India is among EPLAN’s fastest-growing markets: Haluk Menderes

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India is among EPLAN’s fastest-growing markets: Haluk Menderes

India is among EPLAN’s fastest-growing markets: Haluk Menderes

Interviews
Apr 29,25

In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Haluk Menderes, MD, EPLAN GmbH & Co KG, discusses the global engineering trends, how Indian companies can be ready for the next level of engineering automation, and EPLAN's plans for India

India is among EPLAN’s fastest-growing markets: Haluk Menderes

EPLAN - as part of the Friedhelm Loh Group - is known for providing software and service solutions to streamline challenging engineering processes in the fields of electrical, automation and mechatronics. The German firm has been in India for more than 15 years and opened a new sales office in Bangalore in July 2024 for ensuring faster response time and enhanced local engagement. Our vision is to make EPLAN the engineering backbone for Indian manufacturers, states Haluk Menderes, Managing Director, EPLAN GmbH & Co KG, in this exclusive interview with Rakesh Rao during Hannover Messe 2025. Haluk Menderes discusses the global engineering trends, how Indian companies can be ready for the next level of engineering automation, and EPLAN's plans for India.

How significant is India in EPLAN’s global growth strategy?

India is one of our most promising and fastest-growing markets globally. Over the past five years, we’ve seen a growth rate of more than 30 per cent annually in India, which is remarkable. This growth isn’t just due to the size of the market, it’s because Indian companies are actively embracing modern engineering practices and investing in digital transformation.

There’s a clear push from the Indian government for digitisation, skill development, and Make in India. These initiatives perfectly align with EPLAN’s mission to enable smarter and more standardised engineering. India today is not just a consumer market; it’s also becoming a hub for global exports, and companies here are realising the need to compete at an international level. EPLAN helps them do that efficiently.

We now consider India a strategic market, not just an emerging one. It’s already among our top 10 markets and, if current trends continue, it will likely break into the top five within the next few years.

What strategic investments has EPLAN made in India recently?

We have been in India for more than 15 years, and we are consistently deepening our commitment here. Just recently, we inaugurated a brand-new facility in Bengaluru, which is a major step forward for our India operations. This new space isn’t merely about expanding square footage, it represents a strategic consolidation of our local competencies.

The facility brings together our customer support, R&D, training, and professional services teams under one roof. This integration enhances collaboration and enables faster responses to local customer needs. We are also ramping up hiring and training in India, not only to serve the domestic market but also to contribute to our global software development efforts.

India plays a dual role for us: it's a high-potential market, and it’s also a talent-rich country where we can innovate and build solutions for the world.

EPLAN is best known for its integrated engineering platform. What makes this platform stand out?

The EPLAN Platform is designed to simplify and optimise the entire engineering process, especially in multidisciplinary environments. Traditionally, electrical, mechanical, and automation teams work in silos, which leads to communication gaps, rework, and delays. EPLAN breaks down these silos.

What makes our platform unique is the ability to integrate electrical, fluid, automation, and cabinet engineering into one coherent workflow. All changes are synchronised automatically across disciplines, reducing the risk of errors and inconsistencies.

We also offer deep integration with upstream and downstream systems, ERP, PLM, and manufacturing tools. This ensures that engineering data flows seamlessly across the value chain, creating what we call a digital thread. This is increasingly important for companies that want to implement Industry 4.0 principles and improve traceability and efficiency.

How does this integration impact real-world manufacturing operations?

Let me give you an example. Suppose you're building an electrical control panel. With EPLAN, the schematic design, wiring diagrams, parts list, and cabinet layout are all automatically generated and kept in sync. If an engineer changes a component in the schematic, that change is reflected instantly across the layout and bill of materials.

Now, imagine multiplying this benefit across hundreds of projects a year. The time savings are enormous. More importantly, errors are reduced dramatically, which means fewer surprises on the shop floor.

This has a big impact on productivity and cost-efficiency. For companies doing repetitive or modular production, like machine builders or switchgear manufacturers, this level of integration is a game-changer.

Many companies struggle with the shift to digital. How does EPLAN support that journey?

That’s a great point. Digital transformation is not just about software, it’s about changing how people work. That’s why we take a very hands-on, partnership-oriented approach. Our focus is on enabling our customers, not just selling to them.

We begin by understanding their current engineering processes and pain points. Then we help them redesign workflows to be more standardised and efficient. Our consulting teams guide them through implementation, and we provide extensive training and support to ensure adoption.

In India, we have gone a step further by partnering with universities and technical institutes to introduce EPLAN in engineering curricula. This helps build a pipeline of talent that is ready to work in digital environments from day one.

We also provide flexible subscription models and modular onboarding so that even small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can start their journey at their own pace and scale up as they grow.

What role does standardisation play in modern engineering, and how does EPLAN facilitate it?

Standardisation is at the core of efficient engineering. It’s about creating reusable building blocks, standardised components, templates, and workflows that reduce complexity and accelerate project timelines. Once you have a standard set of blocks, you can build faster and more reliably.

EPLAN enables this through features like macro libraries, standard symbol databases, and modular project structures. Once a company creates a library of approved components and processes, engineers no longer need to start from scratch every time.

This leads to better quality, fewer errors, and much shorter design cycles. It also makes it easier to train new staff and scale up operations. For Indian manufacturers who are aiming for global competitiveness, adopting such standardisation is essential.

Do you think Indian companies are ready to adopt this level of engineering automation and digitalisation?

I have been visiting India regularly for nearly two decades, and I can confidently say the pace of change here is impressive. Indian engineers are highly skilled, curious, and eager to learn. We see tremendous openness to digital tools, especially among younger professionals.

Many Indian companies are already working with international clients who expect globally accepted engineering standards. This has become a strong driver for digitalisation. The real shift, however, happens when company leadership sees digital transformation not as a cost, but as an investment with clear ROI. And we are seeing that shift happen. From large enterprises to ambitious SMEs, Indian companies are realising that to stay competitive, locally and globally, they must modernise their engineering processes. We are here to support them in that journey.

What global engineering trends should Indian manufacturers be preparing for?

There are a few key trends. First is the move towards a fully connected, end-to-end digital value chain. Companies want to eliminate data silos between engineering, production, and business systems. EPLAN supports this through our open interfaces and partnerships with major automation and ERP providers.

Second is modularisation. By designing systems in standardised modules, companies can reduce time-to-market and improve scalability. We provide tools that support this engineering strategy.

Third is sustainability. Efficient engineering leads to less material waste, lower energy use, and better lifecycle performance. Governments and customers alike are pushing for greener products, and digitalisation helps meet those expectations.

For Indian manufacturers looking to scale or export, adopting these trends is no longer optional, it’s essential for long-term success.

What’s your vision for EPLAN’s growth in India over the next 3–5 years?

We are extremely bullish about our future in India. We’ve already built a strong foundation, and now we are scaling up across all dimensions, sales, support, R&D, and education. Our vision is to make EPLAN the engineering backbone for Indian manufacturers, whether they’re building machines, switchboards, vehicles, or infrastructure. We aim to be their long-term partner, helping them adopt best practices, reduce costs, and deliver better products faster.

We are also expanding our ecosystem of partners, system integrators, panel builders, and solution providers, to ensure customers can get end-to-end support across India. With all the right ingredients in place, market demand, talent, and government support, we are confident that India will be a key pillar of EPLAN’s global growth story.

Finally, what would you say to Indian companies still hesitating to begin their digital journey?

My message is simple: don’t wait for the perfect time to start. Begin with small, achievable steps. The benefits of digitalisation - faster turnaround, better quality, global competitiveness - are real and measurable. EPLAN is here to help. We are not just offering software; we are offering a proven roadmap to smarter engineering. Together, we can build an engineering environment that is efficient, standardised, and future-ready.

India has the talent, the ambition, and the momentum. We are excited to be part of this journey.