“Building a Globally Trusted Indian Brand in Process Instrumentation”

...says Sarvadnya Kulkarni, CEO, General Instruments Consortium, in conversation with Kaushal Dighavkar. He shares the company's growth story, export strategies, and how Indian manufacturers can expand globally amidst changing trade dynamics.

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What were the key milestones in General Instruments' journey from a single workshop to a presence in 40+ countries?

General Instruments started in 1966 when Capt. M.M. Kulkarni, after serving in the Indian Army, set up a small workshop in Mumbai. In the early years, we manufactured temperature gauges using basic tools and had only four to five workers. The 1980s and 1990s marked a phase of growth, with the setting up of larger manufacturing facilities and the addition of pressure, level, and flow instruments to our product line. Over the next two decades, we became trusted suppliers to major clients in the oil, gas, power, and chemical industries across India. A significant shift happened in the 2010s when we focused on international markets. Today, we have a presence in over 40 countries and are working with global companies such as Shell, SABIC, and TotalEnergies. Our progress has been driven by product quality, engineering capability, and long-term customer relationships.