thyssenKrupp Elevator (India) Private Limited recently announced that it will invest Rs 300 crore to set up a multi-purpose manufacturing facility at Chakan near Pune. Rajnish Ramu, Vice President – Marketing, elaborates on the company’s operations and future plans.

thyssenkrupp Elevator brings together the thyssenkrupp group’s global activities in passenger transportation systems. With sales of Euro 6.4 billion in fiscal 2013-14 and customers in 150 countries, thyssenkrupp Elevator is one of the world’s leading elevator companies. With more than 50,000 highly skilled employees, the company offers innovative and energy-efficient products designed to meet customers’ individual requirements. The portfolio includes passenger and freight elevators, escalators and moving walks, passenger boarding bridges, stair and platform lifts as well as tailored service solutions for all products. Over 900 locations around the world provide an extensive sales and service network to guarantee closeness to customers.

The business is organised in five business units, four of which concentrate on the regional elevator and escalator business (Central/Eastern/Northern Europe, Southern Europe/Africa/Middle East, Americas and Asia Pacific). The other one, which operates globally, is Access Solutions (passenger boarding bridges, chair, service and platform lifts, as well as home elevators). thyssenkrupp Elevator India is part of thyssenkrupp Elevator Asia Pacific which is active in the Asia Pacific market with a large network of branches and offices offering new installation, modernisation and service business for the complete product range. Excerpts from the interview:

Could you provide an overview of thyssenkrupp Elevator (India)’s operations?

Whether it is a new installation, modernisation or carrying out routine maintenance, thyssenkrupp Elevator (India) is committed to providing the safest and most customer-centric solutions and services. Since our inception in India in 2002, we have established a base of over 2,200 employees across an extensive network of six zonal offices, 27 branches and 69 service and response centres. The extensive and comprehensive network enables us to serve our customers even at the remotest locations. Our 950 highly trained service team members maintain over 19,000 units across India.

We have the products that match up to the best in the industry in terms of engineering and technology. Our products include the machine room-less (MRL) as well as machine room (MR) products for the ever growing residential sector from the low, mid to the high rise projects. We have special premium high-speed elevators that cater to the super high rise projects as well. Commercial projects, malls and shopping complexes, hospitals and hotels are also important project segments for us. We also have escalators, moving walks and elevators of large capacities that are tailor-made for infrastructure development projects. We have some of the prestigious infrastructure projects in the country in our fold. The international airports of Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore are a few to name.

What has prompted the setting up of a new manufacturing facility at Chakan?

The Indian elevator market holds immense importance for thyssenkrupp. The consistent growth in the India realty sector has been gaining attention at a global level and hence thyssenkrupp has decided to put a focus on India and its growth. The decision to develop a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility of global standards is a forward step in that direction. Having decided to get India on to the global manufacturing map, Pune was a natural choice to set up the manufacturing facility.

Pune is already an established hub for a variety of industries, including manufacturing in the automotive, electronics, and electrical component sectors, etc. There are obvious benefits associated with setting up a multi-purpose facility (MPF) in an area that already has the proven infrastructure to support similar facilities. The Pune area also provides easy access to Mumbai, a mega city and the country’s economic capital. Additionally, it will also be easily accessible from the proposed international airport coming up in Navi Mumbai.

Is the company planning to roll out new products from this facility?

Yes, we will be rolling out our existing as well as new elevator product lines from this facility.

What is the export status of the company? Is there a plan to tap new geographical regions outside India?

Currently the MPF facility is to cater to the increasing demand from the local market, but we will not rule out export opportunities in the future.

How has the demand scaled up over the past few years?

In recent times, the elevator has evolved from being a luxury product serving a small proportion of the urban population to a more functional and efficient means of moving the general public. Safety and energy efficiency have taken centre-stage. There is a growing demand for high-speed, high-capacity elevators that can carry many passengers at once, safely and comfortably, particularly in high rise office buildings, commercial complexes, and other large-scale facilities. Having said that, India is expected to have 25 mega cities with a population of over 8 million and four mega regions, each with a population of over 15 million by 2025. As urbanisation drives the increased need for housing and infrastructure, the elevator industry will play an important role in supporting that growth.

What kind of demand does the company envision for the next 2-3 years?

With the government focused on building 100 Smart Cities, including new housing complexes, airports, malls, railway stations, and harbours, we hope to see a significant increase in demand for mobility solutions in India.

Is the government’s Make in India strategy a part of the company’s future expansion plans?

thyssenkrupp Elevator’s new MPF is in line with the Indian government’s initiative to promote local manufacturing (the Make in India mission), and we are confident that it will make a significant contribution to this endeavour to promote local manufacturing in the country. Through our expertise in smart mobility solutions and long-standing presence in India, thyssenkrupp is perfectly poised to support this aspect of India’s growth story.

What kind of R&D is the company engaged in for the India market?

Our latest Indian product line is robust and has been specifically designed to suit the Indian market and conditions after understanding the needs of our customers across various segments.

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