In tune with its plan to achieve sales to the tune of Rs 500 crore from power back-up products by 2014, consumer durables major Whirlpool is expanding its product range and enhancing its distribution network.
The company, which forayed into the power solution segment through inverters and home UPS systems in 2009, achieved sales to the tune of Rs 25 crore last fiscal from the category. It expects sales to grow by about 50 per cent this year.
"Looking at the power availability problem in the country, we see a lot of potential in the segment...We achieved sales of up to Rs 25 crore last year... As we expand the category, we plan to achieve sales of Rs 400-500 crore by 2014 from this segment," Whirlpool India Operations Vice- President and General Manager Shahzad Akhtar told PTI today.
The company said that it will invest $1 million (around Rs 4.6 crore) in the next two years on enhancing the product range and design, besides improving distribution channels and other marketing activities.
Akhtar said that the company is focusing on increasing the capacity of its existing inverters and UPS systems as it plans to target the institutional and industrial segment too.
"In the coming years, the company plans to introduce more value-added high-capacity inverters for the home segment, and UPS for retail, corporate and industrial solutions," he said.
More From This Section
The company sells home UPS systems of capacity up to 650 volt amperes and 850 volt amperes. It has also added accessories such as inverter batteries and inverter trolleys to the range.
Besides this, the company plans to introduce solutions for alternative power, LED lamps, heaters and battery charging in the market.
"In the last one year, we were focusing on understanding the dynamics of various distribution channels. This year, we want to focus on building the channels in every part of the country, including small towns and cities," he said.
At present, Whirlpool power solution products are available in over 300 outlets across the country.