January 30, 2015: Arihant LED Lights is one of the reputed manufacturers and suppliers of a broad range of LED lights, which it sells under the brand name Arihant. Apart from LEDs, Arihant is associated with the promotion of renewable energy in India and therefore, manufactures various energy saving products. In an interview with LED Bazaar, Udaybhan Jalsaria, marketing manager, Arihant Lighting, spoke about the company’s latest technological advances and future endeavours.
LB: Since when have you been manufacturing and trading in LED products in India?
We have been into manufacturing and supplying LED lighting products since 2009.
LB: How has your company grown in the last two years?
The company has witnessed tremendous growth in the last two years. To give you a more precise figure, we have grown by approximately 70 per cent.
LB: What LED products do you manufacture?
Under the brand name Arihant, we manufacture a complete range of LED lights including street lights, high bay lights, floodlights, tube lights, high mast lights, spot lights, façade lights, down lights, 2×2 panel lights, garden lights, underwater lights, slim panel lights, back lit panels, strip lights and bollard lights. We specialise in retrofits/customised solutions that require technical expertise.
LB: From which region or cities does most of the demand for your LED products come?
We have been witnessing demand from all over India. However, most of the demand comes from Maharashtra, Delhi and NCR, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
LB: Has the demand increased in the last two years? And by what percentage?
The demand for our products has increased manifold over the past couple of years. The demand for LED lights from Arihant has registered a 50 per cent growth in the last two years.
LB: In what way are your LED products technologically advanced?
In India, most of the LED product manufacturers procure fixtures from China, which do not last for long and have poor thermal conductivity (good thermal management increases the life and output of the luminaire). However, at Arihant, we have an in-house die casting facility, where high quality raw materials are used in order to facilitate better heat dissipation. Arihant is an ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certified company. Also, we have all the certification from the government pertaining to LED lights. Apart from this, we have a qualified and experienced team of around 20 engineers who are involved in R&D and the technical analysis of the company’s products.
LB: What are the challenges you face while manufacturing LED products in India?
At the macro level, we are facing very tough competition from Chinese products. Such products are not just cheap but are manufactured from poor quality materials. Hence, they are ruining healthy competition in the market.
LB: What are the challenges of doing business in India, in the LED domain?
LEDs are slowly gaining acceptance in India. Consumers are also switching to LED lights at a fast pace. However, customers in India are very price sensitive and are not willing to pay a premium for the technology integrated in the products they are using. Customers here are mostly worried about the pricing without knowing the technical aspects of LEDs.
LB: Do any of the government policies help in boosting LED product manufacturing in India?
So far, we have not seen much attention being paid to the lighting sector. I do not think any action has been taken in this regard. More attention is needed from the government for the LED segment.
LB: Are you coming up with any new products this year?
We plan to launch approximately 10-15 brand new LED products, such as 200W flood lights, 50W low bay lights, rigid strip lights and down lights for showrooms and the retail segment in the next few months.
LB: What are your growth plans for this year?
Our company is planning to enter the dealer and distributor segment this year. We plan to strengthen our channel network. Apart from this, we are also planning to venture into the government sector.
LB: What marketing strategies do you follow?
Our company uses forceful marketing strategies, targeting the market as per the product application. Our primary focus is on institutional and project sales. When it comes to marketing LED lights, most of the manufacturers ignore after sales service, which is of vital importance. Since LEDs are electronic products, our company places critical emphasis on product quality and service to the customers.
LB: Are you looking for partners such as distributors, systems integrators, etc?
We are indeed planning to expand and strengthen our channel sales network. We are ready to enter the distribution segment, so we are looking for dealers and distributors.
LB: How do you contribute to developing the LED product manufacturing ecosystem in India?
Arihant has a fully automatic plant and focuses on the in-house manufacture of LED products. Being an OEM, we strive to provide the best quality products all over the country, at competitive prices.
