Allied Industry

Betting big on India

Jurgen Wolf MD Hafele India

Jurgen Wolf, managing director, Hafele India speaks about his company's vision and plans for the Indian market while expressing his opinion on India’s potential as a business destination…

Since its entry into India in May 2003, Hafele has set up three design centres in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. “Our design centres display latest products that are currently being displayed across our stores worldwide,” reiterates Jurgen Wolf, managing director, Hafele, while emphasising that the centres have an average exhibition area of 1,500 -3,000 square feet.

With several joint alliances, Hafele India sells a large range of fittings for furniture, kitchens and doors. It has a dealer network of 140 dealers across the country in metros and satellite towns. Another big advantage with Hafele, Wolf asserts, is its strategy through which it makes its entire product range of 80,000 articles available to its customers anywhere in the world from its central warehouse in Germany. The company holds forth on its strong foundation of a motivated workforce, which observes market trends, listens to customers, and has learned to think creatively with receptiveness to change. "Technical competence is one of the mantras for Hafele's success," he proudly claims.

The game plan

Hafele's vast product range includes any type of furniture fitting, 'Dialock' access control systems, wood connectors, wardrobe fittings and accessories, kitchen fittings, sliding fittings, glass fittings, door controls and an exhaustive range of handles for furniture and doors. "We are targeting customers in the hotel, construction and carpentry industries. In addition, we offer value-added services that local competitors are unlikely to be able to match," Wolf claims.

As a company motto they believe it is important to pass knowledge to the customers as well. Therefore, the company conducts regular seminars and training courses in the design centres to raise standards and promote better practices in the selection and application of hardware in buildings and furniture. With the help of trained installation specialists, customers are trained to achieve a quality installation that ensures proper functioning of chosen fittings," tells Wolf.

Through its business principles Hafele has garnered a reputed name for itself in the global market, and now in India as well, "We are one of the leading suppliers to top notch hotel groups around the world providing complete solutions for their furniture, doors, access control and glazing systems. In India our clients include the Hyatt, JW Marriott, ITC Sheraton, Le Meridien, Taj Hotels, Leela Kempinski, Intercontinental and many more," he claims. Wolf explains that quality at Hafele attains a seven-fold meaning, comprising of product quality, innovation, technical competence, one-stop shop, customer care culture, installation support and warranty commitment. The production processes at Hafele are tightly controlled and quality is achieved through globally recognised certification of Hafele and its external suppliers to ISO 9000.

One of the fundamental reason of Hafele's success is its ability to build long-lasting relationships with its customers on a day to day basis. "Only a satisfied customer is going to come back again and again and will recommend Hafele to others. This is achieved through our insistence on putting good old-fashioned values before making a quick profit. Hafele’s employees’ main objective is to earn the trust and respect from their customers. Based on this simple and common sense culture, no Hafele company has ever failed in its entire 85-year old history," cites Wolf.

On the horizon

The company has a long-term business agenda in mind where India is concerned. The company has taken advantage of the easing of customs duties on imports and entry barriers to enter India. "With over 40 patents to their name, Hafele offers the latest advances in technology and design with constant evolution. It has the largest range of over 80,000 products under one roof to satisfy every hardware requirement suiting everybody's application and budget," describes Wolf. To complement its kitchen fittings range, Hafele introduced products from Blum - the undisputed leader in state-of-the-art drawer systems and hinges. "With today's buyers ready to spend more money on quality fittings to make their kitchens and home furnishings more attractive, user friendly and easy to maintain, Hafele gives them the 'one stop solution' for all their needs," describes Wolf.

Wolf believes

Expressing his views on the Indian market, Wolf opined that the country possesses a tremendous potential for companies in the business of quality products for all sectors, not only the hospitality sector. Further vindicating its belief in the Indian market the company has already invested Euro 4 million in their Indian operations.