The automated test equipment (ATE) industry is experiencing significant growth, fueled by the complex nature of electronics and a relentless focus on quality. Today, ATE plays a crucial role in ensuring functionality and reliability—from smartphones to advanced avionics. Driven by this demand, the ATE industry is projected to reach a USD $8.8 billion market size by 2027, according to Markets and Markets.
Within the ATE industry, Captronic Systems, now known as Safran Data Systems India, stands out as a prominent name. Under the experienced leadership of Vinod Mathews, Founder and MD, Captronic provides custom-built ATE solutions tailored to meet the demands of the Aerospace, Automotive, and Defence sectors.
With over three decades at the helm, Vinod Mathews’ leadership has been pivotal in positioning Safran Data Systems India as a prominent name in the ATE landscape—making him one of the most influential leaders to watch in 2024.
Leadership Ingrained with Passion
Vinod grew up in a scientific community, surrounded by brilliant minds at the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). His father, a retired Director at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), instilled a love for Science, Technology, and Engineering in him from a young age.
In High School, Vinod Mathews developed a deep interest in Electronics. Along with being a keen HAM Radio Enthusiast, he was always armed with a soldering Iron—trying to repair the neighbor’s Television sets. This innate curiosity drove Vinod toward Electronics & Communication Engineering at the prestigious College of Engineering Trivandrum.
In 1990, Vinod graduated and landed what he thought was a ‘hardware’ job at a computer company in Bangalore. In reality, they were just assembling parts imported from Taiwan, with minimal local manufacturing.
Taking a leap of faith and with his wife’s encouragement, Vinod decided to start his own business in 1997. The initial years were a struggle filled with low morale and self-esteem. It was also the year when the Y2K boom was beginning as his friends were landing Software Jobs. They even made Vinod write a CV which they would try to pitch to their companies, but Vinod had other ambitions.
During this struggling period, Vinod used to visit numerous labs through his father’s network, where he would find his father’s scientist friends struggling to find solutions to their unique problems. Resembling a Eureka moment, Vinod realized that some of their problems could be solved with his knowledge of computers and software.
The turning point came when the very first scientist gave Vinod Mathews an order from a CSIR Lab that had a US-made Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GCMS). Unfortunately, due to US sanctions, getting it repaired with original parts was impossible. Vinod, together with the scientist’s support, examined the machine and noticed that while the optics were fine, the multi-layered PCB with proprietary components was faulty.
Looking for alternatives, they finally acquired the right nano-amplifiers and A/D converters. With his creativity and a simple ‘C’ script, Vinod Mathews connected the GCMS to a standard PC and brought the instrument back to life.
This success, alongside a similar feat at BHEL’s Ceramics Division, brought much-needed capital. More importantly, it laid the foundation for Captronic Systems. None of it would have been possible without the scientists’ support, says Vinod.
Carving a Niche
Captronic started with a vision to help solve problems faced by scientists and engineers using modern Electronics and Computer Systems. Under Vinod’s leadership, the company today boasts extensive experience in designing and developing customized solutions for research and development, design validation, and production testing.
Teams at Captronic team are known for their expertise in crafting sophisticated automated test, control, and acquisition systems. Over two decades, the company has successfully completed more than 1,500 projects across industries, from aeronautics and defense to automotive, manufacturing, and space— cementing its position as a trusted solution provider.
“I want to thank the various DRDO organizations for having had faith and confidence in us when we were smaller. Societies including SIATI and SIDM for helping us by sharing their experiences and mentoring us and the Defence PSU’s in working with us toward meeting our common goal.”
Comprehensive Service Portfolio
Captronic Systems provides comprehensive solutions for complex testing requirements across various industries, catering to diverse testing needs, and ensuring the highest quality standards in its services:
- Automated Test Equipment Development (ATE): Design and build custom ATE systems for efficient and reliable testing.
- Validation and Testing: Stringent testing procedures to ensure equipment performance meets specifications.
- Radio Frequency (RF) Expertise: Specialized capabilities for RF validation and testing.
- Hardware-in-Loop Simulation: Develop realistic simulation environments for hardware testing.
- Control and Data Acquisition Systems: Design and implement solutions for data acquisition and control functions.
- Telemetry Solutions: Provide both ground and onboard telemetry solutions for comprehensive data capture.
- Embedded System Development: Build custom embedded systems tailored to specific project requirements.
- Control Panel Assembly and Wiring: Expert assembly and wiring services adhering to IPC-620B/WHMA standards.
- Annual Maintenance Contracts: Ensure optimal equipment performance through ongoing maintenance plans.
This approach positions Captronic Systems as a go-to partner for companies seeking reliable and innovative solutions in the field of testing and development.
Tackling Challenges
Captronic Systems burst onto the scene in 1999. Vinod Mathews and his team had identified a crucial need in the market: bridging the gap between scientific research and technological solutions. Their expertise in fixing and revamping scientific equipment proved invaluable, and the company saw massive success in its initial five years.
For Captronic, 2005 was a wake-up call as several senior engineers left the company to join MNCs. These engineers were the architects of the company’s code and system architecture. Without their knowledge, troubleshooting bugs and fixing issues became a nightmare. Customer support suffered, and Captronic Systems’ reputation took a hit.
However, the company’s most senior employee, Mondeep (now the CTO), stepped forward. He understood the need for a structured and well-defined way of working. Implementing a rigorous yet standardized methodology, he helped Captronic gain the coveted ISO 9001 certification and international accreditation from the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA). What’s more, the international audit firm awarded them a Level 1 Certification—a level typically reserved for companies 10X their size.
By the end of 2008, as the US went into a recession, Vinod decided to shut down the US operations and return to India to focus on opportunities in the Indian Defense and Aerospace Market.
By 2010-11, Captronic ran out of money and faced difficulties executing projects. As numerous systems supplied to DRDO were being used and modified to test LRUs, Captronic was also facing problems such as delayed approvals of these systems and getting paid for its defense contracts. While the company kept receiving new orders, it couldn’t get paid until specific government agencies certified its work—causing cash flow issues.
Vinod Mathews realized that cutting costs to tackle this problem wasn’t an option as it would affect project quality. Banks wouldn’t lend money to Captronic because government invoices can’t be used for typical loans. On paper, all of this made the financial situation of Captronic unstable, making it difficult to secure funding.
The Next Phase
Realizing that the current business model was not working as expected, Captronic decided to raise capital by selling Equity. This was not easy, as investors hesitated to invest in such a model. However, they saw massive potential in the fact that the company was working with Indian Defence and Aerospace.
Forum Synergies India Trust Fund, a notable private equity firm, committed to investing in the company, but only if Captronic could increase profitability and present a de-risked model in one year—and it did, raising the required capital.
Vinod Mathews emphasizes that Captronic’s next growth phase is aligned with India’s Aatmanirbhar program, focusing on self-reliance and technological advancement. The company is poised to capitalize on the production of various validation systems supplied to DRDO Labs for the LCA and AEWC&S aircraft. These systems, once in production mode, will play a crucial role in both manufacturing and line-related testing at Indian Air Force Bases and BRDs.
The company takes pride in HAL’s recent order of 83 Tejas aircraft from the Indian Air Force, valued at Rs.48,000 crore. As a supplier to HAL, this presents a significant opportunity for the company over the next few years. Moreover, the production of other critical projects, including the ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter), UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle), Uttam Radar, and STFE (Small Turbine Fan Engine), signals the tremendous potential for the Indian aerospace industry and Captronic’s role within it.
Safran Data Systems (SDS) is a crucial part of this expansion vision, with its recent acquisition of Captronic—opening up new avenues. Aiming to boost their expertise further, the engineers continue to undergo training on advanced technologies offered by SDS. This strategic collaboration will enable Captronic to not only cater to the Indian market but also supply their ATEs to a global audience.
Customer Testimonials
Company Information
| Website: http://www.captronicsystems.com |
| Industry: Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing |
| Company size: 51-200 employees |
| Headquarters: Bangalore, Karnataka |
| Type: Privately Held |
| Specialties: Virtual Instrumentations, Automated Test Equipment, Visions and Motion Control, Data Acquisition, Industrial Automation and Process Control, Control Systems, Hardware in Loop Simulation, Built Print, LabVIEW, Checkout Systems, and End of Line Testers |
