Johnson Controls starts Pune plant

Johnson Controls India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of US-based Johnson Controls Inc, has commenced manufacturing of cooling and refrigeration equipment at its greenfield plant at Chakan, 40 km from here.

Pramoda Karkal, vice-president and managing director, Johnson Controls, said the plant had an initial capacity to make 1,000 chillers in two shifts.

It will will be completed in four phases and will be the manufacturing base for a range of Johnson Controls' solutions including central air-conditioning, refrigeration and intelligent systems including security solutions and fire alarms.

According to Karkal, the company sees increasing scope for its products and services in the expanding infrastructure sector on the back of special economic zones and IT parks.

"We will work with the promoters of the projects, who will directly buy the equipment, and with the turnkey contractors, who will integrate equipment for projects," Karkal said.

The estimated market for the air-conditioning industry in India is about Rs 4,000 crore ($1 billion) and is growing at over 35 per cent annually. He said the company was expected to touch $15 million in sales in the first year of operations.

The company recently bagged an order to provide air-conditioning for the Navy's new ships being built at the Garden Reach Shipyard, Kolkata. The $16-million order will be executed over a period of three years.