Samsung's Sriperumbudur plant to go on steam by Aug

Digital technology leader, Samsung India Electronics Private Limited's $100-million manufacturing plant at Sriperumbudur, its second in the country after the one at Manesar near Gurgaon, will go on stream by August 2007.

The company, which has so far invested around $22 million in the 80-acre plant, plans to roll out colour TVs and computer monitors in the first phase by mid-August, followed by other consumer electronic durables like refrigerators, air-conditioners, washing machines and printers in the second phase by March-April next year.

Addressing a press conference on the national launch of the company's three new advanced series of split air-conditioners here on Tuesday, Pradeep Tognatta, director (sales), Samsung India, said that the Sriperumbudur plant would have the capacity to churn out around 1.5 million colour television sets and a million monitors a year.

"We have set an ambitious export target for this year, and are laying thrust on the SAARC countries and the Middle East for exports from our new plant. SAARC will be a major business area for us, and we expect a large chunk of business to come from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. We are looking at achieving Rs 200 crore exports from India this year," he said.

Samsung India launched its three new advances series of split air-conditioners -- Vivace, Moderato and Forte -- in the Indian market today.

This new range comes equipped with features like good sleep, ultra tropical rotary compressor and the world's first 'Micro Plasma Ion'. Samsung Electronics, the parent company of Samsung India, has invested $3 million to develop the 'Micro Plasma Ion' technology.

"Air-conditioners and refrigerators are the growth drivers for our home appliances business. We witnessed a growth of 20.6 per cent in our AC business during 2006, as against 16.2 per cent the previous year. With the launch of the new enhanced air-conditioner range, coupled with the expansion of our sales and service network, we expect our AC business to grow 50 per cent this year," Tognatta said.

According to him, the company is also looking at tapping large format retail opportunities like Croma and Reliance.

"There is a big growth potential in specialty stores like in the US. We are aiming at capturing this opportunity to retail our products. Croma has already launched its second specialty store in Mumbai and we are with them. If retail majors like Reliance start similar concepts going forward, we will go with them," he added.