Japan to India, and Beyond

Shakir Ahmed (SA), managing director, Fujitec India Pvt. Ltd., shares perspectives with your author (SSP) on his vision for the brand, its technology solutions for the ongoing pandemic and an overview of the VT industry.

SSP: Which unique selling proposition (USP) defines Fujitec India and its offerings for different segments of the vertical-transportation (VT) industry?

SA: At Fujitec, we always put our customers first and ensure that products with the latest technology and features are offered. Even our smart elevator product range supplied to residential and low-rise commercial segments is packed with features similar to what we provide with our premium product range. We believe in delivering the best technology to all segments of the Indian market. Technology and service processes have matured to suit Indian requirements. Thanks to that, there is > 365 days of mean time between failures.  

SSP: Which key markets does Fujitec India cater to for different product segments?

SA: Fujitec’s Indian factory at Mahindra World City, Big Rise, manufactures products from 1 m/s (6P) to 4.0 m/s (up to 29 P) in compliance with IS4655 and EN 81-20/50. We are the first Japanese multinational corporation to manufacture elevators in India with speeds up to 4 m/s. Apart from catering to the domestic market, Big Rise is a production base for 14 countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

SSP: Describe the technology solutions offered by Fujitec India to combat COVID-19.

“Apart from catering to the domestic market, Big Rise is a production base for 14 countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.”

SA: Fujitec has been at the forefront of development with contactless call-registration systems that use mobile-app technology and sensor-type buttons. Fujitec’s Ionful, a clean-air technology, ensures quality air inside the elevator cabin. A UV-based escalator handrail sanitization system is also offered. Our customers have also been provided with the Fujitec Connect app-based service to ensure end users are connected to their equipment and can track all service-related activities and reports. Fujitec Connect also has a callback registration feature that facilitates immediate registration of calls by maintenance teams, rather than their having to call the toll-free number and register the call.

SSP: How would you describe your management style and approach?

SA: Our senior management team is customer-centric. Being a Japanese brand that emphasizes continual improvement and strong quality processes, we localize global solutions to suit ever-changing Indian market requirements. That is our forte.      

SSP: What is the significance of Fujitec India in the overall operations of Fujitec globally?

SA: Fujitec has four main factories that supply globally designed and qualified products to our other group countries from our Indian factory, Big Rise. We export from India to 14 markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

SSP:  What are your expectations for the VT sector through 2021 and beyond?

SA: All the liquidity infused globally to kickstart economies post-pandemic, and the Indian economy, expected to experience a V-shaped recovery with gross domestic product growth of 10%, should help boost real estate and its associated industries, including VT. Since the beginning of 2021, we have seen bursts of recovery, which could be due to the elastic nature of the pandemic. This trend will need to be watched for some time.

SSP: What is India’s estimated market size at present, and how do you see it developing moving forward?

SA: India is the second-largest elevator market after China, with about 55,000 elevators annually and another 1,500 escalators. Infrastructure projects, according to published documents of metros and airports, should generate demand for around 3,000 additional elevators and escalators annually going forward. A fast-growing sector in India is affordable housing, which calls for a reliable, cost-effective and smart product.

SSP: How do you see India’s government policies affecting sectors like real estate and infrastructure, and to what extent do you see these policies influencing demand for Fujitec products?

SA: The government has released a slew of policies, starting with “Make in India,” which bolstered our plans to start production as the First Japanese company with a manufacturing facility here. GST streamlined a lot of our taxation issues. Pradhan Mantri Yojana, smart cities and subsequent exemptions announced by the government led us to develop smart products that cater to larger market segments. We were also the first Japanese company to offer locally manufactured elevators with speeds up to 1 m/s. Over the past few decades, the Indian elevator market has largely transformed. Product positioning has shifted. Now, our latest product line could cover more than 70% of market demand. 

SSP: Do you see modernization/refurbishment as a growing market?

SA: Modernization and replacement of elevators is big business in India. Our portfolio being fairly new, we mostly work on required upgrades in traffic-handling technology, COVID-19 packages, service management, etc. We do undertake full elevator replacement, with an aim to provide a better product in terms of reliability, safety, features and benefits.

SSP: What is your future vision for Fujitec India? 

SA: We see Fujitec growing with its latest technology and robust product strength and consolidating itself further as a reliable product and service provider for domestic and international markets from its base in India. 

About Shakir Ahmed

With more than 26 years’ industry experience, Shakir Ahmed has worked in various capacities in the U.A.E., Turkey and other markets globally. He holds an engineering degree from PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore. In his role as Fujitec India managing director, he leads the Fujitec India team by developing and implementing company policies. He oversees the factory, its export operations to Southeast Asia and the Middle East and the operational side of the domestic business. He directs and controls the company’s operations and provides strategic guidance to the board to ensure the company achieves its mission and objectives.