Please take us through the journey of Rishabh Instruments Pvt Ltd.
Rishabh Instruments started in 1987 with technology from BBC Metrawatt of Germany for Analog Meters with a capacity of 400 instruments. The initial challenges were to make accurate components demanded by German technology and to develop moulds and tools. Since that development we have either developed many other products inhouse or imported technology for multi-meters, transducers, multi-function instruments, solar inverters, cam switches, controllers for DG sets, power supplies and CT’s and the journey continues. We have established an independent R&D centre in a separate premises and a separate testing set up with EMI EMC Lab, environmental testing, reliability testing to approve products to Indian and international standards.
It has been a long journey for us that led us to build the expertise in various arenas of analog and digital instrument world. The canvas covered by our products begins with the very simple requirement like measurement of basic electrical parameters to fulfill the requirement of high end communication in metering. Our product portfolio provides solution both when the requirement demands hand held instruments or the panel mounting option.
We make close to about 1,25,000 analog products and about 30,000 digital products in a month. Added to that, we can also manufacture about 50,000 current transformers in a month. Our products have an exceptional response in the world market. Our patented designs in the TMI domain have been appreciated across the globe. In fact, 60 per cent of revenue of Rishabh stems from international market.
What are the products manufactured by the organization catering to the power industry?
Analog panel meters, shunts, CTS, multi-function meters, power quality meters, controllers, clamp meters, protector relays, CAM switches, transducers, power supply, digital multi-meters, isolators, insulation testers. Along with these instruments, we offer the Indian and international customers unique features such as scale changing in Analog Meters, Anti Blocking System in multi-meters, IP 65 protection in multi-meters, Category IV in multi-meters and string inverters with automatic recording of electricity generated. Power factor correction, harmonic correction & power quality measurement are area where Rishabh is doing substantially well.
How has the government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign helped Rishabh Instruments to firm its manufacturing footprint? Please elaborate.
‘Make in India’ creates a higher brand value of Indian products in the international markets. Rishabh has started leveraging the same as our export business comprises 60 % of the overall business of the company. It conjointly says that all the foreign make companies has to have their 60% manufacturing set up in India. Indian products will also have global level specifications and will comply with all international products available in the market in order match to the global players.
In India, around 98 cities and towns are in the blueprint to transform as Smart Cities. There is huge scope of opportunities for the industries in India to play a catalyst role for this enormous transformation of cities. Rishabh mainly deals in electrical sector and under Smart City initiative; the major transformation would be with electrical grids, energy conservation initiatives, energy utilization and other such crucial factors. Rishabh has a good opportunity with these government initiatives as we are already into the industrial control products and test and measuring instruments.
What innovations would you like to make in manufacturing, design and development of products to make them more technologically efficient and cost efficient?
State–of–the art manufacturing facility and expertise has been core strength for Rishabh. Over the decades, we learnt through various experiences and optimized our designs, engineering, material selection, manufacturing processes, technologies and implementation techniques. The cost competitiveness begins with R&D by selecting the most efficient way of product designing and utilization of the advance material science. The philosophy has been carried forward when it comes to the engineering and manufacturing.
Optimization of the bill of material and adaption of newer technologies and skilled manpower are key elements of product cost competitiveness. Apart from this, one of the most important dimensions is quality control as it plays a vital role and has a direct impact on the costing. Zero defects, adaptation of 5S principles and Right in the first time are levers to deliver the most cost-competitive products with unmatched quality.
Features and functionality are added in the beginning with high end product which is then brought down to the low end. Example: energy import export features were only in some product but today it is a standard feature. Few multi-meters had RMS and wide band frequency function but now many models have it and customers are demanding it. People want higher crest factor with power electronics to produce more and more distorted waveform, SMPS as auxiliary has nearly become an industry standards instead of linear power supplies etc.
What are the growth drivers of your products?
The unique advantages or key drivers for growth in this sector are increasing awareness for predictive maintenance among the people of India. Continuity of the process has direct correlation with the productivity of the organization and hence predictive maintenance is gaining more and more importance. On other hand, the demand from the customers to fulfill the needs of complex process issues is forcing the T&M companies to innovate continuously. The result is development of high end devices like power clamp meters / power quality analyzers with unique features and advantages are seen in the market.
How strong is R&D department to introduce new technology-driven products? Do you have plans to introduce the new products?
We have R&D facility that is approved by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and a certification lab which has received approval from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). We also leverage the expertise of our European subsidiary – Lumel, to gain quality insights and requirements in the global arena to keep ourselves abreast of international quality demands and to augment our own insights of solution requirements. It is evident that these facilities and resources provide Rishabh a unique advantage for developing and honing our offerings from time to time. The intensity of our product launches and caliber of the offerings are a reiteration of our R&D prowess. Our portfolio is that way strong but if needed we welcome all possible customization in our products as per customers’ requirement. We strive for continuous improvements in our products, services and facilities. Our all products are RoHS compliant thus, contributing towards safety of environment and follows global standards making them compatible with any type of application. This year, we are coming up with our own in-house EMI/EMC lab with comprehensive test facility.
What kind of potential do you envisage for the company with the government’s roll out of various infrastructure development projects like 100 smart cities, urban transportation projects, Metro, power for all scheme?
The new government policies like Start Up India, Make in India, Clean Energy, UDAY Scheme will accelerate the growth in this sector with a good pace and would form a sustainable roadmap for this sector. At the same time it would be prudent to have realistic energy price levels for the Non-Conventional energy sources to sustain the business model.
What is your outlook for 2017-18?
The new products include 5KV Digital Insulation Tester. This product is extremely suitable for field testing and has proven operation in switchyards where there is induction voltage present upto 600V. Along with this, Rishabh is planning to come up with a power clamp meter with printer and Bluetooth communication and android app which makes power measurement safe and easy. Along with this, we are also planning to come up with student series handy multi-meter to address our young users. We have plans to introduce more products required by T & D sector. As already mentioned, the company has goals to grow in Telecom sector, Solar sector to come up with instruments useful for these applications and become a prominent player in this sector. Apart from this, we also have roadmap for some innovative launches this year. Some of them have already been launched like Touch screen Multi-Function Meters and Power meters. Rishabh has initiated a campaign wherein we are rigorously following and promoting the RoHS compliance for all our products.
