Chetan TA, Managing Director, Murrelektronik India.

Can you give an overview of Murrelektronik’s current product range in India? How is it tailored for the needs of Indian industries?

Murrelektronik offers a complete portfolio of automation technology – from control cabinet components to field installation solutions.

Core offerings include:

• IO modules, switches, connectors, power supplies, distribution boxes and IO-Link devices.
• Advanced decentralised systems like Vario-X are gaining traction for cabinet-free automation.
• The IP67-rated components are ideal for harsh industrial environments, reducing installation and maintenance time.
• Vision system accessories (switches, hybrid cables, connectors) help address the growing machine vision integration in Indian factories.
• Profinet, EtherCAT, Ethernet/IP, and IO-Link compatibility ensures seamless integration into Indian customers’ existing architectures.
• Solutions are modular and scalable – appealing to both SMEs and large OEMs across India.
• Plug-and-play connectivity solutions reduce labour costs and speed up machine commissioning.
• Local engineering and application support help customise global solutions for Indian machine builders.

Which product lines or technologies have seen the strongest demand in recent years? Are there any specific sectors or regions within India that are driving your growth today?

IP67 related technologies have seen the strongest demand and acceptance. IOs, power supplies, and switches & hubs have been increasingly used by machine manufacturers and automotive OEMs. India has a diverse mix of industries with a region-wide distribution of sector specific concentrations. The West and South continue to drive the machine tool and automotive segments. The North is a hub of intralogistics and has the sector innovating the maximum in terms of new line of products and technologies. The East continues to be the backbone of PSUs in steel and cement sectors. The ongoing modernisation of Railways is also very interesting sector to watch out for.

How is Murrelektronik addressing the growing need for decentralised automation in India?

• Murrelektronik promotes cabinet-free automation using systems like Vario-X.
• Modular, IP67-rated products eliminate long cable runs and reduce panel size and hence the cost.
• MVK Fusion combines standard, safety, and IO-Link I/O into a single module – minimising installation time.
• We offer a wide range of fieldbus modules for all common protocols – ideal for diverse Indian OEM requirements.
• Our products enable diagnostics at the field level, improving uptime and reducing troubleshooting time.
• Training and webinars are conducted locally to raise awareness on decentralisation benefits.
• Engineering and application support teams in India help adapt decentralised solutions to local machines.

What major trends do you observe in industrial automation in India, and how is Murrelektronik adapting to or shaping these trends?

There is a strong trend towards digitalisation, IIoT, and Industry 4.0, driving demand for smart, connected devices. Decentralised automation is becoming the norm – reducing control cabinet dependency. Shorter project cycles and cost pressure drive demand for plug-and-play, pre-tested solutions. There is a growing interest in data diagnostics to reduce downtime.

Murrelektronik enables predictive maintenance and condition monitoring via real-time data access. Local support and faster logistics help Indian customers reduce import dependency and project delays. Participation in expos and roadshows across India promotes thought leadership on future automation trends.

What are some of the most recent product innovations or solutions Murrelektronik has introduced to the Indian market?

Murrelektronik has recently introduced a range of cutting-edge automation solutions to the Indian market. These include the Vario-X system, a cabinet-free, decentralised automation platform that reduces installation time by up to 40% through its modular and plug-and-play architecture.

The company has also launched the MVK Fusion CIP Safety I/O module, engineered for robust performance in harsh industrial environments, offering integrated safety and standard I/O functionality in a single ruggedised unit.

MQ15 waterproof power connectors provide tool-free, secure connections for motors, significantly simplifying power distribution in demanding conditions.

Modlight60 Pro RGB IO-Link signal tower delivers flexible and intelligent visual signalling with customisable status indications via IO-Link communication.

Complementing these hardware innovations, Murrelektronik leverages digital twin technology and the uKonn-X digital installation assistant to enable advanced remote monitoring, diagnostics, and guided commissioning – streamlining setup and reducing downtime in complex automation systems. All new products are globally certified but tailored with Indian voltage ratings and ruggedness in mind.

What is the projected growth for Murrelektronik India over the next 3–5 years? Are there expansion or investment plans in place?

Murrelektronik India has seen >15% CAGR since becoming a subsidiary in 2017. From 125 MINR in 2017, revenue has grown to over 600 MINR, with team expansion from 10 to 50+ employees.

We expected to become one of the Top-5 global subsidiaries of the company by 2027, based on growth momentum. We are in discussion with the board to start a local manufacturing unit in India within 3-5 years, and expansion of technical support and application engineering capabilities across India.

Increased investment in training, roadshows, webinars, and customer awareness programs.

Focused hiring in regional sales, solution design, and system integration support teams.

Strategy includes onboarding more channel partners in tier-2/3 cities.

Sustained double-digit growth expected through adoption of decentralisation, smart factories, and logistics automation.

In my current role as Managing Director for Murrelektronik India & South Asia from Sept 2012 & reporting to the Board of ME GmbH, have successfully set up 100% subsidiary of ME in India in 2017.

ME India is now a 40 people strong organisation in India with customers from varied sectors of Industry including Ecommerce Majors, Automotive, Machine tool, Packaging & Material Handling integrators.

We are one of the major players in Indian & World market for IP67 based IO & Connectivity solutions with the concept of decentralisation of industrial network as core area of expertise.

Prior to joining ME, I was the Regional Manager –Sales for South at SICK India Pvt Ltd and have past experiences of working with other Major Automation Companies like Schneider Electric India and Pepperl-Fuchs India.