Mukesh Panjwani, MX MDR Technologies Ltd. - Lifetime Contribution to The Pro Audio Industry
From l-r: Anil Chopra, Mukesh Panjwani, Manish Gandhi and Ramesh Chetwani
The PALM Sound & Light awards honoured Mukesh Panjwani, CEO & Managing Director of MXMDR technologies for spearheading the mass distribution of a massive audio, video and electronic product catalog, which is today of critical use, but difficult to get. PALM recognizes the fact that consumption has exploded on the mass level and Mukesh Panjwani has done a tremendous job of satisfying this demand by reaching even the smallest product, which is a 100% Made in Indian product to every corner of India. Today MXMDR has also expanded to supply multi-utility affordable install sound of professional quality. In this feature, PT charts Mukesh Panjwani’s journey and growth in this industry.
With an experience of more than four decades in the electronic and pro audio industry, Mukesh Panjwani has been instrumental in the growth of MXMDR Technologies, a true “Make in India” company that today supplies a huge range of electronic and pro audio products to the market.
Starting with just one product – an EP 5.5mm connector and very little money in his pocket, his company today manufactures, audio video connectors, cables, cords, fiber optics CCTV camera accessories, speaker systems, power amplifiers, battery chargers, DJ Headphones and DJ Mixers to name just a few.
Though Mukesh Panjwani was from a non-business background, he always nurtured a strong ambition to start a business of his own. His father who worked in the service industry had already made it clear that he had just enough money to help young Mukesh with his education. That is when Mukesh Panjwani started working part-time in different factories while also completing his college education. Eventually, through sheer hard work and determination he collected enough money to setup a very small production unit with no other staff besides himself to make the connector. Working for more than 16 hours a days, he slowly expanded his business, acquiring more production units by the late 70s, in Santacruz, Goregaon and Andheri in Mumbai and hiring more people in these units. He acquired properties in Lamington road for his dealers so that they had easy access to electronic equipment being manufactured by MXMDR. He also started sponsoring many events to help the industry.
By 2006, Mukesh Panjwani had realized that the volume of work was increasing and it would be difficult to work out of different units. That is when he put up a huge factory in Vasai and shifted base to Vasai so that he could monitor all the production under one roof.
The product portfolio too started increasing from audio connectors to video connectors, audio and video cords, accessories like surge protectors, voltage convertors etc. Extensive travel to other countries with his son Dipesh Panjawani, helped him understand the new products being launched in the global market and he started manufacturing similar products here in India. MXMDR also started exporting a lot to Singapore, South Africa, Australia and China.
I have received many awards from the electronics industry and electronics associations but this is my first award from the pro audio industry of which I have been a part since the last 40 years. I am extremely pleased, honoured and overwhelmed to receive this recognition in front of my industry peers and colleagues.
Mukesh Panjwani, CEO & Managing Director, MX MDR technologies
A self-made man, to this day Mukesh Panjwani works on a 12-hour schedule and answers every single email, message and phone call, even if it is late at night or the wee hours of the morning. Today he has around 210 employees working under him. His main philosophy to provide the best possible quality in the best possible price also helped him grow his distributor network. MXMDR has around 68 distributors today who supply to almost 1400 – 1500 dealers across the country. His distributors are like family to him and he believes in giving them proper space and authority to sell.
MXMDR today is also channel partner for brands, which include Peavey, SICA, Superlux, Extron, Dragon and Hill Audio.