APSON Motor India  

Hiren Panchal (HP), managing director, APSON Motor India Pvt. Ltd., shares insights with your author (SSP) on how the company and its products epitomize the “Make in India” concept.

SSP: Why is “Make in India” essential for the development and growth of the vertical-transportation (VT) industry across the nation, especially when viewed in context of cheap imports?

HP: When cheap imports flooded the Indian market, the domestic elevator industry faced a significant challenge due to a lack of manufacturers capable of producing high-tech gearless traction machines. In 2016, we identified this gap and revolutionized the industry by introducing cutting-edge, Made-in-India solutions. While Made-in-India products may be slightly pricier than cheap imports, APSON’s offerings provide numerous benefits, including reduced inventory costs, faster delivery times and prompt technical support in your local language. By choosing APSON, you’re investing in quality, reliability and tailored support that imported products can’t match.

SSP: What are the key benefits offered by Apson’s “Make in India” products?

HP: APSON’s products cater to diverse segments, including:

• Villa elevators: Belt drive technology and rope traction machines compliant with IS 17900 standards
• High-rise projects: Traction machines capable of achieving speeds of up to 12 m/s
• Industrial applications: Traction machines lifting loads up to 28 t in 8:1 roping

We also offer tailored solutions for specific clients, such as designing a product with a 15-year warranty for a European elevator OEM. Our expertise allows us to fulfill unique technical requirements, providing customized solutions that meet customer needs.

SSP: Why is it worth paying a higher price for such “Make in India” products?

HP: “Made in India” isn’t necessarily expensive. When you consider the value addition, quality and long-term benefits, domestic products often prove to be more reliable and cost-effective compared to cheap imports. With advantages like faster delivery, localized support and reduced inventory costs, “Made in India” products offer a compelling value proposition that justifies their price.

SSP: How are technology advances/technology-led innovations by APSON redefining VT and playing a bigger role in driving VT industry growth in India?

HP: At APSON, we operate with a long-term vision. Since 2016, we’ve been at the forefront of technological innovation in the Indian elevator industry. We pioneered the development of advanced traction machines with 24-, 32- and 48-pole variants, boasting bearing lifecycles of up to 36,500 h. Notably, we were the world’s first company to offer a four-year warranty on elevator traction machines.

Our early adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as belt drive, axial flux and rope traction machines set us apart. By 2022, we achieved another milestone by manufacturing traction machines with capacities up to 28,000 kg and speeds of 12 m/s.

Our relentless pursuit of innovation has not only future-proofed our organization but also driven industry-wide progress. By promoting advanced technologies, we’ve encouraged other manufacturers to upgrade and discontinue outdated products, ultimately elevating the industry’s standards.

SSP: How does opting for such advanced technology benefit end users, VT providers and the VT industry in India overall?

HP: India is a totally different market and has its own needs that require affordable elevator components but not at the cost of quality. Considering India’s geometric location, weather conditions and high usage of elevators due to its population of 1.4 billion people, products for the Indian market require more safety measurements. When it comes to safety, we never compromise on safety components such as brakes. We strictly follow a 125% brake safety ratio selection for brakes for our traction machines.

With APSON’s traction machine, we offer above 85% efficiency, up to 36,500 h of lifecycle, an IP67-protected terminal box, less than 50 dB noise, up to 240 starts per hour operations, etc.

SSP: To what extent are technology advances by APSON influencing “Make in India” and vice-versa? Do you see scope for Indian companies like APSON to become significant exporters of VT industry products going forward?

HP: When we entered the elevator industry, our vision was to become a prominent exporter of high-quality, durable products. To achieve this, we invested heavily in infrastructure and machinery, ensuring we met the stringent requirements of the Middle Eastern and Western markets. Our state-of-the-art production line features advanced equipment, including:

• Dustproof rooms for magnet assembly
• Hydraulic and pneumatic assembly lines
• Automatic coil winding and stator testing
• Vacuum varnishing plants
• Permanent magnet synchronous motor analysis load test benches
• Soundproof rooms for noise testing

Our gearless traction machines have been successfully exported to countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, the U.A.E., Egypt, South Africa and Vietnam, receiving positive reviews and changing the perception of “Made in India” products.

To further strengthen our supply chain and quality control, we’re planning to invest approximately US$3 million in Phase 1 to manufacture rare earth magnets in India, demonstrating our commitment to innovation and excellence.

Product Range

Model	Capacity Range	Speed Range
Eco-Strong Series	Up to 544 kg	Up to 1.5 m/s
Inner Rotor Series	Up to 2175 kg	Up to 2.5 m/s
Outer Rotor Series	Up to 3000 kg	Up to 2.5 m/s
Belt Drive Series	Up to 1088 kg	Up to 1.5 m/s
ZF (Slim Motors) Series	Up to 1200 kg	Up to 2.0 m/s
CHETAK by APSON – HC	Up to 7000 kg	Up to 3.0 m/s
CHETAK by APSON – Sky	Up to 2200 kg	Up to 12.0 m/s

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