling advanced testing and validation. Once our clients define their experimental or commercial parameters — such as charge/discharge cycles, thermal behavior, or degradation timelines — we supply custom-built equipment that allows them to simulate real-world conditions.
In essence, we’re the enablers. We create the platform through which energy companies can test, refine, and scale their innovations.
Q: Energy efficiency is now a critical concern. How is Semco embedding sustainability into its systems?
That’s an area we’ve taken very seriously. All our testers — whether for cells, modules, or large-scale containers — come with energy regeneration capabilities.
When batteries are being discharged during testing, instead of wasting that energy, our equipment feeds it back to the grid or transfers it to another device in the line. This approach significantly cuts down on electricity consumption and reduces operational costs for the client.
It’s not just about cost — it’s about green engineering. We want our equipment to contribute meaningfully to our clients’ ESG goals.
Q: What’s your outlook on India’s localisation goals for battery manufacturing by 2030?
Right now, over 80% of critical components, including cells, BMS, and enclosures, are still being imported. But we’re optimistic. By 2030, I foresee India achieving 30–40% localisation, especially in components like cells, connectors, enclosures, thermal systems, and wiring harnesses.
The industry is still maturing, but we’re seeing increasing commitments from Indian companies and foreign players who want to manufacture locally. With the right government incentives, policy frameworks, and R&D funding, this target is achievable.
Q: What’s holding back supply chain localisation, and how can India overcome it?
There are two primary challenges. First is volume — unless there’s consistent, large-scale demand, vendors are hesitant to invest in localisation. Second is policy clarity and support — like what we saw in the solar sector.
Fortunately, the Indian government is now actively monitoring the battery ecosystem, and we expect targeted incentives, PLI-like schemes, and stronger quality standards to emerge soon. Once that happens, the ecosystem will develop faster and more securely.
Q: What is your vision for Semco Infratech by 2030?
Our vision is clear — to become India’s most trusted and comprehensive provider of battery pack manufacturing and testing infrastructure. From manual pilot lines to fully automated giga-scale systems, we want to be the go-to partner for battery players in both the EV and stationary storage segments.
We will continue to invest in training, technology, and partnerships so that our customers receive not just machines — but complete, future-proofed solutions.
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