Vivek Saxena: A Trailblazer In The Aviation And Aerospace Domain
Vivek Saxena
Founder & MD
"If we are successful in helping our customers achieve their goals, we are successful in achieving our goals"
As a futuristic, visionary leader, Vivek Saxena,Founder & MD of Kasstech Aerospace, commenced his professional journey with a startup venture in 1990 which gave him a firm grip across all aspects of the business starting from sales to processes, and final delivery of goods to customer relationships. Since his initial stint across the test and automation domain, he had the privilege of interacting with quite literally every major industrial plant including steel plants/power generation plants/petrochemicalplants/coal mines PAN India during the 90s. This experience coupled with his intensive exposure to technology gave him valuable insights into alleviating the pain areas of the industry and increasing the efficiency with the application of technology. Envisaging the potential of the growth of aviation, subsequently shifted his focus to the aviation sector in 2006, and in 2019 he established Kasstech Aerospace. Today, Vivek is an industry stalwart with thirty one years of experience, encrusting Defense, Aerospace Technologies, Aviation, IT, Power and Energy.
Vivek engages in an exclusive interaction with the team of CEO Insights.
How are you placed in this market and what are your strategies to leverage the vast opportunities of defense and the aviation industry?
We are authorized distributors of Diamond Aircrafts, Austro engines and FLIR. In India, there is already a fleet of Diamond aircraft. Our MRO is under certification and shortly shall provide maintenance services for them including repair of aircraft and engine overhaul. Kasstech has a team of certified engineers who are not only able to repair and maintain both airframe and engines but also provide continuous maintenance support.
We are also working with DRDO in the development of several projects including flying platforms.We provide the propulsion system and integrate them onto airframes. Integrations of these engines is a very complex task involving several hundred components and a good
knowledge of thermodynamics and aerodynamics. We are in the process of establishing an aerospace consulting capability with the ability to do various CFD analyses. We are actively in the aviation sector with a thrust of making flying easy and accessible to a large segment of the population. This is through small aircraft which can be efficient and low cost means of transport between two points in a 1000km radius. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the aegis of ‘Skill India', we are participating in a renewed thrust to build capability in the country to train pilots in India on the latest training aircraft and simulators.
The propulsion system sourced from Austro Engines of Austria is the best in its class globally. With a high TBO and extremely low fuel consumption, these engines are the most efficient in their class with the lowest cost of operation. By integrating them into our ‘Made in India'platforms. The Indian industry can manufacture these flying platforms with world class performance capabilities in endurance and surveillance.
Diamond has also recently launched the eDA40, a flying training aircraft operating on electric propulsion(no fuel required!) Our extraordinary advanced technology solutions from Meggar can efficiently provide predictive maintenance for the underground cables and thus contribute to uninterrupted power to key industrial facilities.
We are also the authorized distributors of PSA Medical Oxygen Generators and Plants from Oxywise S.R.O. We provide customized solutions to the customers to fulfill their oxygen generation needs.
We are also working with FLIR a US based company dealing with infrared thermal imaging Systems. These are basically in very simplified terms, Thermal Imaging Sensors, similar to camera like devices that can pick up temperature differences by sensing heat emitted by objects. The sensor solution from FLIR is also the leading edge of technology in the field of thermal imaging. By developing unique solutions around these sensors, we are genuinely making them our `sixth sense' with the ability to detect heat and thus have a myriad of applications in different fields from industrial, medical to defense.
In terms of an analogy with desktop computers, the FLIR sensor can be considered as the CPU which makes the thermal camera function. Several major thermal camera manufacturers in India are using these sensors in their products.
Enumerate the technologies deployed in your services and tell us about your plans to innovate your offerings further?
We are veryfocused on what we do
Diamond has also recently launched the eda40, a flying training aircraft operating on electric propulsion(no fuel required!)
The propulsion system sourced from Austro Engines of Austria is the best in its class globally. With a high TBO and extremely low fuel consumption, these engines are the most efficient in their class with the lowest cost of operation. By integrating them into our ‘Made in India'platforms. The Indian industry can manufacture these flying platforms with world class performance capabilities in endurance and surveillance.
Diamond has also recently launched the eDA40, a flying training aircraft operating on electric propulsion(no fuel required!) Our extraordinary advanced technology solutions from Meggar can efficiently provide predictive maintenance for the underground cables and thus contribute to uninterrupted power to key industrial facilities.
We are also the authorized distributors of PSA Medical Oxygen Generators and Plants from Oxywise S.R.O. We provide customized solutions to the customers to fulfill their oxygen generation needs.
We are also working with FLIR a US based company dealing with infrared thermal imaging Systems. These are basically in very simplified terms, Thermal Imaging Sensors, similar to camera like devices that can pick up temperature differences by sensing heat emitted by objects. The sensor solution from FLIR is also the leading edge of technology in the field of thermal imaging. By developing unique solutions around these sensors, we are genuinely making them our `sixth sense' with the ability to detect heat and thus have a myriad of applications in different fields from industrial, medical to defense.
In terms of an analogy with desktop computers, the FLIR sensor can be considered as the CPU which makes the thermal camera function. Several major thermal camera manufacturers in India are using these sensors in their products.
Enumerate the technologies deployed in your services and tell us about your plans to innovate your offerings further?
We are veryfocused on what we do
currently but a composite manufacturing facility is also the next step in our roadmap to evolve into a company providing a full range solution to the aerospace sector.
R&D is essential for the recognition of the modern aerospace sector. Apart from providing different applications, we are conducting R&D on developing specific applications for the Indian Market. These sensors range from large ‘Gimbals' which form part of aircraft avionics systems of aircraft to small cores. These cores are the heart of various thermal imaging instruments and equipment. Therefore, yes, we are looking forward to significant investments in R&D.
The focus of all our efforts is to assist our customers to achieve their goals. From our point of view, if we are successful in helping them reach their goals, we will be successful in achieving our goals.
What were the initial challenges that taught you the lessons of managing diversi fied functions of an organization? And how did you manage to overcome them and achieve the success that you had in the later phase?
I had a fair knowledge of this domain during the initial phase of my journey as I was already active in this sector. So, domain knowledge or knowledge of the process was not the biggest challenge for me. The major challenge which I faced at that time was related to funding and I was fortunate to be blessed with the support from family and friends.
When we started, most importantly we were indeed very fortunate to have the confidence of some of our suppliers and customers who gave us contracts and trusted us to deliver, even though we were just a startup.
How does your vast experience help you out to chalk out business operations for the company?
Our focus is always to know the pain areas of the customers and provide a genuine solution for them. Our main objective is to ensure our clients' mission objectives are achieved with the highest level of capability and assurance and at the lowest possible cost.
Vivek Saxena, Founder & Managing Director, Kasstech Aerospace
Vivek has completed his B.Tech in Electronics from Vishwakarma Institute Of Technology, Pune India and Executive program in Business finance from IIM Ahmedabad. Apart from acquiring various other industry relevant certifications including Level II Infrared Thermography expert, hotline working at 220KV and many more, he has successfully participated in a large number of international conferences, training programs in North America/Europe/ South Africa/Middle East over his professional life so far.
Hobby:Reading, travelling and Music
Favorite Cuisine:Indian and Italian
Favorite Book:a lot of books
Favorite Travel Destination:world wide
Awards & Recognition:Recognized as top 10 most recommended Aerospace Aviation and Defense Service Providers 2021 by CIOinsider
R&D is essential for the recognition of the modern aerospace sector. Apart from providing different applications, we are conducting R&D on developing specific applications for the Indian Market. These sensors range from large ‘Gimbals' which form part of aircraft avionics systems of aircraft to small cores. These cores are the heart of various thermal imaging instruments and equipment. Therefore, yes, we are looking forward to significant investments in R&D.
The focus of all our efforts is to assist our customers to achieve their goals. From our point of view, if we are successful in helping them reach their goals, we will be successful in achieving our goals.
What were the initial challenges that taught you the lessons of managing diversi fied functions of an organization? And how did you manage to overcome them and achieve the success that you had in the later phase?
I had a fair knowledge of this domain during the initial phase of my journey as I was already active in this sector. So, domain knowledge or knowledge of the process was not the biggest challenge for me. The major challenge which I faced at that time was related to funding and I was fortunate to be blessed with the support from family and friends.
When we started, most importantly we were indeed very fortunate to have the confidence of some of our suppliers and customers who gave us contracts and trusted us to deliver, even though we were just a startup.
How does your vast experience help you out to chalk out business operations for the company?
Our focus is always to know the pain areas of the customers and provide a genuine solution for them. Our main objective is to ensure our clients' mission objectives are achieved with the highest level of capability and assurance and at the lowest possible cost.
Vivek Saxena, Founder & Managing Director, Kasstech Aerospace
Vivek has completed his B.Tech in Electronics from Vishwakarma Institute Of Technology, Pune India and Executive program in Business finance from IIM Ahmedabad. Apart from acquiring various other industry relevant certifications including Level II Infrared Thermography expert, hotline working at 220KV and many more, he has successfully participated in a large number of international conferences, training programs in North America/Europe/ South Africa/Middle East over his professional life so far.
Hobby:Reading, travelling and Music
Favorite Cuisine:Indian and Italian
Favorite Book:a lot of books
Favorite Travel Destination:world wide
Awards & Recognition:Recognized as top 10 most recommended Aerospace Aviation and Defense Service Providers 2021 by CIOinsider