Westinghouse lighting in India soon

US-based Westinghouse Lighting Corporation is foraying into the Indian lighting market with its range of international products. The company is eyeing an alliance with the Asian Electronics for this purpose.

Industry sources close to the development said negotiations were in "at an advanced stage". Suresh Shah, chairman and managing director, Asian Electronics, was not available for comment as he is out of the country.

Jinendra Shah, executive director of Asian Electronics, said: "We are looking at the possibility of launching the Westinghouse range of lighting products in India. Several options like marketing and distribution alliances, besides a joint venture, are being explored." However, he claimed that it was too early to discuss details of the project.

"Currently, we have a joint venture with Westinghouse for exports to the US market. We intend to strengthen this relationship," Shah added.

The Rs 100 crore Mumbai-based Asian Electronics is involved in designing and manufacturing energy efficient products. IFC Washington holds a 12 per cent equity in the company.

Westinghouse Lighting is a leading manufacturer and marketer of more than 5,000 lighting products, including light bulbs, lighting fixtures, ceiling fans and decorative lighting hardware for consumer and commercial applications.

Asian Electronics is the leader in the capacitor industry and diversified into the lighting industry in 1998. It has a distribution strength of over 150 dealers across the country.

The major players in the electricals and lighting business include Philips, Bajaj Electricals and Anchor. Philips is the leader in the lighting segment. This division contributed 46 per cent to Philips India's turnover of Rs 1570 crore in 2003.

The lighting business is estimated to be between Rs 2,000 crore and Rs 2,500 crore and is growing at 7 per cent.

Recently, the UK based British General entered the India mart through a 76: 24 joint venture with Anchor Electricals. The JV company would market the former's Woods brand of premium electrical accessories in India and the Saarc countries. Anchor Woods would also design and manufacture the Woods range of products.

Anchor, a generic name for switches, is the largest manufacturer of electrical switches and accessories in the world.