Hettich has long stood for innovation, craftsmanship, and commitment to the evolving Indian market. In an engaging conversation with Tejaswini Paranjape, Andre Eckholt, Managing Director of Hettich India, SAARC, Middle East & Africa , shares his views on Acetech 2025, the company’s sustainable vision, and the opportunities driving the Indian interior industry.
Q: What inspired Hettich to participate in Acetech this year?
For brands like Hettich, we believe in being not just everywhere, but at the right place. Acetech is the perfect platform where we can meet and engage with our target group — architects, interior designers, and trendsetters of our industry. As an organisation with a legacy of 137 years, we believe in long-term, sustainable growth with our partners. It’s always about building for the future. Acetech Mumbai gives us a chance to connect directly with our customers and showcase our latest additions and innovations. This platform also allows us to share the latest trends in interior solutions — for instance, RoomSpin from our SpinLines family. We have maintained a consistent presence at Acetech over the years and share a wonderful relationship with the organising team, including Mr. Sumit Gandhi, the Owner. All of this convinces us to return to Acetech year after year.
Q: What was the focus this year? Which products stood out?
Our focus this year was RoomSpin. India has a fast-growing middle class and the youngest population among the G20 nations. In Delhi, growth is more horizontal, whereas in Mumbai, it’s vertical — and space is expensive. That’s where our SpinLines family comes in. It offers smart solutions for transforming limited spaces efficiently. With RoomSpin, you can orchestrate graceful transformations i.e. home offices become collaborative meeting suites, quiet corners reveal entertaining nooks, kitchens morph into showcase galleries. The idea is to help interior designers optimise every inch of available space, especially in metropolitan areas.
Q: How has the response been at Acetech so far?
The response has been fantastic! Everyone was energised and busy right from the early morning hours as we prepared our booth. We were also honoured to take part in the lamp-lighting ceremony at the inauguration. It was great listening to dignitaries like Mr. Hiranandani, who shared valuable insights about the industry. Overall, the spirit and energy of Acetech have been truly inspiring.
Q: What are Hettich’s future plans for the Indian market?
First and foremost, Hettich is a German, family-owned company, passed down across generations. We are 137 years old and deeply committed to our German roots. However, there has been a clear shift — the impact of ‘Make in India’ is growing stronger every year. We’ve been investing in India for over a decade, even before the “Make in India” initiative by Mr. Modi. Over the years, we’ve made significant investments and plan to double or even triple them in the next 10 years. In fact, much of the global investment that isn’t going into Germany is now directed toward developing India as our next manufacturing hub. But our approach goes beyond manufacturing. We’ve built a complete ecosystem — one that focuses not just on producing innovative solutions but also on upskilling the industry. We’ve trained over 50,000 carpenters through our Hettich Poddar WoodWorking Institute (HPWWI) in Mumbai and Faridabad and are expanding our network across the Delhi–Mumbai–Bengaluru corridor. The idea is to make the industry more organised and empower craftsmen with the right tools and knowledge to start their own businesses or become OEM suppliers. From a business standpoint, Hettich is already a market leader in the premium interior solutions segment. Our next goal is to expand deeper — into Tier-2, Tier 3 and so on — ensuring that Hettich reaches every corner of the country. We’re doing this by partnering with trusted franchises and local companies who can leverage our brand value to build exclusive partnerships.
Q: What are the key challenges in the Indian market?
Honestly, I don’t see challenges — I see opportunities. That’s my mindset. Whenever we face a challenge, it’s our duty to turn it into an opportunity. The Indian market environment is very prosperous and encouraging. I invite everyone to join in because the market is big enough for all of us. Currently, about 70% of our industry is unorganised. If we work together to transform it into an organised sector, we can ensure that the overall market continues to expand. Today, our industry is valued at around ₹80,000 crore, out of which only ₹8,000 crore belongs to the organised segment. You can imagine the immense potential that lies ahead. Through initiatives like our Woodworking Institute, we aim to upskill professionals and help the industry move towards structured, sustainable growth. So yes — there are challenges, but they’re actually opportunities in disguise.
Q: How central is sustainability to Hettich’s philosophy?
Sustainability is part of Hettich’s DNA. We’re a 137-year-old legacy that has survived two World Wars and multiple global crises — because our business model has always been built on sustainability and long-term thinking. Today, sustainability also means reducing our carbon footprint — and we’re actively contributing to that. We aim to become carbon-neutral by 2030. As a manufacturer, this isn’t easy — but we’re committed. Our factories are being equipped with solar panels to maximise renewable energy use. We’re sourcing green energy from wind, using recyclable materials in product development, and working with carbon-neutral steel suppliers. All our factories follow zero liquid discharge practices, meaning the water used in production is fully recycled. BIS certification helps validate the superior quality, reliability, and safety of our products. It allows us to showcase that our solutions aren’t just globally benchmarked but also fully compliant with India’s regulatory ecosystem. In fact, meeting these standards strengthens our commitment to delivering durable, high-performance hardware that customers can rely on with complete confidence.
Q: What is Hettich’s USP?
We are innovation drivers. Hettich isn’t just a company that has survived for 137 years — we’ve led from the top, constantly introducing new solutions and redefining standards. Our USPs are clear and consistent: Innovation, Quality, and Sustainability. And of course, the unique combination of German engineering with home-grown manufacturing — that’s what truly sets Hettich apart.
