What SMEC Automation does

SMEC Automation is a privately held, Cochin-headquartered marine, oil & gas, and industrial automation company founded in 2001. It designs, manufactures, and services a portfolio of more than 60 control, monitoring, power management, safety, and instrumentation products — built on PLC-based automation, SCADA/HMI, and marine electrical integration architectures — for shipyards, vessel operators, drilling rigs, refineries, defence forces, and industrial facilities. Its technology stack spans in-house developed marine systems (Main Engine Control, Power Management for up to 16 generators, Bow Thruster with DP integration, Alarm Monitoring, Boiler Automation) plus oil & gas-specific systems (Integrated Drilling Control, BOP Control, SCR/VFD Houses, PAGA, Gas Detection), supplemented by Schneider Electric technologies delivered under a 24-year Authorized System Integrator relationship.

The company operates through six divisions — SMEC Marine, SMEC Oil and Gas, SMEC 4 Industry, SMEC Defence, SMEC Technologies (IT/ERP/CMMS), and SMEClabs (training) — with wholly-owned subsidiaries including SMEC Marine Solution LLC in Dubai and a Singapore regional headquarters. Revenue is generated primarily through quote-based, multi-year enterprise contracts for hardware sales (control panels, power houses), professional services (installation, retrofit, 24/7 onboard support), EPC turnkey solutions for oil & gas, and ancillary subscription/recurring IT software and training programs. Customer concentration sits in government, large shipyards, and energy operators, with Cochin Shipyard, the Indian Navy, and ONGC among named logos. Distribution is anchored in 15 branches across India and the Middle East/Southeast Asia, with a strategic 2025 partnership with VARD Electro (Fincantieri Group) extending reach into global offshore wind SOV newbuilds.

Name

SMEC Automation

Legal name

SMEC Automation Pvt Ltd

Website

https://smec.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

SMEC Automation is a Cochin-headquartered marine, oil & gas, and industrial automation firm founded in 2001 that designs, manufactures, and services PLC-based control, monitoring, and power management systems for shipyards, defence forces, drilling operators, and industrial facilities across 15 global branches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine & Industrial Automation Systems

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333132), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Automation, Control & PLC/SCADA Systems (IMAJAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Automation, Controls & Instrumentation Engineering (IAS, PMS, Control Logic) (IMAJAGAG), Propulsion Control, Monitoring & Automation (ECS, PMS interface) (IMAJAHAH), Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH), Electrical, Automation & Control Systems (Power, PLC/SCADA, Navigation/Comms Integration) (TLAHAMAE), Instrumentation, Controls & Automation (DCS/PLC/SCADA, SIS, Metering) (EUAEAFAC), Shipboard Electrical Distribution, Power Conversion & Automation (IMABAKAG)

Keywords

• Marine automation systems
• Oil gas automation
• Industrial control panels
• Drilling control systems
• PLC SCADA solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Cochin

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Marine Automation Products & Systems: Design, manufacture and supply of marine electrical and automation systems including control panels, alarm & monitoring systems, propulsion systems, boiler control, and navigational systems
2. Marine Services & Installation: Installation, service, running repairs, and maintenance of marine electrical and automation systems. Includes design, building, retrofit, inspection and security services
3. Oil & Gas EPC Solutions: Turnkey solutions from design and estimation to build, installation, and commissioning for oil and gas automation systems including SCR Houses, VFD Houses, drilling control systems
4. IT Solutions & Software: Digital solutions including ERP, HCM, CMMS, IMS software products and web/mobile application development services
5. Training Services: Industry training programs in Automation, PLC, Instrumentation, Embedded Systems, Oil & Gas, SAP, Data Science through SMEClabs division with online and offline certification options
6. Defence Solutions: Comprehensive solutions for Navy, Army, Airforce and Coast Guard including indigenization projects and specialized defence equipment

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SMEC Automation designs, manufactures, supplies and services PLC-based marine, oil & gas, defence and industrial automation systems, including control and alarm monitoring panels, power management, engine and propulsion control, drilling/BOP control systems, SCR/VFD power houses, and complementary enterprise IT software. It delivers turnkey EPC, installation, retrofit, maintenance and training services to shipyards, vessel operators, drilling companies, defence forces and industrial customers across India and overseas.

Product overview

SMEC Automation is a multinational marine, oil & gas, and industrial automation company offering a comprehensive portfolio of automation products and services. The product portfolio spans three main categories: Marine Automation Products (over 40 systems including alarm monitoring, power management, engine control, and propulsion systems), Oil & Gas Products (drilling control systems, BOP control, perimeter security, and power houses), and IT Solutions (ERP, CMMS, HCM, and Inventory Management). The Marine segment includes specialized control systems like Mooring Winch Control, Bearing Wear Monitoring, Cargo Tank Level Gauging, and Navigation Light Control Panels. The Oil & Gas division provides Integrated Drilling Control Systems, SCR/VFD Houses, Gas Detection, and PAGA systems. The IT division offers enterprise software solutions for business management. Services include design, installation, retrofit, maintenance, and 24/7 support across all segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SMEC Marine: Marine automation products and services including control panels, alarm systems, propulsion systems
• SMEC Oil and Gas
• SMEC 4 Industry
• SMEClabs
• SMEC Technologies
• SMEC Defence
• SMEC Energy Services
• SMEC Electro

Products and services

• Mooring Winch Control System Control system for mooring operations with centralized control, manual/automatic modes, positioning and synchronization, and remote monitoring for vessels.
• Bearing Wear Monitoring System Early-warning monitoring system measuring crosshead, crank and main bearings to alert operators to potential bearing seizure.
• Power Management System Intelligent maritime power-distribution system supporting up to 16 diesel generators, shore connection, split bus bar operation, blackout handling, load-dependent start/stop and load shedding.
• Alarm Monitoring & Control System HMI-based real-time vessel-monitoring system with modular architecture using PLC, DAU and SCADA technology for continuous alarm monitoring and data acquisition.
• Main Engine Control System Remote-control system for ship main engines with real-time diagnostics, safety features, safety shutdown, emergency shutdown and automatic fire-extinguisher integration.
• Engine Order Telegraph Systems PLC-based command-transmission system with four engine commands (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, full speed) using Modbus RTU communication and VFD solutions for ballast pumps.
• Generator Controllers Generator protection and control systems for single or multiple gen-sets based on field-proven technologies.
• Bow Thruster Control & Safety System Remote-control solution for electrically driven thrusters integrated with Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems, supporting Profibus-DP and Modbus RTU protocols.
• Boiler Automation Safe auto-operation system with automatic combustion control, feed-water level control, steam PID control, purging combustion and automatic load preserving.
• Control & Alarm Monitoring Panels Custom-designed monitoring panels for electrical, engineering and instrumentation with centralized control and remote monitoring capabilities.
• 24 V DC Battery Charger Full-automatic high-efficiency battery charger / rectifier for marine emergency power requirements.
• Indigenised Temperature Sensors (RTDs) Locally developed temperature sensors designed to replace Russian-make sensors used across Indian Navy monitoring systems.
• Integrated Drilling Control System High-availability integrated rig control system for managing, controlling and monitoring rig-floor equipment on offshore drilling operations.
• Drill Monitor System (DMS3000) Drilling and mud-data visualisation with multi-colour coded graphics, flexible screen configurations, ATEX-compliant HMI displays and bespoke SCADA software.
• BOP Control System Blowout-preventer control system for subsea, platform and land applications to prevent well kicks.
• Advanced Perimeter Security System IEC Ex and ATEX certified surveillance system for extreme hazardous environments with high-resolution imaging for offshore and refining sites.
• PAGA System Public Address and General Alarm system for drilling rigs, offshore platforms, refineries and petrochemical facilities.
• SCR Houses Silicon Controlled Rectifier systems for rig and facility power control operating at 600V–1200V DC.
• VFD Houses Custom-designed power houses with AC drive technology for drilling environments operating at 380V–600V AC.
• ERP Solution Fully integrated enterprise resource planning system with financial management, inventory, CRM, HRM and manufacturing modules for streamlining business operations.
• CMMS Solutions Computerized Maintenance Management System for streamlining maintenance operations with work-order management and mobile access.
• HCM Solutions Human Capital Management system for payroll automation, attendance tracking, recruitment and performance evaluation.
• Inventory Management System (IMS) Real-time inventory tracking solution with barcode/RFID integration, multi-channel support and automated replenishment.
• Marine Services Comprehensive marine automation services including design, building, retrofit, inspection, security and 24/7 onboard support for vessels globally.
• Oil & Gas EPC Services Turnkey EPC services for oil and gas automation and instrumentation, covering design, build, installation and commissioning for offshore rigs, drilling, refineries and petrochemical facilities.
• Training Services (SMEClabs) Industry training programs in automation, PLC, instrumentation, embedded systems, oil & gas, SAP and data science, delivered through SMEClabs with online/offline certification options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced fuel consumption through electric propulsion integration (up to 8% measured improvements)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Schneider Electric (France)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2001Authorized System Integrator of Schneider Electric, France since 2001. Long-standing partnership for providing automation and electrical solutions using Schneider Electric products and technologies. Relationship provides credibility, technical training, and access to global automation standards.
• VARD Electro (India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic commercial agreement for integrated electric propulsion systems and end-to-end electrical installations for newbuild offshore vessels. SMEC brings 25 years of operational presence and trusted relationships at Cochin Shipyard; VARD Electro brings internationally recognized systems integration capability from the VARD Group/Fincantieri Group. Partnership enables turnkey electrical solution for global newbuild market from Indian shores.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Siemens Energy (Marine): Supplies drives, switchboards and automation hardware for marine and offshore, overlapping with SMEC's VFD/SCR Houses, power management and instrumentation solutions.
• ABB Marine & Ports: Global automation and electric propulsion leader for vessels, with integrated power, propulsion, automation and digital offerings; competes with SMEC's marine electrical integration and through VARD partnership's parent ecosystem.
• Wärtsilä: Finnish marine technology major offering power management, automation and integrated systems for marine and offshore; competes broadly with SMEC's marine automation and O&G controls portfolio.
• Emerson (Marine Solutions): Provides process automation, control and measurement instrumentation with marine-relevant product lines; overlapping with SMEC's O&G EPC instrumentation and marine monitoring offerings.

Direct peers

• Praxis Automation Technology: Independent Netherlands-based specialist in marine and offshore automation, alarm monitoring and engine room systems; directly comparable niche competitor to SMEC in vessel IAS.
• Høglund Marine Solutions: Specialist integrator of marine automation and power management for tankers, bulkers and offshore vessels; directly comparable to SMEC's PMS and automation systems.
• Kongsberg Maritime: Norwegian-headquartered provider of integrated vessel automation, engine room controls, power management and DP systems serving naval, merchant and offshore segments; competes head-on with SMEC's Alarm Monitoring, Power Management, Bow Thruster and Main Engine Control offerings.
• SCANA Industri (formerly Scana Skarpenord): Norwegian supplier of marine automation, controls and valve remote control systems; closely comparable niche peer to SMEC's automation and propulsion control portfolio.

Others

• Schneider Electric (Industrial Automation): Long-standing technology partner of SMEC and provider of PLCs, drives and automation platforms; enabler/ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor in marine integration projects.

Regional players

• Kraken Robotics / K-Survey: Marine instrumentation and digital ocean-tech vendor overlapping with SMEC's data acquisition, monitoring and instrumentation capabilities but with different geographic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smecautomation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SMEClabss
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smecautomation
• Instagraminstagram.com/smec_automation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SMEC Automation