Interview with Mr. Ashu Jhingan Director,Electro HeatEngineers.
Electro Heat Engineers has been at the forefront of pioneering Boiler less Heating Solutions for High Speed Corrugation Machines & 3/5 ply board plants.
Corrugman : Electro Heat Engineers was established in 1986. Could you share the vision and mission that led to the founding of the company? How has the company’s vision evolved over the years to adapt to changing market demands and technological advancements?
Ashu Jhingan : Electro Heat Engineers, along with its subsidiaries, Hot Temp Industries and Radiant Heating Systems, is a prominent name in the packaging industry as a comprehensive heating solutions provider and heating consultant, particularly in the corrugated box industry in India. The Hot-Temp line of heaters manufactured and marketed by Electro Heat is the largest-selling heater brand in the corrugated box industry in India.
Electro Heat Engineers was formed in the year 1986 with a mission to design and manufacture world-class industrial heaters. Founded by a highly experienced and renowned heating professional, Mr. K K Jhingan, Electro Heat was amongst the first heater manufacturers in the country to design and produce customized heaters as per the client’s heating needs.
Even in those years, Electro Heat Engineers worked with a philosophy that no two heaters were ever the same. Hence scientific audit of the client’s heating needs became a rule, which is followed religiously to date. In the initial years, Electro Heat helped thousands of users convert from open-coiled heaters to Tubular Heaters. Over time, realizing that heating costs constitute a major component of the total cost of production of corrugated boxes, we optimized our solutions towards reducing these costs. Gradually, environmental concerns also started playing a role in our R&D efforts. Our USP is customization, longevity, affordability and sustainability.
CM : What products does Electro Heat Engineers manufacture and what technologies are used in these solutions?
AJ : Working closely with the corrugated box industry and machinery manufacturers has helped us gain an in-depth understanding of the diverse needs, challenges and changing business environment across the industry, while making lasting relationships with a host of box and equipment manufacturers across the spectrum, both in India and abroad. Leveraging this understanding, Electro Heat has pioneered a number of products and heating processes in the country namely;
- Tubular Corrugation Heaters
- The Zone Heating systems
- Box Drying Machines
- Automatic Digital Temperature Control Panels for Tubular Corrugation heaters and Zone Heating Systems
- High Speed Tubular Corrugation Heaters
- High Speed Zone Heating Systems
- Multi-Step Temperature Control Panels
- Infra Red Gas Heating Systems
- The Electric Thermic Oil Heating Systems
- Gas Thermic Oil Heating Systems
- Hybrid Heating Systems for Automatic plants
CM : Can you elaborate on how these products and technologies work and the advantages they offer in efficiency and innovation?
AJ : Our customers consistently report significant improvements after switching to our systems:
- Reduced downtime and maintenance
- Enhanced speed and operational efficiency
- Superior 2-ply quality with uniform heating
- Safer, cleaner and more sustainable operations
- Lower running costs and higher ROI
- Consistent quality with lower dependencies on the vagaries of weather
At Electro Heat, we don’t just sell products—we deliver complete heating solutions.
CM : How does Electro Heat Engineers ensure quality and reliability throughout the manufacturing process?
AJ : At Electro Heat, quality is a way of life. It reflects in our thoughts & actions. Quality checks at every step of the process, including Design, Process, Sourcing, Production, Manpower and Infrastructure, enable us to ensure quality of the finished product and set industry benchmarks. We not only ensure the quality of the product before dispatch at our facility, but also make sure that it translates into superior output at the customer’s end. We understand that customers may need expert advice and service in their factory, even with the best product. We have trained & qualified service engineers who work Pan India to help our customers achieve good quality output at minimal energy costs.
CM : How do you assess the current demand for industrial heating solutions in the Indian market, and how has this influenced your product offerings?
AJ : The Indian market has been constantly evolving with time. Conventional corrugation machines are now being rapidly replaced by fingerless high-speed corrugation machines, either Indian or imported. This change demands a technological upgrade from conventional tubular heaters to High Speed Tubular Heaters, Double Zone Heating Systems, Infra-red Gas burners, Thermic Oil Heating Systems & Steam Generators, all of which are able to meet the demands of speed and efficiency. Competition from automatic board lines has shifted the focus to higher output quality. Box manufacturers can now use the Box Drying Machines to achieve comparable quality independent of the weather.
CM : Innovation plays a crucial role in staying competitive. Can you discuss any recent innovations introduced by Electro Heat Engineers?
AJ : Our most notable innovation is the Electric Thermic Oil Heating System, a patented, award-winning product that combines the efficiency of a boiler with the convenience and cleanliness of electric heating. It eliminates the need for water, chimneys or operator licenses—while achieving speeds up to 70 m/min with consistent quality. The system is safe, compact, economical and environmentally friendly, redefining heating standards for the corrugation industry. It was recognized with the Late Shri B.K. Doshi Award for Innovation and Excellence (2023) by the Federation of Corrugated Box Manufacturers (FCBM).
CM : How do you gather feedback from clients and how is this feedback integrated into your product development process?
AJ : A robust feedback cycle is the backbone of our operations since the very beginning. In fact, the company was founded precisely because of challenges faced by box manufacturers due to the very limited availability of good-quality indigenous heating systems.
We have an extensive network of Pan India sales and service personnel who give us actionable information and insights on sitespecific requirements & challenges.
In addition, our close collaboration with industry professionals functions as the second layer in the feedback loop. Our regular participation in exhibitions, trade shows, conferences as well as technical sessions hosted by various industrial bodies keeps us aware and acts as the third layer in the feedback loop.
The information thus gathered plays a vital role in developing new products and refining the old ones to make them more useful and relevant in the future.
CM : What are the key growth drivers for the industrial heating industry in India over the next 5– 10 years? How is Electro Heat Engineers positioning itself strategically to leverage these growth opportunities, particularly in innovation, production capacity, and market reach?
AJ : For a growing economy like India, the key growth drivers in my opinion would be growing packaging volumes, stricter environmental and regulatory controls, demand for speed, quality and lower operating costs, increased automation and increased localisation (under Make in India). These will drive rapid adoption of efficient, non-polluting, electric and digitally controlled heating solutions in the corrugation industry.
Electro Heat is well-positioned to leverage these opportunities with a pre-existing product portfolio developed with these very goals in mind. We have already helped many of our customers shift away from solid fuel-fired heating systems to gas, electric and electric thermic oil heating systems. Solar integration, which we are working on, will further expedite this process.
