BITZER, the worlds’ largest private compressor manufacturer has announced that it is expanding its footprint in India to support establishment of a cold food chain in the counrty. According to Government of India estimates, India currently loses about Rs. 44,000 crore worth of food produce annually due to inadequate storage and lack of a cold chain to prevent food decay. In order to boost the setting up of much-needed cold storages, the Government has announced a series of measures, including providing financial subsidy. This has given a much needed impetus and serveral cold storage facitiles are being set up across the country, especially in coastal areas, to support the fisheries and sea-food and meat & dairy processing industries.
The demand for cold storage is also growing on account of allied industries like seed cold storages, dairy products and test chambers. Blast freezing is also a requirement for meat and poultry industry, which is recoganised as a sunrise industry, catering to the Middle-East market. As a result, many cold storage facilities have come up across India, with 7 more under installation, expected to get commissioned later this year. As part of the Government’s efforts to augument food storage facilities in the country, 15 new food parks are also envisaged. The entry of multi-nationals like Wal-Mart, Metro, Tesco, Carrefour etc. into the country’s food retail sector is further expected to boost demand for BITZER solutions. The upgrade market is another growing segment, as existing cold chains based on old and inefficient technology are being revamped and retrofitted. As a result of all these the growth expectation for BITZER in India is 20% year-on-year by 2017.
In order to meet this increasing demand, BITZER is restructuring its operations in the region to focus on growth. Robert de Bruyn, a Company veteran of 20 years who has lead international busineses for BITZER in diverse markets, has now taken over as MD for BITZER Asia based at Singapore to head the operations for the company in the region, while he continues to be MD for India. One of the major reasons for the restructuring is that BITZER sees opportunities emerging for unitary Original Equipment in Africa and the setting up of a new manufacturing plant in Indonesia. In view of the increased inter-relations within the countries, the growth of business in India, Middle-East and Australia and his experience of driving the successful Indian subsidiary, it has been decided to set up BITZER Asia, covering Singapore, Malaysia,Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand in addition to India. The company will, however, retain subsidiaries in Malaysia and Indonesia and it Liaison Office in Vietnam. Said de Bruyn, “We will continue to expand operations in India. BITZER started India’s third Green Point Compressor Service Center in Bangalore. We are now planning to expand this chain, with the next Green Point Service Center expected to start in Kolkata by mid-April.”
BITZER India Pvt. Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of the German parent, has been operating in the country since 2007. It has developed an enviable reputation as a reliable supplier of its compression products to major OEM’s as well as major national chains as it has products to support all kinds of refrigeration applications ranging from stationary applications like refrigeration of supermarkets, cooling of manufacturing processes, air conditioning of buildings and cold storage houses – that is, all cooling applications except residential use. BITZER globally also has a variety of solutions for the transport industry like local transport t and infrastructure vehicles including buses and rail transit, refrigerated trucks and trailers securing the cold chain for food, refrigerated shipping containers, etc. While not offering these solutions in India currently as the Company feels the road network in the country does not adequately support the activity. However, this segment of the market is expected to blossom soon. BITZER’s service support network is unmatched with company-owned service centres at Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.
BITZER, with its superior, reliable products and outstanding after-sales support is already a supplier of choice for several large companies with operation in India, like Wal-Mart, Blue Star, Voltas, Baker Circle, Prime Refrigeration (ETA), Middleby Corporation, Cold Star Logistics, Crystal Logistics, Panasonic India, Coca Cola, International Coil Company etc.
BITZER has a highly trained team of engineers in India to train and supports its customers in the country. As a leading provider of refrigerant compressors, BITZER in India offers superior solutions including technical design and planning support, installation and commissioning. The high quality of BITZER products coupled with elevated levels of technical support and the experience of local contracting companies ensures end-customers are able to focus on their primary businesses without having to worry about refrigeration. BITZER is globally known for the most energy efficient products in its class and this makes attractive to Indian customers who are increasingly conscious of conservation.
BITZER employees and customers can undergo intensive training on all types of compressor fault diagnosis and repair, through the unique training programs that are organised by its Green Point Service Centers. As a part of this initiative, BITZER is currently organising a series of series of seminars, starting with Hyderabad and Delhi.
“We provide a global quality standard and top-level customer support to our Indian customers through a three-tier system of training courses, service and spare part delivery. At BITZER we accompany the life-cycle of every compressor around the world and works consistently for its customers, providing quality and service all round”, Robert de Bruyn, MD of BITZER India BITZER Asia
About BITZER
BITZER ranks among the leading manufacturers of refrigerant compressors. Since 1934, the name has been synonymous with the highest degree of reliability and product quality. Some 3,000 employees in more than 90 countries stand behind this success. People who put all of their energy into making sure that the temperature will be perfect in the future, too. What this means is responsibility and dedication – and the widest spectrum of services as well as state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies. So you can be sure that every system runs steadily with BITZER products.
