Not everyone in R&D can point to their work having an effect on their nation’s economy. Based in the Indian city of Surat, which reportedly cuts 90% of the world’s diamonds, Munjal Gajjar said the industry was almost entirely dependent on imported technologies. Costs were higher and delays waiting for replacement parts could halt production. So he and SPTL set about creating an indigenous solution.
‘We developed state-of-the-art technologies for every stage of diamond processing. The solutions based on lasers, AI and robotics by STPL are now being used in five continents.’
Gajjar said diamonds benefit greatly from laser cutting – it is safer, more efficient and less prone to error, vital in an industry whose exports were estimated at $24.2 billion in FY 2021-22. ‘Photonics has the potential to further enhance the accuracy of a diamond-cutting process and thus advance the yield to a great extent,’ he said.
You can find Gajjar online at www.linkedin.com/in/munjal-gajjar-2440b34. He plans to attend Laser World of Photonics 2023, Vision 2023 and Hannover Messe 2023.
Organisation: Sahajanand Technologies Private Limited
Role: Vice-president, R&D department
Based in: Surat, Gujarat, India.
Education: M.C.A. Master in Computer Application