6th Mitsubishi Electric Cup India: Where Future Engineers Meet Real-World Automation

Speaking for Team Recycron, an instrumentation and control team from MKSSS Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Pune, Ms. Tanvee Deshmukh said: “Honestly, it feels amazing to be here as the first runner-up at the ME Cup India 2026, winning the Silver Cup. Building our prototype, EcoForge, has been quite a journey. We’ve spent the last six months on it — from buying components and assembling everything to messing things up, short-circuiting parts, and figuring them all out again. We really got our hands dirty. It means a lot to us to be among the top 35 teams nationwide, having had the chance to work with Mitsubishi Electric components and experience what we have learnt. Right now, it all feels a bit surreal. This machine has become like our baby. We genuinely wanted to build something that could make a difference—something that could simplify and automate existing systems using AI.”

Paritosh Thorat, leader of Team Pegasus, said: “We are immensely proud to have secured the Bronze Cup at the ME Cup India 2026. This achievement reflects months of dedicated effort, continuous learning, and a strong commitment to solving a real-world industrial problem through a practical and scalable solution. Our journey was filled with technical challenges, from ensuring reliable system communication to refining our predictive approach. Each obstacle pushed us to revisit fundamentals, improve our design, and work with greater precision.”

“We are especially grateful for the mentorship we received throughout this journey. Our college faculty provided constant guidance, helping us strengthen our concepts and approach problems systematically. Additionally, the mentorship and insights received from Mitsubishi Electric experts were invaluable, as they encouraged us to align our work with real industry standards,” he added.

Speaking ahead of the awards announcement, Dr. S. Sriram, Director and Head of the Factory Automation & Industrial Division, Mitsubishi Electric India, described the event as “spellbinding.”

“Mitsubishi Electric is committed to supporting initiatives like this and strengthening collaboration with academia,” he said. “Every project here is unique, and many have the potential to go further. We are keen to explore how some of these ideas can be developed to the next level. In fact, I think Mitsubishi Electric India can take some of these ideas and explore the possibility of bringing them to the next level, and we shall certainly work on this.”

Dr. Sriram also announced that the winning team will visit Mitsubishi Electric’s facilities in Japan and take part in the upcoming global MECA competition.

From a human resources perspective, Ms. Priyankur Priya Tiwary, General Manager of Human Resource & Administration, highlighted the broader value of the competition: “It is inspiring to see the level of commitment, teamwork, and energy on display. This event goes beyond competition—it reflects the mindset of Mitsubishi Electric: discipline, innovation, quality, and continuous improvement.”

She added: “The finalists have reached this stage through persistence and collaboration—the same qualities that drive our organization. By giving young engineers practical exposure and confidence with advanced automation technologies, we are helping to build the future of manufacturing. As part of a worldwide network, strong capabilities in India directly contribute to global excellence.”

Mr. Atsushi Otsuka, General Manager of FA Solution Software Business Development Department, Mitsubishi Electric, also addressed participants, highlighting Mitsubishi Electric’s ongoing work in digital transformation, AI, and cybersecurity.

He spoke about the growing role of IoT sensors and data analysis in improving production efficiency, while noting the increasing importance of cybersecurity as connectivity expands. He also referenced Mitsubishi Electric’s acquisition of Nozomi Networks as part of its response to these challenges.

Looking ahead, he noted that trials involving humanoid robots in factory and logistics environments are already underway. “The vision of fully automated factories, where robots take on hazardous tasks, is steadily becoming reality,” he said.