We are poised to develop products for construction equipment applications
Prospect Engineering Works (PEW) is engaged in manufacturing, distribution and export of various types of clamps and couplings under the brand name 'JOLLY'. In an in-depth interview with ÆßÃõ¼º½, Ashish Anant Apte, Managing Partner, PEW, shares more on the mantra behind the power that is driving the company's scorching growth story.

What is the motivation that drives you to attain such scorching 30 per cent growth numbers y-o-y?
Our principal mission is 'passion in customisation'. Technologically, the world has evolved to such a level that even a ubiquitous product such as our clamps has found applications in multiple sectors such as industrial/construction equipment/earthmoving machinery and equipment, irrigation and farming, automotive, mining, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, shipbuilding, railways, farm equipment, to name a few; therefore, our policy is to remain lean and flexible in engineering clamping solutions (standard as well as tailor-made) to suit the specs and requirement of the industry.

How do you intend to achieve and maintain such scalable operations?
For the past 50 years, the financial strategy of the company has been to reinvest all earnings back into the company to augment our skills in research and development of products and services that not only cuts costs, but are superior engineered clamps comparable to the best in the West. For instance, our R&D Centre at the campus in Vasai (a western Mumbai suburb) is spread over 5,400 sq ft and employs 13 highly qualified engineers supported by technical staff having access to cutting-edge technology, machines and equipment. Long before the concept of 'Make in India' came into being, we have inarguably been one of those companies which has been manufacturing and marketing JOLLY Clamps that are truly import substitutes at cost-effective rates; therefore, it is no surprise that we are the preferred vendor to almost all the major OEMs.

Brief us on your company and its core competencies...
Our major strength is our confidence in our ability to deliver cost-effective products and services to all our OEMs, local and national distributors, and overseas customers. Economies in production scale and just-in-time delivery are two factors that lead to cost savings which earns for us customer loyalty and patronage. You will be surprised to know that some of our customers have been sourcing clamps from us for the past 30 years and more.

What is the range of products you are offering to the industry and the secret behind offering such a wide range of products?
Here I must share with you the secret of our continuing to remain number one, and that is our total focus on research and development of Special Purpose Machines (SPMs) which are perfect import substitutes. With these SPMs, we have been able to innovate our standard and customised clamps for various applications cutting across multiple industrial segments.

Our offerings include, but are not limited to, worm drive clamps in carbon as well as stainless steel, quick release clamps, constant tension worm drive clamps, serrated clamps, heavy duty worm drive clamps, constant tension heavy duty clamps, T-bolt clamps both with fixed and floating bridge, spring loaded T-bolt clamps, V-band couplings, one-ear clamps, screw clamps, mini clips, et al. All standard clamps are manufactured as per SAE, DIN and BS/IS standards. We have also designed and developed clamps as per customers' specs and drawings at short notice to assist them in timely completion of their projects.

What makes you confident on meeting the challenge of maintaining continuous growth?
First of all, the biggest asset of the company is never reflected in the balance sheet of a company - that's Human Resources. Our major strength is our motivated people numbering 170+ at all levels; from shop floor up to management; our extended family - Team JOLLY. At JOLLY, the average age of our staff member is 29, but more importantly, we have the lowest attrition rate because we are truly concerned over our people's welfare and we take care of our family.

Secondly, even before the concept of quality and environmental consideration came about to be recognised as an important tool in quest of excellence, we had been ISO/TS 16949-2009, ISO14001 EMS and OHSAS 18001 certified in pursuit of management, environmental and safety excellence and towards our responsibility to protect our environment.

While pursuing excellence, do you get time to discharge your Corporate Social Responsibility?
Yes, we do provide motivational scholarship to the disadvantaged section of children in local schools surrounding the factory area.

What does the future hold for a rising star like you?
You have not seen anything coming as yet with the fusion of algorithms and the strides being made across sectors in Artificial Intelligence; we are poised to develop products for application in construction equipment for proposed mass housing and infrastructural developments in an ever-growing vibrant Indian market. The growth story of India is here and now!