Furniture fitting companies are bearing the brunt of the QCO onslaught, the category being the first within furniture to be mandated by BIS. Hettich had announced compliance for drawer runners and hinges in October, while Ebco and Hafele are expected to announce soon.
At the recent National Manufacturing Summit organised by CII in New Delhi, FFSC’s CEO Rahul Mehta got Frank Schlöder, Hafele India; Geoffrey Nagpal, Ebco; and Andre Eckholt, Hettich India to share plans for making India a global furniture hub.
The trio—Hafele, Ebco, and Hettich—accounts for the largest chunk of investment in the furniture sector. Hettich’s manufacturing complex in Vadodara and Indore has come up on an investment of over Rs 2,000 crore. Ebco recently attracted PE investment of around Rs 3,000 crore through the equity dilution route. Their collective sales have touched Rs 4,500 crore.
Between them, over two decades these companies have transformed the Indian furniture manufacturing business no end.
They have built vast networks of experience centres powered by technology and design services, and democratised furniture design.
They are helping furniture OEMs become efficient by sharing knowledge about furniture manufacturing, optimising their procurement, and offering sharp logistics support.
With Atmanirbharta (make in India) becoming a business mantra, they are building a tier of local vendors who meet exacting standards and comply with the country’s toughening quality norms. Hafele will achieve 30 per cent sourcing from India by 2025 and aims for 50 per cent in the mid-term.
They are giving Skill India a boost by supporting carpenter and woodworking training across India, in partnership with Furniture and Fittings Skill Council (FFSC). Hettich is setting up its third Hettich Poddar Wood Working Institute in south India, having established state-of-the-art campuses in New Delhi and Mumbai.
