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THE ASHIDA STORY
The year was 1970, when electronics still meant vacuum tubes & semiconductors were a relatively new invention. Mr. Manohar Kulkarni (fondly known as Bhau) decided to leave his head-of-design job at a well-known Radio set manufacturer & set-up his own business – ASHIDA Electronics. He was supported by his brother-in-law Shrikrishna Naik & Spouse Ashalata. With Zero investment, ASHIDA was born in a small box in a one-room-kitchen house in a chawl of the Kulkarni’s, which served as home in the day & ‘work-shop’ at night.
Ashi-Da was a coined Sanskrit word meaning ‘Giver of Ashirvaad (blessings)’. This was our tribute to the great freedom fighter ‘Veer Savarkar’ who apart from his contribution to freedom struggle, gave many new words to the Marathi language.
The mission was ‘Import substitution’, to make Indian alternatives for imported goods, in a bid to make India Self-reliant & to save precious foreign exchange.
Starting with control equipment for textile mills (which, at that time, was the main industry in Mumbai), ASHIDA soon became a recognized name to solve tricky and complex electronic problems. One such problem faced by the local electrical utility, MSEB, was their non-working ‘auto-reclosers’(relays). These were imported from US and there was no local support. This was referred to ASHIDA for repairs. Closer look at the product revealed that their design was very old and technology outdated. So rather than repair them, we proposed to provide new products with better reliability & more features. Thus, was born our first product for electrical distribution network: “AEAR/1”.
Most of the faults in electrical network are transient in nature & clear themselves out. Auto-reclosers ensure automatic restoration of supply on such transient faults. This was great boon for country where power outages were quite common. Following our ideals of Shivaji Maharaj, Naik sir took these relays to Delhi, where it was well received by Rural Electrification Corporation & implemented all over India. ASHIDA’s business expanded and it started growing.
But then, profit was never really the only goal. We wanted to ensure that ASHIDA products were really making a difference to consumers. When we visited sub-stations where these auto-reclosers were installed, we found that most were out of service. This defeated the very purpose of reduction in power outage. On further investigation, the reason was identified that the mechanical protection relays were not fast enough for this function. ‘India still uses old mechanical technology for such critical functions?’ was our reaction. Bhau immediately set aim to create an electronics ‘solid-state’ protection relay. By then Suyash Kulkarni from the Second Generation and other professionals also joined. The first protection relay thus created cleared all the requirements and was installed in Punjab. As is the case with any new technology, initially the relays did not function properly. There were huge complaints of mal-functions leading to no power to rural Punjab in sweltering summer heat. The pressure was huge & a lot was at stake. But team Ashida did not falter. They took up the challenge and the problem was eventually located in battery supply on which these relays were powered. It was beyond the scope of work specified. But that could not be an excuse. In order to prove that our development was sound, our team camped at the site & reworked the entire batch replacing the batteries & making them suitable to actual site conditions. The end result was outstanding and this was start of ASHIDAs entry in protection relays in Electrical distribution.
In the 2000’s with the IT revolution, Ashida foraged into the latest technologies once again and Sujay Kulkarni led the development of indigenous SCADA systems.
The rest as they say, is history!
ASHIDA currently has 1400+ products covering Protection & Automation for Medium to High voltage electrical networks. Our 150 thousand protection relays are protecting vital installations through-out the world. Our 200+ SCADA systems are enabling safe control of sub-station equipment’s.
More than five decades of pioneering work in Indigenous Design and Development
For over five decades, ASHIDA has been at the forefront of Indigenous Design and Development, specializing in Protection, Supervision & Control solutions for the Power Sector. Our offerings encompass a comprehensive range, from individual components to complete Turnkey Integrated Smart Grid Solutions, catering to diverse energy sources such as solar, thermal, hydro, nuclear, and wind. With expertise spanning Design, Manufacturing, and Maintenance, backed by an in-house dedicated R&D facility and integrated software development team, ASHIDA stands as a versatile leader in power protection solutions.
Our extensive experience exceeding 50 years underscores our commitment to delivering excellence. Exporting to more than 25 countries, we prioritize proximity to customers and partners worldwide, ensuring swift response and service at all times. ASHIDA is unwavering in our dedication to developing, supplying, and servicing equipment and software systems that adhere to the highest quality standards, all aimed at enhancing our clients’ system efficiency while optimizing cost-effectiveness.
- Experience. Transparency. Results.
Relays Manufactured Annually
Exporting to more than 25 countries
Since
PATENTS & CERTIFICATIONS
Certified to protect
Our relays safeguard crucial electrical installations worldwide in the millions
Our relays provide vital protection for countless electrical installations globally, ensuring uninterrupted power supply and safeguarding infrastructure integrity with precision and reliability across diverse industries and applications.
Our Vision & Mission
Mission
To innovate and provide reliable power protection solutions, contributing to the growth of our nation’s infrastructure.
Vision
To arise as a global leader in power system protection, with a commitment to quality and innovation.
- Careers
Join the Ashida Team
Are you ready for a meaningful career that rewards your contributions? Join us at Ashida Electronics, where we challenge the status quo, exceed expectations, and drive innovation in power protection. Together, we’ll shape the future with endless possibilities, creating groundbreaking solutions for a more reliable and efficient power system. Embrace a career that empowers you to make a significant impact.