INDIA TODAY, December 18, 2017: The Rise of Su-Kam Power Systems
Kunwer Sachdev, founder of Su-Kam Power Systems, has achieved significant milestones in the Indian power backup industry. One notable accomplishment is his claim of effectively displacing Chinese inverters from the Indian market. “Today, there is not a single Chinese inverter in the Indian market, while the electronics category is overflowing with Chinese products,” he asserts.
Sachdev’s entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 15, overcoming a lower middle-class background. He started by selling pens on a bicycle with his brother and later established a profitable cable TV business in Delhi. Recognizing the potential of the power backup industry, he shut down his cable TV business in 1998 to found Su-Kam Power Systems. His personal experience with unreliable inverters fueled his determination.
Innovation and Market Transformation:
Sachdev transformed the Indian inverter market by focusing on quality and reliability. He addressed issues like substandard wiring and power fluctuations, which were common among existing manufacturers. “To figure this out, I would spend nights in areas with a high incidence of power theft,” he explains. Before Su-Kam, the industry was dominated by numerous local players selling substandard products. Su-Kam’s entry forced a cleanup and modernization, leading to the sector’s transformation into an organized industry.
Expansion and Solar Energy:
Su-Kam’s success has led to its products being exported to 70 countries worldwide. Sachdev has now ventured into solar inverters, featuring solar-powered chargers. “Yes, we are a little late in entering the solar power sector, but I believe there is immense opportunity still untapped. With the rising demand for clean fuel, the future of solar energy is going to improve. If the diesel generator is banned, then the preference will shift to the big inverters that we have already brought to market,” he states. Su-Kam’s solar inverters aim to reduce electricity bills by 30-40% by directly connecting solar power to the household supply.
Key Highlights:
- Inception: Su-Kam was founded in 1998 due to the lack of reliable inverters.
- Investments: In 2006, the company received investments from Reliance Power and Temasek Holdings.
- Honors:
- Marico Foundation Award for Innovation (2001-05).
- Asia’s Most Recognized Brand Award (2012-13).
- Asian Leadership Award in 2013.
- Innovations:
- World’s first plastic-body inverters.
- Introduction of MOSFET, Microcontroller-based, and DSP Sine Wave technologies.
- Home UPS, combining UPS and inverter functionalities.
- Challenges:
- Delays in government patent approvals.
- Risk of technology imitation.
- Competition from domestic companies.
- Need for better battery research.
Corporate Culture and Patents:
Sachdev emphasizes employee respect and fosters a positive work environment, evident in the employee pictures displayed throughout Su-Kam’s Gurgaon office. He criticizes the Indian system for lacking appreciation for innovators. “In India, cricketers and film stars get asked a lot of questions, but no one asks innovators about his or her vision, struggles, or achievements,” he observes. He also stresses that innovation is the responsibility of entrepreneurs, not just the government.
Sachdev was a pioneer in filing patents in the Indian power backup industry. However, he highlights the challenges in securing patents, citing the lengthy approval process. For example, a patent application for a “High Frequency Lead Acid Battery Charger” filed in 2004 was only granted in 2017, by which time the technology had become outdated. He has applied for 90 patents, some of which are being sought by Chinese companies, but he laments the lack of urgency from the Indian government in patenting Indian innovations.
