— P. K. Jain, CMD,
Adhunik Switchgears Pvt Ltd
Adhunik Switchgears is a reputed name in the field of low-voltage
switchgear. This New Delhi based-company was recently conferred
a National Award for Outstanding Quality Products. In an exclusive
interaction with Electrical Monitor,
P.K. Jain tells us more on the
company's quality-conscious attitude and its sharp focus on R&D.
Jain also shares his company's vision of spreading its wings
nationally as well as globally. Setting up an R&D centre for testing
of switchgear products is also on the anvil, notes Jain. An interview
by
Venugopal Pillai.
At the outset, tell us about the various products made by
Adhunik in the switchgear/control gear category.
We are basically in the low-voltage (LV) switchgear industry
that includes MCB, MCCB, RCCB, distribution boards, panels,
meter boards, feeder pillar, industrial switch sockets, modular
range of switch sockets, etc.
We understand that government department and PSU are
your major clients. Tell us more. Do you also cater state
power utilities?
Yes, Central and state government department form our major
clientele that includes Defence, Railways, CPWD, state PWDs
etc. Some state power utilities are also our customers.
Tell us about your R&D set up. Over the past twenty years of
Adhunik Switchgear, what would you regard as major
technological milestone?
From the very beginning, our main focus has always been on
R&D. Generally speaking, in India we used borrowed
technology that is developed in European countries as per their
requirements. But in India, our requirements are entirely
different due to the existing atmosphere and environmental conditions. That's why we focus on developing our products
according to the requirement of our own country. Development
of pre-wired distribution boards (DB) is one of the major
technological milestones crossed by Adhunik Switchgears.
Tell us in some detail about pre-wired distribution boards made
by Adhunik Switchgear. What advantages do such distribution
boards enjoy over the conventional ones?
The pre-wired distribution board was truly a breakthrough
product. It was carefully designed and meticulously
engineered to impart comprehensive safety arrangements
within internationally accepted electrical and mechanical
parameters.
Pre-wired solutions overcome all the problems associated
with traditional distribution system. The in-built loose wire
box fulfills the requirements of extra space for loose wires
without disturbing the interiors. The removable cassette
makes it possible to fit in fine and saves costly accessories
from theft during construction. Further, factory fitment of
devices makes it possible to use proper torques and other
physical parameters to avoid arcing, loosening and strangling
of wires, etc.
What is you general opinion about the testing and certification
infrastructure in India? Do you think that certifying and testing
agencies have kept up with technological demands?
Testing facilities, for switchgear in particular, are not sufficient
in India. There are only two organizations—CPRI & ERDA—
that are equipped with the required testing equipment for
switchgear. Both the labs are generally overbooked for 4 to 6
months. Their testing charges are very high and are not
affordable by micro and small industries. As a result, it nullifies
the R&D effort in these products. Installation of more
laboratories for switchgear industry is very essential.
Do you cater to the exports market? In general, how is the
demand for India-made switchgear globally?
Well, our current focus is on serving the national market.
However, in the near future we do aim to take our products
globally so that the benefits of new and technologically advanced
products could be extended internationally.
Is the Indian switchgear industry facing competition from
Chinese players?
We always feel that there are two types of markets in the
industry. One is the quality-conscious market and the other
is the cost-conscious market. Our products are developed
mainly to cater the needs of the quality-conscious customer.
So, Chinese players may be providing a tough time to the
other Indian players whose main focus is to produce lowcost
products.
Please discuss the switchgear products market in
the residential real estate sector. What are the current
market trends?
Residual current devices (RCD) like ELCB (earth leakage circuit
breaker), RCCB (residual current circuit breaker) and RCBO
(residual current circuit breaker with over-current protection)
are mandatory devices as per law. However, due to negligence,
in most cases, either these protection devices are not used at
all or if used, they are bypassed during their actual working.
For people who care, an RCCB works as a friend and guide as
it works as a rider on other devices. An RCCB trips when there
is a fault or leakage current from wiring or at devices and saves
from potential electrocution.
In general, protection engineering has not got the attention
it deserves.
What are the key challenges facing the Indian switchgear
industry? What government support do you expect to address
some of these?
The Indian switchgear industry is facing stiff challenges such
as the raising cost of raw material and the repeated type-test
of products in spite of inadequate type testing capacity with
testing laboratories.
The government should open up more testing laboratories so
that the small and medium scale industries could come forward
for R&D towards developing new and innovative products.
Moreover government can have its sales infrastructure in
other countries where a government of India-owned subsidiary
could become the catalyst for selling made-in-India products.
This subsidiary could procure goods from the large but
fragmented infrastructure available in the country.
Please outline your future plans and the milestones that you
would like to see Adhunik cross in the next say 5 - 7 years.
Our first and foremost aim is to maintain the image that
Adhunik Switchgears holds for producing excellent quality
products, and to do full justice to the recently-bagged National
Award presented by The Honorable President of India Smt
Pratibha Devi Singh Patil for Outstanding Quality Products.
Further, we will now focus to extend our reach to different
geographical boundaries of India and also to cater the needs of
the international market. We have also plans to set up R&D
centre where one can get his product tested at very reasonable
price and with the Adhunik Guarantee.