Efftronics Systems plans foray into defence sector

Efftronics Systems Private Limited, which supplies LED moving display systems and data loggers to Indian Railways, has plans to open its business with the Indian Defence sector.

The company is gearing up to match defence specific requirements after the defence authorities made enquiries with the firm about the range, efficacy and utilities of its control systems and other products in electronics, software and hardware, said D Ramakrishna, managing director, Efftronics.

He told Business Standard that the firm had opened a Rs 1.3-crore research and development (R&D) complex. The company, with a target fixed at Rs 25 crore for 2005-06, did business worth Rs 14 crore till December 1.

"Over 20 Efftronics products are of international quality and compete with rivals at international level on prices. For instance, our display systems (boards) are priced at Rs 10 lakh compared to Rs 70 lakh for the same systems sold by foreign counterparts."

Ramakrishna said, "We have now developed our own version of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) for high tension power based industries such as cement, oil, steel and petrochemicals. The technology is gaining attention from big domestic players."

"The Indian Railways has sought more software solutions from us. Among this is an application in fault finding analysis. If there is any violation leading to wrong sequence in operation, the system would instantly identify it at the specific norm stage itself and alert people concerned. The ultrasonic flaw detector, developed for the purpose, would jot down errors in minute details," he added.

He said that the company had also developed critical application software for dealing with hazards in highly inflammable chemical industries. Present solutions cannot work in such situations. The company redesigned a fail safety block instrument to meet such emergencies more effectively and efficiently than the present solutions.

The firm has also invested heavily in venture capital, irrespective of how their products would be received in the market. The firm has a headcount of 285, comprising over 100 software experts.

"Though we have a number of job vacancies, we are not getting right candidates," he added.