German food equipment units keen on India

German food and packaging outfits are showing keen interest to start manufacturing operations in India to penetrate Indian as well as South Asian market.

Seydelmann, a mid size outfit in food processing machinery, has already tied up with a marketing associates in India for commencing its operation. Another German outfit in this field, Higel, is set to open office in India.

The director of VDMA (German engineering federation) in India, Rajesh Nath, said the interest of the German food technology outfits in India had increased following the international food technology exhibition in Hyderabad in September 2004.

"Ten German companies participated at the exhibition. There was a good response from visitors. Some Indian companies at the show showed interest in forming tie ups with the German companies. In fact German Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association and Confederation of Indian Food Trade and Industry signed an MOU in just after the fair," he said.

Seydelmann KG of Germany was close to a tie-up with Standard Machinery, Bangalore.

Similarly, Higel was in dialogues with an Indian company in New Delhi.

"Standard Machinery will market the products of Seydelmann in India. Later on Seydelmann might form a joint venture outfit for starting part production here. Higel is now assessing the potential of the Indian market. It is known for making ice flakes and could start operation soon," he said.

Incidentally, both the companies participated at food tech. Besides, Higel and Seydelmann, other German participants were Hassia Redatron, GEA Ecoflex, Haas Monodomix, Robert Bosch, IFM Electronic etc.

Nath said the German companies were looking for either marketing tie-ups or tie-ups for partial assembly of products in India.

The major areas of interest were dairy, confectionery, meat processing and packaging.

In the packaging sector, Robert Bosch GmbH already had a manufacturing unit at Bangalore for the Indian market. Terra-25, a filling and sealing machine, was launched by Bosch at the FoodTec 2004.

Similarly, Hassia Redatron has also set up a manufacturing unit at Pune.

"The next FoodTec Exhibition will be held in 2006 at Hyderabad but dates were yet to be finalized," he said.