Lapp India : Pioneering electrical connectivity arena

We are the pioneers in introducing the concept of “Total solutions in Electrical Connectivity” in India, with an unbeatable range of products.

Mr. Marc Jarrault, Managing Director, Lapp India

Q. Please highlight the details of business operations at LAPP INDIA? What is the role of Lapp India in Lapp Group’s growth story worldwide?
Lapp India is a 100% subsidiary of the Lapp Group which manufactures Cables, Connectors, Cable Glands, Conduits and Accessories. We are the pioneers in introducing the concept of “Total solutions in Electrical Connectivity” in India, with an unbeatable range of products. Lapp India started its India operations in 1996 with a manufacturing unit in Jigani, Bangalore.

The Bangalore manufacturing unit is the third largest manufacturing facility of the Lapp Group, producing about 100,000 km of ÖLFLEX® connecting and control cables and insulated single cores each year. In 2012, Lapp India set-up its second Indian manufacturing facility in Pilukhedi, Bhopal and currently it is operational. Lapp India is our second largest company; the country has exceptional talent, skills and knowledgeable resources. Lapp India’s growth sets an example for our business in other countries worldwide.

Q. What is the product range offered by Lapp India?
Lapp has a vast range of around 40,000 products which address a variety of connectivity requirements for a number of verticals including – wind, solar, automation, automobile, building connectivity, machine tool, process, solar, and even the public sector.

A few of our flagship products are:
ÖLFLEX®, universal cable used in control applications – besides being the first multi core cable to be manufactured in the world, these cables are suitable for 3 axis rotation applications and also for applications with very high linear bending stress. ÖLFLEX®, FD cables can resist 8-10 million bending cycles of operation. ÖLFLEX® cables are the only choice when it comes to machine tool applications as these are oil and chemical resistant. Just to add on, this world renowned cable recently celebrated 50 great years of success.

UNITRONIC®, data transmission devices – is highly effective in avoiding leakage of signals during Data Transmission. This is achieved by using tinned copper braiding as a screening material against EMI interference. This is the brand of choice if you want fast, safe and forward-thinking solutions for transferring data. The range includes data cables for all electronic applications, from tiny cables in coffee machines to those transferring huge amounts of data in supercomputers.

HITRONIC® fibre optic cables are designed to transfer large volumes of data. Communications media via fibre optics are fast, efficient, and secure. Not even electromagnetic interference can affect HITRONIC® fibre optic cable. The HITRONIC® range of products includes cables for office communications, industrial applications, simplex, duplex, hybrid wiring, or cable chain applications.

ETHERLINE® Ethernet technology-based networks are playing an increasingly important role. We therefore offer reliable system solutions for network technology. The range includes products, software solutions and services for total security and availability.

SKINTOP® cable glands guarantee secure connections every time. Simply thread the cable and twist. That’s all! Your cables are perfectly centered, secured, hermetically sealed, and ready for action. Choose from a wide range of models in plastic or brass, for EX and EMC applications, halogen-free types or anti-kink protection, metric, PG or NPT.

EPIC® connectors – are used in multiple terminations (no. of wires to be connected), can effectively withstand harsh and dusty environment. It can take up to 216 pins in one connector and has a configuration range of 4 -216 pins. You will find EPIC® rectangular or circular connectors in any machine and plant engineering or drive technology application used for measuring, control, regulation or drive. It is a flexible system consisting of casings, inserts, contacts and accessories which is perfectly suited to any requirement.

SILVYN® conduit and SKINTOP® gland – This universal range completely protects cables against dust, moisture and technical, thermal or chemical exposure. They are specially designed to suit underwater pressures at 5 bar with no seepage upto 50 meters below surface level.

Further they are made of polyamide which is crush resistant, flame retardant and halogen free. In many applications cables have to be additionally protected against mechanical and chemical stress. For this type of application, Lapp Group can supply the universal SILVYN® protective cable conduit program. Cable conduits manufactured from metal or plastic material, which can be used with matching glands to form a perfect system connection.

The complete system results in all round protection for cables in indoor and outdoor installations. With SILVYN® CHAIN, Lapp Group’s widely variable programme of power chains we offer both cable protection and guidance for highly dynamic applications.

FLEXIMARK® These sophisticated systems facilitate durable cable marking and ensure everything is clear and quick to identify. From simple inscriptions, to labelling and marking solutions for manual marking right through to FL SOFT software for electronic recognition, this range can meet your every need. This variant is suitable for a variety of applications for cable and individual core marking and control cabinet markings. It is available in a plastic or stainless steel finish. Additionally, it is also suitable for environments under chemical, thermal or mechanical stress. Significant quality of these systems is that they are transparent, elastic or halogen-free.

Q. What are the new products that the company has recently introduced or plans to introduce in the Indian market?
Our aim at Lapp India is to further strengthen our position in the control cables segment and penetrate deeper into the market. Also, to help cater efficiently to increasing demands from customers in the country, we are strengthening our base in the single core wires segment as well. Our current focus is to establish the single core business for the building segment and control cabinet application.

Lapp Group, recently added the latest innovation to its ÖLFLEX® brand: the ÖLFLEX® HEAT 125 SC the multitalented single core which not only has a broad temperature range, but also meets the most stringent fire protection requirements owing to its certified high flame retardancy and low toxicity in case of fire.

The ÖLFLEX® HEAT 125 SC has a temperature range from -55°C to +125°C for fixed installation, and it can even withstand temperatures of up to +145°C for brief periods. In case of fire, the single core guarantees safety in areas with a lot of people, by minimizing flame propagation, density of smoke gases and their toxicity. These properties contribute to reducing fire damage to buildings and equipment caused by formation of toxic acids. Further, in addition to the well-established single core power chain cable ÖLFLEX® FD 90 Lapp presents the Basic-Line equivalent ÖLFLEX® CHAIN 809 SC – for light and ordinary duty in power chain applications.

The new single core is also suitable for torsion loads, which typically occur in wind turbine generators. Due to an AWM approval in combination with a very small minimum bending radius in terms of fixed installation export-oriented machinery builders can also use this cable for internal wiring of switch cabinets. The ÖLFLEX® CHAIN 809 SC is a single core power chain cable with both insulation and outer jacket in PVC; it is UV resistant, flame retardant and oil resistant.

Additionally, we have also added the EPIC® SOLAR PL008 and EPIC® SOLAR AL008 to our wide range of solutions for solar industry. The latest innovation EPIC® SOLAR PL008 and EPIC® SOLAR AL008 has benefits of cost efficient plastic junction box. These cables are extremely resistant and durable. The aluminium housing is an excellent cooling element for the diodes and significantly increases their lifetime.

Q. What is the dealer network that Lapp India has at present?
Lapp India operates through 4 regional marketing units in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, 23 sales offices and a strong network of 100+ dealers throughout the country. Additionally, we have “e-KHOJ” bringing the “Dealer Connect” portal for our customers and employees where we provide the real time information for the following:

a) Tracking order status
b) Maintaining quotations
c) Creating sales order
d) Viewing open orders pending for delivery
e) Document flow
f) Printing order
g) View shipment details & tracking number
h) Product pricing
i) Stock information
j) Invoice wise outstanding etc.

Q. What is your marketing strategy for Indian market?
We have embarked on augmenting our customer service and the way we respond to customer requirements. In line with our guiding principles of being customer centric, we are focusing on our customers’ connectivity requirements to improve efficiency of operations.

Our recently launched Lapp Experience Centre that showcases our extensive range of products catering to 8 industry verticals provides customers an opportunity to touch and feel the entire product portfolio thus helping us to enhance our customer buying experience. Additionally, we have introduced a single hotline for customers to get in touch nationally and are learning how to improve ways to respond to customers across the globe.

We are also strengthening our base in the segment of single core wires by establishing a dealer network in order to help cater efficiently to growing domestic customer demands. Our current objective is to establish the single core business for the building segment and control cabinet application. To win a competitive edge over the players in the field we believe in delivering unbeatable quality and our excellent logistics enables supplies to reach in the shortest time.

Further, as the tier-II and III cities have been developing vigorously and we have been witnessing good demand from these regions. Hence we are focusing our efforts on exploring the market potential in these regions by educating buyers about the significance of quality products as opposed to the low-priced sub-standard products.

Q. Brief us about the quality policy for your business?
Lapp India products follow the globally acknowledged VDE Standards that are harmonized with IEC (International Electric Commission) and are more stringent than the IS (Indian Standards), that are generally followed by majority of the cable manufacturers in India. The VDE mark confirms compliance with protective requirements ensuring maximum safety and reliability.

Also, our state-of-the-art infrastructure in manufacturing facilities and adherence to highest safety standards has earned our manufacturing plant in Bhopal an ISO 9001: 2008 certification on March 22, 2013, recommended by TUV India, VDE and IEC certification for HO5-VK and HO7-VK for a range up to 6sqmm and IS 694 extension certification for producing FRLS wires up to 6 sqmm. In addition to this, Bangalore plant has been awarded IEC certification for HO5-VK and HO7-VK for a range up to 240 sqmm.