EMKA’s new plant to Strengthen Panel Builders in India

“The newly inaugurated EMKA plant will support builders with locally manufactured, high-quality locks, hinges, and handles.“

EMKA, a worldwide recognised brand, provides dependable, resilient, and high-quality solutions for panels in various sectors, according to Kumar Subramaniam, Managing Director-Middle East, India & Pacific, EMKA Beschlagteile Middle East FZE.

Can you explain your experience working with panel builders and panel accessories?

My association with the EMKA Group is since I was in Germany in 2007. This allowed me to closely follow their new product developments and relationships with panel builders in Europe and North America. Over the past year, I have collaborated closely with well-known panel builders in the Gulf region and India, resulting in a highly positive and overwhelming experience. However, the main challenge has been balancing cost competitiveness while also considering the value of the approach.

What are the key considerations when selecting panel accessories for different types of panels?

EMKA is a globally recognised brand known for its reliability, robustness, and consistent quality. Regardless of the type of panel required, we offer a comprehensive range of solutions. Our product portfolio caters to various applications, ranging from domestic to heavy industries, including oil and gas applications. In addition to electrical panels, EMKA products are widely utilised in HVAC, railways, and numerous machine builders.

When selecting panel accessories, our sales team considers technical aspects, such as IP rating requirements and the specific application environment. This ensures we choose sleek and robust accessories perfectly suited for the intended purpose.

What steps does EMKA take to stay updated on the latest advancements and trends in panel building and accessories?

EMKA prioritises staying at the forefront of advancements and trends in panel building and panel accessories. To achieve this, we have one of the largest technology centres in Wuppertal, Germany, which includes an accredited testing laboratory specifically for accessories. Technologists and designers work tirelessly in this facility, continuously developing and releasing new prototypes and products. As a minimum, they introduce 10 to 15 new designs to the market each year. Notable examples of recent advancements include the polyamide multi-locking system, pin-less hinges, and advanced infrared locking systems.

While the industry still recognises the world-famous EK 333 Keys, there is a notable shift towards digital keyless systems. EMKA has embraced this trend and recently showcased various digital keyless options at the Hannover Exhibition in Germany.

How did EMKA overcome supply chain challenges and ensure seamless product supply to panel builders?

In 2022, when I began working with EMKA, we encountered significant challenges in the supply chain. Acquiring key raw materials such as Zinc, Stainless Steel, and Polyamide proved particularly difficult, leading to disruptions. We resorted to flying in some raw materials directly from South Korea to mitigate these issues. Despite the challenges, EMKA remained committed to seamlessly supplying the required products to panel builders.

Throughout this period, we communicated daily with our German mother plant and coordinated direct air shipments to customers in India and Saudi Arabia. Our strong relationships with long-term logistics partners also played a crucial role in overcoming our obstacles.

Since then, we have adopted the EIP Agreement (EMKA-In-Partnership) as our approach and slogan, which goes beyond a simple vendor and customer relationship. Such agreements provide panel builders with a guarantee of our commitment and support.

How does EMKA’s new Indian plant benefit panel builders?

Indian growth seems to be in a real acceleration phase now. We at EMKA have recently inaugurated a greenfield plant at Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, to logistically cater to all parts of India. Several moulds have already been shifted from Europe, and started manufacturing several variants of locks, hinges, and swing handles have been made in India by EMKA and for the panel builders in India. 

For more details, visit https://www.emka.com/in_en/company/