Meraj Suleman

As a core member of the leadership team, I spearheaded the successful geographic and vertical expansion of SAS Automation into Eastern India, Bangladesh, Karnataka, and the Middle East. I played a pivotal role in establishing the Kolkata regional office from the ground up—including site selection, infrastructure setup, team recruitment, and operational execution.

With a strong focus on market development, I conducted region-wise opportunity assessments, identified high-potential industry segments, and designed actionable business strategies to capture them. My role extended beyond technical execution to strategic decision-making, sales enablement, resource planning, and P&L responsibility—driving SAS Automation's business from a zero base to a high-performing, multi-crore operation.

Key Achievement

• Established a fully functional branch office in Kolkata, laying the foundation for SAS Automation’s East India operations.

• Expanded business footprint into Bangalore, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi.

• Achieved ₹12+ Crore in turnover within 2.5 years through strategic projects and customer acquisition.

• Built and led a 30+ member cross-functional team across Sales, Projects, Engineering, and Service.

• Launched a dedicated pharmaceutical automation vertical focused on 21 CFR Part 11 and cleanroom solutions, positioning SAS as a specialized automation partner in pharma.

• Onboarded 100+ clients across regions, diversifying the customer base and reducing dependency on limited industries.

• Provided technical and marketing leadership for expansion in the Middle East, contributing to presales, partner engagement, and strategic alliances.

• Successfully delivered turnkey automation projects across Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, Infrastructure, Renewable Energy, Automotive, and Steel sectors.

Notable Projects

• Somerset Pharma, Bangalore – Centralized SCADA System
  Migrated standalone systems to PcVue SCADA, integrating 4 lakh+ data points with full 21 CFR compliance.

• Somerset Pharma, Bangalore – HVAC Automation
  Delivered automation for 90+ AHUs using Siemens DDC and PcVue SCADA, enabling validated HVAC control.

• Haldia Dock Complex, West Bengal – Fire Fighting System
  Implemented automated fire protection control for critical port infrastructure.

• Al Hadetha, Oman – Zinc Extraction Automation
  Automated key processes in a zinc extraction plant, including dosing, level control, and energy monitoring.

• ATCO Group, Saudi Arabia – Pump Automation
  Developed a remote pump control system with real-time monitoring and fault diagnostics.

Appointed with the critical mandate to establish SAS Automation’s presence in South India, I successfully set up the Chennai regional branch as the first and only employee at inception. My role encompassed complete entrepreneurial ownership of regional operations—right from business planning and infrastructure development to team building, customer acquisition, project delivery, and strategic partnerships.

Operating in a highly competitive automation market, I focused on delivering smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 solutions to OEMs and end users across automotive, discrete manufacturing, and process sectors. My efforts translated into market credibility, sustainable revenue, and the creation of a strong client and partner ecosystem.

Key Achievements:

• Successfully established the Chennai branch from scratch, taking complete ownership of operations.

• Recruited, trained, and led a 8+-member team for Sales and Service functions.

• Achieved ₹3+ Crore turnover in 4 years through a mix of turnkey projects and solution sales.

• Built strong customer relationships, onboarding top-tier clients such as:

• Developed a robust partnership ecosystem, becoming the regional lead for Red Lion (USA) as an authorized technology partner.

• Market penetration and new customer acquisition across Tamil Nadu and South India.

• Key account management, customer retention, and consultative selling.

• Hiring, onboarding, and performance management of the regional team.

• Pre-sales activities including site surveys, application studies, solution design, and proposal development.

• Post-sales technical support, training, and long-term client engagement.

• Coordination with OEMs, system integrators, and principal technology partners to deliver integrated automation solutions.

Notable Projects

• Tubes Product of India – Production Monitoring for Tube Mill
  Designed and deployed a real-time production monitoring system for tube mills, enabling shift-wise data logging and downtime analysis.

• JBM Auto – Press Machine Monitoring System
  Implemented OEE-based press machine monitoring to capture production counts, stoppages, and operator performance in real time.

• RICO Auto – Production Monitoring for Press Machines
  Developed a centralized monitoring solution to improve machine utilization and visibility across multiple press machines.

• Royal Enfield – Vehicle Tracking System
  Created a custom vehicle movement tracking system across the assembly line for traceability and batch sequencing.

• Ashok Leyland – Line Stoppage Monitoring System
  Installed a downtime capture and root cause analysis system on the engine assembly line to reduce unplanned stoppages.

• TI Diamond Chain – Centralized Furnace Data Monitoring
  Integrated multiple furnaces into a unified data acquisition platform for temperature trend logging and compliance reporting.

• Sundaram Fasteners (SFL) – Traceability System
  Delivered a barcode-enabled part traceability system to track components through machining and quality processes.

• Polyhose – Drum Tracking System
  Implemented a drum movement tracking and validation system for material identification, location accuracy, and audit trail.

Worked in a core technical role with a system integrator specializing in industrial automation, where I gained end-to-end project execution experience. My responsibilities spanned across control system design, preparation of engineering documents (like I/O lists, wiring diagrams, and BOMs), and hardware selection based on application requirements. I was actively involved in PLC programming (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Mitsubishi, ABB), SCADA/HMI development (using platforms like Vijeo Citect, InduSoft), and integrating field instruments such as sensors, valves, and VFDs.

Additionally, I conducted panel testing, factory acceptance tests (FAT), and handled on-site commissioning, which included system calibration, I/O validation, and performance tuning. This role provided a strong technical foundation and helped me develop a hands-on understanding of the complete automation lifecycle, from concept to final handover, while working closely with clients and cross-functional engineering teams.

Technologies Worked On:

• PLC: Siemens S7-1200, Schneider M200, Mitsubishi FX-series, LSIS, Renu Electronics
• SCADA: Vijeo Citect
• HMI: Siemens, Mitsubishi, Delta, LSIS
• VFD: Siemens, LSIS
• Communication : Modbus RTU, Serial, Modbus TCP, Profinet

Notable Projects

• Crack Detection System – DRDO, Hyderabad
  Developed an ultrasonic crack detection automation system using Mitsubishi PLC, Servo, and HMI, integrating LabVIEW for real-time data acquisition of metal weld joints during servo-driven rotary and linear scanning.

• Tyre Assembly Machine – Eicher Motors, Indore
  Automated a special purpose machine for safe tyre and rim fitting using Siemens S7-1200 and KTP600 HMI, eliminating manual hammering and enhancing operator safety.

• Rain Test Chamber – Bajaj Electricals, Mumbai
  Designed an environmental testing chamber using Siemens S7-1200 and HMI, controlling arc movement via encoder and VFD-driven water spray system to simulate rainfall at configurable angles (0°–180°) for headlight/tail light durability tests.

• Card Flatness Measurement System – Indian Card Clothing, Pune
  Delivered an award-winning solution using RENU PLC & HMI, integrating a height sensor and pneumatic actuator to measure card surface flatness without removing the drum, with CSV export for further textile data analysis.

• SCADA for Sealed Quench Furnace – Microturners, Sanjeev Auto
  Implemented Vijeo Citect SCADA to monitor and control sealed quench furnace operations including temperature, alarms, and batch reports.

• Vehicle Light Life Testing – ARAI, Pune
  Designed and commissioned an endurance test system using RENU PLC & HMI for head and tail light longevity and blinking cycle validation.

• Environmental Chamber (Hot & Cold Test) – Kasko, Pune
  Automated an environmental chamber system for temperature-based endurance testing, ensuring cycle accuracy for product validation.

• Electroplating Transporter System – Pune
  Developed control logic using L&T PLC, LSIS VFD, and HMI to automate a multi-tank electroplating conveyor system with precise position control and dip timing.