Colour television manufacturer, Sansui is planning to enter the refrigerator market in a big way and is planning to set up assembly plants in Kolkata and Mumbai shortly.
“We hope to enter the refrigerator market initially with three models. Two of these will be direct cool models of 170 litres and 230 litres, while a 300 litre model will be frost free,” said Anil Khera, a director with Videocon and in charge of Sansui products for India.
Khera was in the city for a foundation stone laying ceremony of a Kolkata-based company, J D Technology.
“We will shortly initiate the setting up of assembly plants at our locations in Kolkata and Mumbai. The investment in these two facilities will, however, not be much because these will not be greenfield projects. Compressors and other components will initially be sourced from other Sansui manufacturing facilities abroad. We intend to commence production with a 2.5 lakh units per year which will be enhanced later based on demand,” Khera said.
Sansui is sourcing television components and semi-assembled units from India for its global operations. “We have made a beginning which is expected to increase with time,” Khera added. Plans at Sansui India are to make the country a sourcing hub for other smaller markets such as the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
On colour televisions, Khera said the company expects to sell two million television sets by 2004 against 1.5 million last year. At present, Sansui and Akai have jointly cornered 11 per cent of the CTV market, while Videocon alone has captured another 12 per cent.
From The Business Standard