“Minimalism and openness are key design trends on every customer’s checklist,” Ajay Balakrishna, Founder and CEO of Schon Doorways
Ajay Balakrishna, Founder and CEO of Schon Doorways, is an engineer by training, a passionate designer at heart and an entrepreneur by choice. With a deep-rooted passion for design innovation and engineering excellence, Ajay brings over a decade of experience in the architectural and building materials industry. In a chat with AL Circle, the business persona divulges about his inspiration, innovation and beyond.
AL Circle: Let’s start by asking what inspired you to venture into the world of premium aluminium doors and windows and how the idea for Schon Doorways first came to life. Was there a particular gap in the market that caught your attention?
Ajay Balakrishna: We observed that there is a gap in the Indian market, and that is precisely what became our inspiration for Schon Doorways. While the global brands offered innovation and customisation in aluminium fenestrations, the local industry lacked aesthetically pleasing and technically advanced products. We witnessed a growing demand for minimalist, energy-efficient and durable solutions, especially amongst premium homeowners and architects. Schon Doorways was born out of an aspiration to bring global-grade designs and performance that align with Indian climatic and architectural needs.
AL Circle: India’s fenestration industry has seen quite a shift in recent years, especially with growing awareness around energy efficiency and architectural aesthetics. From your vantage point, how has the industry evolved, and what are the most defining changes?
Ajay Balakrishna: Over the past five years, there has been a notable shift in how doors and windows are looked at by space owners. They are no longer just functional necessities but are now considered key elements of architectural design and sustainability. Architects are now demanding systems that do more than just look good. They must contribute to thermal performance, provide effective sound insulation and support smart automation. At the same time, customers today have become more aware and thoughtful and seek transparency on metrics like U-values, SHGC ratings, energy efficiency, etc. This evolving mindset reflects a broader trend where design, sustainability and performance are emerging as the pillars of modern living spaces.
AL Circle: Bangalore is known for its tech prowess, but not often highlighted as a manufacturing hub. What made you choose Bangalore as the base for your 80,000 sq. ft. facility, and how has the city supported your vision for innovation and growth in this segment?
Ajay Balakrishna: Bangalore is known for technology, but it’s now rapidly emerging as a design-forward city with a vibrant and progressive architectural community. We saw an opportunity and decided to build ourselves in a city that values innovation and contributes as a gateway to South India’s growing design and construction market. The ecosystem offers access to highly skilled talent, developed infrastructure and a culture that accepts bold, future-ready ideas. All these factors made Bangalore the perfect choice for us when building our facility.
AL Circle: If we walked through the plant today, what would we see, and what aspects of your process or infrastructure are you most proud of?
Ajay Balakrishna: Anyone visiting our facility will see precision at every step, from CNC machining and powder coating to quality checks. Our facility is where skilled craftsmanship meets smart automation, and everything works in sync to create market-fit products. What sets us apart is our ability to offer custom solutions without compromising speed or consistency. Our facility isn’t just a typical factory floor — a clean, systematic and process-driven space designed to manufacture and deliver high-quality, premium output.
AL Circle: Aluminium is increasingly being positioned as a sustainable building material. From your perspective, what makes aluminium such a compelling choice for eco-conscious architecture, and how does Schon Doorways integrate sustainability into its manufacturing processes?
Ajay Balakrishna: Aluminium is a strong, long-lasting metal that can be recycled infinitely without losing quality. Unlike many other materials available in the market, aluminium does not rust and performs well in both hot and humid weather. We use eco-certified aluminium and safe, environmentally friendly powder coating methods. Currently, about 30 per cent of the aluminium we use in our products is recycled, and we are constantly working towards raising this number even more.
AL Circle: Is your customer base primarily domestic, or have you started exporting products to international markets? If yes, which regions show the most promise for Indian-made aluminium fenestration products?
Ajay Balakrishna: At the moment, we have only begun with small-scale exports to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and the response has definitely been very encouraging. These are the kind of markets that truly value Indian-made premium products. Looking at this, we are investing in certain partnerships that can further help us in scaling.
AL Circle: Are you noticing any new trends in what homeowners, architects, or developers look for in their fenestration choices today, especially in urban Indian markets?
Ajay Balakrishna: Today, minimalism and openness are key design trends on every customer’s checklist. Homeowners want larger openings, seamless corners and slim profiles that create a modern, airy feel. High-performance glass is also in great demand as it just doesn’t look good but also provides better insulation and ventilation.
At the same time, architects want more than the standard catalogue options already cluttering the market. They are looking for brands that deliver custom geometry to match their unique designs. In urban cities, there is also rising interest in smart systems like automated doors and windows and better soundproofing to keep homes peaceful and calm.
AL Circle: Could you share your current monthly production capacity in terms of output and how that has grown over time?
Ajay Balakrishna: We currently produce around 25,000-30,000 square feet of aluminium systems every month, and the number has steadily grown over the past two years. Considering the rising demand for customised solutions, as we take on more projects and expand our presence across India, we are certain that the numbers will only grow.
AL Circle: How large is your current workforce at the plant, and what proportion of your operations rely on skilled labour versus automation?
Ajay Balakrishna: Our team currently involves over 150 skilled professionals, and around 30-35 per cent of our production process is automated. This balance helps us maintain precision without losing the human touch that customised work requires. It also allows us to scale efficiently while staying flexible to meet the demands of certain projects.
Our goal is to reach 60 per cent digitisation in production within the next two years, and this involves expanding our CNC machining lines, automating quality checks of the final products and setting up an entire real-time project tracking system that will be able to connect directly with the customers’ dashboards, We are also working towards streamlining data flow between teams to improve coordination and avoid delays. Overall, our focus is to make the process smarter, faster and transparent for us internally and our clients.
AL Circle: Are there any specific certifications, green building compliances, or environmental benchmarks Schon Doorways has achieved or is working towards?
Ajay Balakrishna: We are aligning our processes with IGBC and GRIHA guidelines. Our several products already contribute to LEED and BREEAM points in green building projects, and we are actively working towards obtaining more formal certifications in the near future.
AL Circle: What is the typical turnaround time for a project, from order confirmation to delivery, and how do you manage timelines for large-scale commercial or residential projects?
Ajay Balakrishna: On average, it usually takes 4 to 6 weeks from confirmation of the order to delivery, depending upon the complexity of customisation. For large-scale orders, we work closely with the architects and builders to plan phased deliveries according to their requirements to ensure there is no delay in execution.
