Since its inception in 1982 by Founder, Chairman Mr. Chapsi Gala, Timex Group has made its presence felt in homes, offices and commercial spaces. They have been creating the best for customers since, more than 30 years with quality products in Veneers, Plywood, Laminate, ACP, Ceramics and Doors. Their manufacturing facilities are adept at churning out products that match global standards. Having a vision to become Number 1 Doors manufacturing brand in India, Timex Doors has invested huge capital in machineries & infrastructure and offering wide range in Doors along with ‘Complete Door Solution’. The Ply Reporter talked to Mr. Mahendra Gala, Director, Timex Doors on their activity and future market prospects in Indian door industry. Excerpts.
Please give details about Timex Door infrastructure, manufacturing facility, production capacity per day, plant location etc?
company equipped with all latest technology and internationally trained professionals. We are based in Maharashtra located on NH 8 Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway just 20 mins drive distance from Vapi city of Gujarat and 2 hours drive from Mumbai. The infrastructure has spread across 6 acres of land area, equipped with high tech machineries that includes, A SAWMILL, COMPUTERIZED SEASONING KILN, VACUUM PRESSURE IMPREGNATION TANK, HOT PRESS, VENEER DRYER MEMBRANE PRESS, ITALIAN CALIBRATION MACHINE, GERMAN PANEL SAW, WIDE BELT SANDING MACHINE FROM NETHERLANDS, SPRAY BOOTH, EDGE BEND MACHINE, CNC MACHINE and a fully equipped laboratory. With these state-of-the-art equipments we are able to generate 600 doors per day.
How many varieties of doors, the company is offering now?
We offer variety of doors which include: Marine Flush Doors 100% Imported Pine Wood; Decorative Veneer Doors, Decorative Laminate Doors, Fire Retardant Doors ( Fire Rating- 30mins, 60mins, 120mins), Moulded Panel Doors (White Primer), Moulded PVC Doors, Routed PVC Doors, Veneer Moulded Panel Doors, Doors with Vision Panels, Melamine Polished Veneer Doors, Doors with PVC Edge Bending, Door Frames made up of Red Meranti Wood, Tubular Doors, Techno Doors, Honey Comb Doors, Complete FSC Doors, etc. Made of composite construction of solid timber components consisting New Zealand’s pine bond of 2.5 mm cross bands with PF resin, Timex Flush Doors, ensures optimum strength and long life. Stringently processed in high temperature and pressure, Timex Flush Doors is hot pressed, phenol bonded, solid core, seasoned timber and preservative treated against borers and termites. Moreover, the wooden planks are thoroughly seasoned with ultramodern imported seasoning chambers, making it more potent and durable.
How do you see the prospect of finished doors market in India?
The door market in India is growing regularly and further its prospects are bright. We can say the time has come for the finished doors. The reason behind it is that developers and builders have to complete their projects in given timeframe. Earlier the work was to complete in longer time duration but the time has changed. Now the projects need to complete as quick as possible. For a medium project two years is considered as big time irrespective of five year before. Earlier only the door work was done in one year in such projects. So, the developers and builders want ready to install material for quick job execution and this trend is growing at rapid pace.
How do you see the future of offering ‘Complete Doors Solution’ with Frame and Hinges?
The future of ‘Complete Doors Solution’ with Frame and Hinges is very bright because, the time has changed and in small time frame people have to complete their jobs, and for the purpose they have to adopt the readymade ‘Complete Doors Solution’. Government initiative will boost the demand and developers and builders requirements also catering the complete door market. For a construction if the different agencies work in different requirement than work goes on delay, this is not acceptable in fast moving world therefore already fit materials need only installation which is planned or installed during construction for finishing.
The infrastructure has spread across 6 acres of land area, equipped with high tech machineries that includes, A SAWMILL, COMPUTERIZED SEASONING KILN, VACUUM PRESSURE IMPREGNATION TANK, HOT PRESS, VENEER DRYER MEMBRANE PRESS, ITALIAN CALIBRATION MACHINE, GERMAN PANEL SAW, WIDE BELT SANDING MACHINE FROM NETHERLANDS, SPRAY BOOTH, EDGE BEND MACHINE, CNC MACHINE and a fully equipped laboratory. With these state-of-the-art equipments we are able to generate 600 doors per day.
What kind of new things in doors is being offered presently and which ones are in your preference list?
We are offering COMPLETE DOOR SET having everything as door frame, door shutter installed with the respective hardware as of new offerings. This will help them to procure all things at a single source with no extra work on door installation. We have over a dozen of range in doors offerings; the preference lies with customers and their budget, accordingly we provide solutions and guide them to buy for such requirement, whether it is main door, inner door, staircase door, washroom door, etc. Besides, there are many doors such as electric cable duck, etc. So, for the specific uses we offer specific types of doors. The requirement need to be fulfilled, and their thickness, strength and heaviness should be in that strength required for the usages and place of installation. The colour is another factor which is asked to match with the interior furniture.
What are specialties of Timex Doors?
The speciality is that we have a vast experience of door making for over 30 years, and we have seen at many places that our doors have been installed for over 15 years and still continue. In this way we get the repeat customers. Right from the beginning we have the policy that we do not use sub-standard raw materials. Generally people do compromise with quality in price war situation. That is way our product performance increase many folds and we have established a very good reputation in the market. We specialize in custom sizes, of quantities of 1 to 100 doors. If you want a door in odd heights or widths, we will make it. If you want panel configurations changed, we will do it. All of our doors are made by quality woods and with advanced technology which makes them unique and strong. Besides, the timely delivery is the biggest factor which is our plus point. Users are benefited with our no compromised quality, cost effectiveness and timely delivery.
What are the advantages of Timex Door Frame (Choukhat) for customers?
Timex Door Frames are manufactured using 100% chemically treated and seasoned wood. Efficient factory made quality makes it hassle free for customers
to install.
How do you see the future of Fire retarded doors?
It is called anti-fire door which is a life saving product. Presently the big projects or multi-storey buildings are majorly constructed in cities in which there are authoritative guidelines to install fire retarded doors, and it is mandatory under safety reasons. In the regards the statutory/legal provisions are getting tighter day by day. In metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi and others it has become compulsory in main door, kitchen door, staircase door etc. Due to this its awareness has increased many folds so is the demand. Besides, in government projects and hotels this fire retarded doors are being used at greater interests. In coming days we are expecting for over 30 percent growth in this category.
How has been Timex catering this trend?
Timex has three types of fire rated doors such as on the basis of time rating it is 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 120 minutes. In India 120 minutes category doors are in demand, but it is technically difficult to make. Some people offer this in higher thicknesses that become bulky and heavy which is not good. We have brought it in reasonable thickness of 45 to 50 mm in 120 minutes category, in this way it has become much sought after product in the market. This is an exclusive product and we have achieved this standard according to the authority guidelines and regularly pass the test for every batch of production. Some people in non-branded category in their greed compromise with quality and are indulged in spoiling the trend as well as the market. That are actually not a fire retardant doors but the malpractices in business they say it fire retardant. We facilitate the quality and standards available in world around to Indian consumers with totally indigenous technology.
We have witnessed an aggression in Timex doors offering in last three years, what changes are you observing?
Definitely the there is aggression in door category for material spread and brand promotion. As there is a huge market requirement ahead and we are also taking steps according to the demand so that we can fill the gap in the market. It will grow in coming days. Our mission is full of promise and commitment to the society. By maintaining transparency opening up exciting opportunities we have a competitive edge for developing our business in the future. We also intend to provide the best quality product at the most competitive price followed by an unmatched client services.
Where do you want to see Timex Door in next two years?
We are planning to add new technologies with automisation which will increase our production to double in the next two years. Currently we are manufacturing 600 doors per day. We will add some product category as well in coming days. We set target to become number 1 Doors manufacturing company in two years.
Which area (Dealers/Projects) is strong for Timex door and why?
We have a wider presence throughout India and we cater to distributor/dealers rout for product spread and we find it suitable for India market. To reach the pinnacle of success by rising the customer’s confidence and wellbeing we create a Timex Family of distributors, dealers and employees. In projects also we cater the dealers/distributors even being direct involvement of company and we work together.
What kind of doors is most suitable or liked by mass Indian consumers?
In my experience of this long journey in door manufacturing and trading for Indian environment marine doors are most suitable because in India we have to bear extreme weather conditions such as monsoon, cold and summer everything is at extreme. And in such weather condition the stability will comes with marine doors.
Which materials are the best ‘infill material’ for doors making?
We have choice for in filled material such as Poplar or Pine or Particle Board or Tubular Hallow boards or others in terms of strength, quality, sustainability etc, but according to the requirement one have to select infill material. For example for main door the solid timber is most suitable as it can give the required strength whether it is Poplar or Pine. And in inner doors like bedroom doors the particle board doors or Tubular Doors can go well, in washroom doors we can use Tubular Doors. In multistorey building the light weight doors is suitable as it require low weight installation for safety reason. In earlier days people were using heavy doors for safety, now in modern time there is security people keep eying on for safety from outsiders, so does not require heavy doors in multi-story buildings. In this way infill material for doors is best at one place is not suitable at another place. We should make a choice according to requirement.
What are the changes, do you observe in doors market recently?
The door market is changing and the particle board in-filled doors acceptance is increasing these days. The manufacturing is being standardised according to the demands from projects and Government initiated affordable house construction schemes. The big companies have succeeded in this category to maintain standard size door manufacturing. Slowly small players are copying them. Big players/builders are using latest technology in space selling. In this category also the standardisation is penetrating. According to the government announcements ‘house for all by 2022’ the construction will witness a boost so the door manufacturing and standardisation will have another level in coming days. For cost saving, the standardisation will have to be done in any ways.
Non- Standardization is the biggest challenge for organized doors companies, what is your opinion?
Really it is a challenge and will sustain for long in India. The change will come but slowly. To bring a change for standardisation is time consumable; it will not come over night as people have long practice of it. People are in practice to construct first then come to the market for doors. We are creating awareness for this cause and many people are taking stapes in this regards.