Established in 1987, UNIFLEX today has five manufacturing plants – three belonging to the Hose Products Division and two to the Tube Products Division. The Hose Products Division is dedicated to flexible hose assemblies, end fittings, adapters and CNC machined components while the Tube Products Division manufactures rigid tube assembly fabrications, fuel injection pipes, and small and medium fabrications. Venkatesh S Aiyer, Director, UNIFLEX, shares more...Excon advantage: In terms of participation, this was the sixth edition of Excon for us. An important part of our strategy here is to meet our existing clientele. Speaking of our new launches, we have introduced tube assemblies. We are promoting this along with our hose assemblies.Key challenges: Last year has been quite difficult. There has been a slowdown in not just the construction equipment sector but other segments as well. One of the challenges has been that when the customers are not doing well, you also run into a viscous cycle – for example, cash flow; you have huge inventory that you are not able to liquidate. But now the scenario is improving. Fortunately, we export as well as have business coming in from the Defence, both of which are doing relatively well.Opportunities in 2020: Over the next few years, there are going to be big changes in emission requirements that will bring in new technologies for engine. For example, common rail fuel injection will replace the existing mechanical fuel pump. This will bring new opportunities for us for our high pressure common rail fuel injection pipes.Immediate future plans: We would like to grow. We have recently started a new plant in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. With this, we will definitely be looking forward to growth. Our long-term plan is to start at least another two new plants, which are near the customer. So the strategy is to be near the customer and grow along with them.