Alfa Laval India To Cater To Japanese Mart

Alfa Laval India, the Indian arm of Tetra Laval of Sweden, will replace the parent company in supplying separators for furl treatment to the ship building industry in Japan, following intense competition from global players.

The separators manufactured by the Alfa Laval India's Pune manufacturing unit are highly competitive and are therefore well placed to take on the intense competition in Japan and other South East Asian countries.

"Japan is a special and a very competitive market and in order to increase our market share we need a more competitive product, and Alfa Laval India could provide it and therefore we decided that India will cater to the Japanese market," Jos Bellinkx, senior advisor Alfa Laval group and chairman of Alfa Laval India said.

 

Marine and power is Alfa Laval group's largest business segment. Alfa Laval India already has the largest market share in the Indian ocean fleet for high speed separators, claims Bellinkx.

Besides decanters and separators, Alfa Laval's core products and technology are in heat exchangers and valves. With these, the company plans to meet the requirements of the food processing industry and breweries.

The parent company of Alfa Laval has decided to entrust the local arm with certain products including decanters to meet the global demand.

However, Bellinkx was unwilling to disclose all the products that are in the pipeline for local production, as he did want to alert the competitors.

The decanters for the edible crude oil processing that are being manufactured at the Pune wing are supplied to the South East Asian markets, China, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and some African countries too.

"Today we manufacture products in India that are of world standard and comparable to our products made in Italy, Denmark or any of our global manufacturing facilities," Bellinkx said.

Alfa Laval India is now conducting tests for new separators to be used in the manufacture of latex and of edible oil from crude palm oil. These separators being developed locally will be sold to countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries where palm oil is processed on a large scale.

Bellinkx, who has been responsible for the Indian operations since 1995 and who has now taken over as the chairman of Alfa Laval India, said his role will be of advising, controlling and supporting the local activities. Bellinkx said the process of disinvestment in Alfa Laval globally by the owners of Tetra Laval, the Rausing family, has been delayed and will take place sooner than later. UBS, the Swiss investment firm is believed to be in talks with the Rausing family to buy the Alfa Laval operations worldwide. Alfa Laval has presence in 52 countries.