Pune-based Jayashree Group started activities in the year 1972 with Jayashree Electrodevices Pvt Ltd, the flagship company headed by Mr Ram Bapat, Chairman of the group. Jayashree Electron Pvt Ltd was formed in 1982 to meet the upcoming electronic challenges with Mr D G Dabke, a Post Graduate in Electronics from Pune University (1973), as the Managing Director. Jayashree Electron, pioneered the development of proximity switches in India and got an alternative to the imported proximity sensors, which were costlier. Proximity Sensors, which were imported during those days.

Today, Jayashree Electrodevices is a leader in Conveyor Safety Switches and is the only Indian company manu-facturing DC Servo Motors for automation. Jayashree Encoders Pvt Ltd was incepted in 1995 with a young energetic team and the company manufactures Optical Encoders, adding in the process more products to the group portfolio. Jayashree Group has introduced many products for the first time in the country, the pioneering spirit at work again. Conveyor Safety Switches, brushed PMDC servomotors with built-in encoders along with matching servo drives and brush less servomotors conforming to international standard are among the high quality products manufactured by the group. Mr Dabke responded to the IPF Questionnaire for this Special Section on industries in the city. Excerpts:

What are the products that you offer?

Jayashree Electron manufactures electronic products for control and automation in every industry. The product line is mainly related to the control of induction motor, speed of any rotating object and position sensing of different objects. We also manufacture other products like transducers, level controllers, load monitors, optical safety barriers, etc.

What are the applications?

Jayashree products have applications in every industry. Some major applications are as below:

i) Motor Starting: induction motors are an essential part of every industry. Our soft starter is an ideal starter for induction motors.

ii) Speed Monitoring: our electronic speed switches are used in power plants, cement industry and other process

industry for monitoring speed of bulk material handling conveyors.

iii) Position Sensing/Counting: our proximity switch are used in machine tool, defence, robotics, pharmaceuticals, foundries, automobiles, steel plants and all other industries.

Why should the customer opt for these?

We are manufacturing these products for the last 30 years. We have our own R&D section. All products are manufactured and tested for Indian working conditions. The products are proven over the time for its quality, price and service.

How strong/effective is the after sales service?

The high quality standard of the product requires after sale service only for 2-3% of the products. The service is offered promptly to any place in India.

How does the cost of ownership over the life cycle compare with competition? Our products undergo continuous upgradation based on latest technology and customer feedback. A new product is developed in a short span due to long experience in the product line. A competitor or new entrant needs to travel a long way to compete with us. We have patiently waited in our initial days to get business.

What is the company's history?

Jayashree Group activity was started way back in 1972 with the 1st product patented for its unique design. During last 30 years, we have three companies under the group umbrella, 4 manufacturing units with 5000 sq.m area and about 300 employees.

What are the company's achievements?

With the 1st product patented Jayashree has always launched new products for the first time in India. We have won appreciation and prizes at many industrial exhibitions. Some of our customers are with us for more than 25 years, which is the most important achievement for the company.

Any breakthrough product launch that made a difference?

Jayashree was the 1st company to introduce electronic soft starter in India in the year 1990. This product brought us in contact with people from practically all sectors of the industry and helped a lot to promote our brand to everybody.

How is the present business environment?

There was a little slowdown in engineering industry between the years 2000-2005 but India has sustained over the recession wave in European countries. It has actually given a boost to Indian industry. With increasing demand of automation in every sector of industry our products will have very good business for at least the next 10 years.

What are the future plans?

We are expanding quickly to meet the increasing demand of all products. Recently, we participated in an international exhibition in Germany and had a very good response for our products. We are continuously upgrading our manufacturing technology and machinery and our manufacturing area will be doubled in next 2 years.

[Jayashree Electrodevices Pvt Ltd (Email: jeremon@jayashree-electrodevices.org); Jayashree Electron Pvt Ltd (Email: sales@jayashree.co.in); and Jayashree Encoders Pvt Ltd (Email: sales@jencoder.com)]