SuperSealer Chirag Panchal
This month’s SuperSealer is a catalyst for growth in the Indian market, spotting opportunities, growing our client base, and advocating for Trelleborg’s quality products. In this profile, he explains what he most enjoys about his job, what makes Trelleborg a great place to work, and how he believes Trelleborg’s solutions can make Indian infrastructure safer, more reliable, and – in the long run – more cost-effective.
Who are you?
My name is Chirag Panchal, and I’m a Sales Manager for Trelleborg Seals & Profiles in India.
When did you start this position and what are your key duties?
I’ve been in my current role for around a year and a half. I’m responsible for business development, including generating sales for pipe seals, as well as exploring parallel activities with a focus on the profile and pipe repair business in India.
What do you like best about working here?
In the relatively short time I’ve spent with Trelleborg, I’ve been constantly impressed by the dedication and teamwork shown across departments. It’s the commitment to making sure we’re producing safe, reliable products of unmatched quality for our customers, that sets us apart. That passion for quality goes into all our products, and it makes it easy for me to talk about the great job we’re doing here.
What are the key challenges you face in your job?
The major challenge in the Indian market right now is that customers lean toward cost over quality. Changing the mindset of these customers with education and guidance is important; some customers think that the quality of rubber products is not so important. However, our products play a hugely important role in the effective overall function of the systems they’re part of.
How do you think the business in your area is going to evolve in the future? How are you preparing for this?
There are ample growth opportunities in India – I see huge scope for all sectors to adopt better technologies in years to come. The main challenge, I believe, will be educating the market so more potential customers understand the value you can achieve by adopting technically superior products. My core focus will be to continue to communicate that by investing in high quality solutions from Trelleborg, you’re improving a project’s lifespan, reducing the time lost to malfunctions and repairs, and in turn creating a safer and more reliable future for the country’s infrastructure. Using the better product will, of course, cost a little more initially, but in the long run, the quality of our products means they will prove to be an economical solution.
What do you do in your free time?
I love to read, cook, and stay connected with friends and family in my free time. On weekends, I can often be found on my bike, and – sometimes – on the yoga mat! It’s a great way to keep healthy and relaxed. I also recently became a father, so most of my free time is well spent with my beautiful baby daughter!
