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Germany. At that time the company focused on Power Plant and Cogeneration Plant Engineering. In 1994 the German partner took a majority stake of 54 per cent and thus Fichtner India entered global markets. Services expanded to Water (desalination, waste water management, etc.) and other
infrastructure areas. Now Fichtner India has grown into a leading multidisciplinary engineering
consultancy firm. Synergies between the German parent’s global experience and Fichtner India’s engineering skills has resulted in many successful joint projects.
Fichtner India’s main engineering office in Chennai and the engineering branch office strategically located at Mumbai ensure proximity to industrial markets and efficient service to various clients.Today the company employees 318 people across the country. Its revenues for the year 2004-05 were US$ 3.39 million, a growth of 50 percent over the previous year.
Keys to success
Fichtner India’s success in India derives from several factors such as its brand name, professional approach, customer orientation, flexibility and corporate governance. Other key factors include the company’s effective management of its human resources and infratsructure.
Leveraging Indian and global talent
The entire management team comprises a good mix of people of Indian and foreign origin.While the Chairman of Fichtner, Germany also chairs the Founded in year 1922 at Stuttgart, Germany,
Fichtner Consulting Engineers is a leading international independent engineering and consulting company, that provides comprehensive services in areas of Energy Technology, Power Supply,Water Resources and Infrastructure, Environmental Engineering and Consulting & IT.
The Fichtner Group has a worldwide network of over 70 branches and project offices and 24 associated companies in over 50 countries as well as co-operative agreements with local partners.
The company employs about 1000 employees worldwide, of which about 300 are at the home office in Stuttgart.The company’s key strength lies in its ability to handle complex and multi- disciplinary projects while maintaining a presence close to the clients. Fichtner provides
a comprehensive interdisciplinary range of consultancy services for public and private-sector infrastructure service providers such as utilities.
The annual sales for the parent company have been US$ 55.7 million for fiscal year ending 2003 and US$ 59.5 million in 2004.
The company offers a wide range of services in the Indian market
Fichtner Consulting Engineers (India) Private Limited is one of the leading Engineering
Consultancy firms in India providing comprehensive engineering solutions for a wide range of Utility and Industrial Power Projects.
Fichtner India was incorporated in 1987 as a Joint Venture with Fichtner Consulting Engineers
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PRO, KPRO, ETAP, CAESER II, DigSILENT and PDS along with MS Windows based network with more than 200 engineering and design work stations.
Future plans
India, along with China, is strategically important to the global strategy of Fichtner. Fichtner believes that India has tremendous growth potential, with specific areas such as Coal and Gas, to be the driving forces for growth. Many of the company’s projects are in these two fields.The company would thus use this experience to continue to provide engineering and other services to its clients in the long run.
Board of Directors of Fichtner India, the Managing Director of the company is Indian, who is
supported by a team of directors from India and abroad.This helps the company to utilise domain strength as well as gain from the experiences of the parent company globally.
Working on various projects in the power sector across the world has provided the company invaluable experience.These experiences are being leveraged to serve the Indian customers better.
Technically capable manpower
India has an extensive pool of highly qualified engineering resources. Fichtner has been leveraging this advantage to not only establish their presence in India but also handle international projects.
Engineers in Fichtner India have experience in all aspects of power projects ranging from concept to commissioning.This varied expertise enables the company to find innovative solutions to demanding tasks in project development.The company has handled diverse projects across the country and worldwide with diverse boundary conditions.
Balancing technical capability with sales and marketing skills
The Indian market is very price conscious, and the degree of technology and quality consciousness is low as compared to developed markets. In this scenario, realising that sales and marketing skills of its employees are as important as technical skills, the company has started employing experienced people to front the sales and marketing effort.
Also it has invested in training & development programs to impart requisite skills to employees.
Infrastructure
The company has provided its employees with world class infrastructure ranging from advanced communication facilities like broadband internet connection, email facilities, ISDN, telephone, fax to computer aided design and engineering facilities including special purpose software like STADD
Fichtner India: At a glance
• Founded in year 1922 at Stuttgart, Germany
• Incorporated in 1987 as a Joint Venture in India
• In 1994 Germany took a majority stake of 54 per cent marking the entry of Fichtner India into global markets
• Engineering and consulting services for utility and other infrastructure areas
• Factors for success: Brand name, professional approach, infrastructure, manpower capability, international experience
• Coal and gas are potential areas of growth for the future
