As one of the pioneers of the industrial revolution in India, Kirloskar group has contributed immensely in every field of its operation during its 130 year-long journey. Unsurprisingly, it holds a place of repute in the industry for its good business values and customer focus.
Driven by commitment and working with a focused vision and approach, Kirloskar Pneumatic Company Ltd., one of the core business units of the Kirloskar group, remains as a manufacturer of choice for its global clientele.
Sanjay Grover, Vice President, International Business Division & Corporate Marketing, KPCL shares expansion plans that hinge on innovating top-of-the-line compressors and ensuring physical presence in focus markets. He also talks about his expectations from the upcoming Indusfood-Tech 2020. Below are few excerpts from the interview:
Indusfood-Tech: Tell us about the company’s formation and growth story? How have you evolved as a business in India and abroad?
Sanjay Grover: Kirloskar is a large engineering conglomerate in India. We started our journey as a group in the year 1888. We are a more than 130 years old hard core engineering group. Our founder incepted the concept of an iron plough somewhere in the year 1903, when irrigation used to be the major challenge in agriculture.
He immediately took this into notice and innovated centrifugal pumps and engines, which paved the path for a new company called Kirloskar Oil Engines.
Gradually, over the years, a number of milestones were achieved and in 1958, Kirloskar Pneumatic Co. Ltd. (KPCL), one of the core companies of the Kirloskar group was formed, which is also a public listed company today. We have four divisions where we largely provide our services into: Air Compressor (first manufactured by us in 1955); Air Conditioning & Refrigeration; Process Gas System (specializing in oil & gas segment); and Transmission where we make gear box and pinions.
Indusfood-Tech: What are the key product categories you cater to and what are the major end-use sectors where you are witnessing good demand for your equipment?
SG: Our air compressors, which we had developed in 1958, created a huge buzz immediately after their launch in the domestic as well as global market; as it is a utility item and finds its vast usage and implementation largely in the food and beverage industry, besides many other sectors. Today, I can proudly say that we are world’s largest manufacturers of refrigeration compressors, which are widely used in the entire food industry. Our equipments are well placed in industries like cold storages, ice plants, sea-food industries, meat plants, dairy, beverages and breweries. Worth mentioning, our refrigeration compressor is our flagship product for our export market as well. Besides, our gear boxes find their usage widely in sugar industry.
Furthermore, I believe that there is a lot of demand up-surging in the cold storage segment. From the government’s perspective also, there are initiatives in this arena. You see, almost 40% of the agricultural produce is being wasted. So, it is high-time to combat this huge food wastage where cold chains & storages can be looked as the best option. So, for the next 10 years, cold chain and storage of horticulture products is emerging as a key area for us to diversify into.
Indusfood-Tech: What are the latest trends in the evolution of the compressor industry? How are you adapting to them as a company?
SG: The reciprocating, centrifugal and screw compressors are ones that are in trend and are in huge demand. We, at KPCL, are fully equipped and geared with the latest & trending equipments and technologies which the world is adopting to.
Indusfood-Tech: How do you plan to expand your business in the next five years?
SG: Currently, we have reference base of our refrigeration compressors in over 40 countries. We have offices in Dubai and Johannesburg looking after the operations in Sothern Africa and MENA regions; Bangkok, which looks after the operations in South-East Asia and further I am happy to mention that we are very systematically increasing our footprints across the globe. In India, we have three factories as of now; the corporate office and a colossal factory in Hadapsar Pune, one at Saswad, Pune and the other manufacturing unit in Nasik.
There is a conscious effort by the organization from the last couple of years where we are focusing on our engineering and trying to keep pace with new technological innovations. Pertinent to this approach of ours, we have also created a separate department for research and engineering at KPCL.
Secondly, with a clear defined vision, we are setting up a new factory, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, in Nasik, which would be earmarked for the manufacturing of top-quality air compressors. We have also successfully explored some strategic tie-ups with European companies for sourcing new technologies. Hopefully, we would be commercially ready by the next year.
Indusfood-Tech: How is the food processing equipment industry expected to grow in the future? What will be the drivers of the growth?
SG: Since the food processing industry is itself expected to grow double in, say, next seven to ten years, naturally the allied equipment industry is also envisaged for an enormous growth.
Indusfood-Tech: What has been the progress of your business on the export front and which are the main markets you have successfully penetrated? What are your future strategies to tap your potential target markets?
SG: We have been exporting our compressors for last three decades or so now. But to mention, from the last few years, there has been a focus area from the company perspective. We have been increasing our infrastructure in terms of setting up our own operations in the overseas market. Secondly, identifying the potential countries and developing channel partners across various locations has been our other focus area. We had a clear vision i.e., “Focused Country, Focused Approach”, which certainly helped us decide on what product of ours goes into which market. So, the fact that we sketched a blue-print has helped us achieve huge success on the international platform.
Today, our products and machineries are, probably, as good as or even better than those of European and American manufacturers and find strong presence in countries of Africa, South-East Asia and Middle East. We also have good plans to move to Europe and the US, further.
Currently, we are growing at a rate of 10-11% YoY and plan to expand with around 40% of KPCL’s turn-over from exports in the near future. Furthermore, through Indusfood-Tech, we would like to focus on and source buyers from MENA (Middle East North Africa) region and South East Asia. We would like to promote two of our major product lines: refrigeration compressors and refrigeration & gas packages in the upcoming edition of Indusfood-Tech.
Indusfood-Tech: How do you see the investment opportunities and the business environment for the food processing industry in India?
SG: Of-course, it is getting better now. With changing food habits the processing sector is set to increase. The demand in the ready-to-cook segment, esp., the chopped & packed vegetables, is increasing. Initiatives by the Government of India are pretty exciting and encouraging. Foreign investors are wooed to invest in the Indian market like never before. Having clubbed all these factors, the growth in the sector is pretty certain.
Indusfood-Tech: How do you see IndusFood-Tech as a platform for the growth of the industry?
SG: I was astonished to see the hosted-buyer concept of Indusfood-Tech. It is for the first time that I am seeing the government investing money in bringing buyers to India from across the world. It is something that we as a private sector do. But the Government of India doing something like this is commendable. The enthusiasm shown by the government is amazing and appreciated! In short, we see Indusfood-Tech catalyzing our meetings with the buyers from across the globe and also accelerating the results.
During his studies in the US, Jeet Hirpara,
Driven by a passion for Indian taste along with a
When Sudarshan Chemical Industries was manuf
For the past 55 years, Bry-Air has been spec
Primarily a merchant exporter, Januz Univers
Dynamech Engineers has a rich legacy in the
Amar Tea started as a small scale wholesale
Kanchan Metals Pvt. Ltd. has emerged as a st
In an initiative to promote Indusfood-T
Richlite is an inspiring success story of fi
As one of the largest producers of folding c
Incorporated in 1923, WIMCO has been providi
Desmet Ballestra Group is a huge multination
Delivering products that cover a huge range
Stephen Manallack, Chairman, Genesis India-A
Bikaji is a globally well-known snacks brand
Since its inception in 1995, SAP Filter Pvt Ltd.
As one of the pioneers of the industrial rev
With close to two decades of dedicated exper
It was in the late 1980s when the edible oil
Hiemens Bottling Machines (HBM) is well know
In an interaction with IndusFood, the renown
As a trailblazer in the manufacturing of foo
SSP is an Indian process engineering company
Jivraj Tea Ltd. is one of the leading I
After Keshavji Meghi Gosrani had leveraged h
Indian spices have been immensely popular th
As a leading technology provider and turnkey
Akiva Superfoods is a young, conscious and m
Having started its operations in 1976, Saree
Incorporated in 2009, Multivac Laraon India is an
With a four-decade long global presence and
While it is well entrenched into the Indian instit
Established in 1989, Innovative Foods Limite
Late Shri Natvarbhai Patel launched Gajanand
Started with a team of just seven dedicated
Stefan Manallack, Blogger, Advisor and Speaker and
Ms. Nupur Kumaria, Assistant Director, TPCI met Mr
Ms. Nupur Kumaria, Assistant Director, TPCI met Mr
In a promotional outreach program in Australia, Ms
Ms. Nupur Kumaria, TPCI along with Mr. Sushil Mans
Ms. Nupur Kumaria, Assistant Director, TPCI met (L
Ms. Nupur Kumaria, Assistant Director, TPCI met Mr
Mr. Naveen Arora, Director, Aarkay International P
With a grand vision, undying faith and focus
Ms. Nupur Kumaria, Assistant Director, TPCI met Mr
Ms. Nupur Kumaria, Assistant Director, TPCI met Mr
Mr. Gauttam Varma, MD, Taj Foods, Sydney and Ms. N
In a recently organized buyer outreach program in
Mr. Tarun Goenka, Director, Jai Guruji Pty Ltd, sh
Ms. Nupur Kumaria, Assistant Director, TPCI
Mr. Murali K Metlapalli, CEO, Indya Foods Pty Ltd
In a buyer outreach program, Ms. Nupur Kumaria, As
Founded in 2004, 24 Mantra Organic is a pion
In a buyer mobilization program in Australia
Ms. Nupur Kumaria, Assistant Director, TPCI
Ms. Nupur Kumaria, Assistant Director, TPCI met an
In a promotional outreach program, Ms. Nupur Kumar
Popcorn is treated as a basic product, but a
Senso Foods is India's leading manufacturer
Param Dairy, a name synonymous with quality
Mr Deepak Vohra, Senior Deputy Director, TPCI with
With speedy proliferation in their food busi
Mr Deepak Vohra, Senior Deputy Director, Trade Pro
Allied Natural Product has evolved as a lead
From humble origins as a sweet shop started
“From a small spice shop to an export mogul”-
In conversation with IndusFood, Mr. Mandeep
Participating for the third time in a row, M
Hungry for your evening snacks but fed up wi
As the clock ticks away and the sun sets on
Who would have ever skipped the childhood me
The ubiquitous mania for healthy making and
Fed up of carrying a heavy bag of guilt whil
Taking it up a notch, IndusFood is pepping up for
Mr. Upul Amaratunge, Regional Manager, Renuka Food
In a buyer outreach program in Sri Lanka, Ms. Nupu
Indigenous production, in-house processing a
Shri ManoharLal Aggarwal and Shri Naresh Aggarwal
In a meeting with Dr. Sushil Kumar, First Secretar
India is known for its rich profusion of Cur
In a buyer outreach program in Sri Lanka, Ms. Nupu
It was back in 2003, when an engineerin
Big importers of Indian products as Biscuits, rice
Every day, when your growling, starving tumm
In a series of buyer outreach program in Sri Lanka
Gearing up with the preperations of IndusFood 2020
In 1906, in undivided India's capital, Delhi
Buyers of Indian food products in Sri Lanka
A reach as wide as the globe and as intricate as t
Ms. Nupur Kumaria, Assistant Director, TPCI met wi
After Africa, it's Sri Lanka where TPCI team is ge
With health and environmental concerns leadi
In the promotional and buyer outreach program in S
The best part of active promotions of any fixture
With a motto to find buyers and platform for India
Mr. Khalid, Owner, Cape Spice Emporium, Cape Town,
The latest testimony of IndusFood’s success is r
With exuberance and euphoria, IndusFood speeds up
Mobilizing the buyers in S. Africa and creating a
Tea consumption has grown rapidly particularly in
TPCI's flagship event, IndusFood, is going to see
Almost all of us are fond of snacks. Comfort
Sachin Kumar, Deputy Director, TPCI, visited China
Eager to be a part of IndusFood 2020, Mr. Mitesh D
In the buyer mobilization program in S. Africa, co
In a series of promotional buyer outreach pr
TPCI is enthusiastic while prepping up for the thi
Leading buyers of Indian products in S. Africa see
Fed up with your kids’ demands for chocolates as
“Dahi” triggers every Indian with a roller coa
Distributors of Indian food in South Africa are al
IndusFood receives South Africa\'s attention! In a
Fed up with your kids’ demands for chocolates as
Mr. Deepak Vohra, Sr. Deputy Director, TPCI, once
Africas largest FMCG conglomerate, Rice and Grains
Creating a buzz among the buyers in S. Africa, Mr.
Once again Mr. Deepak Vohra, Sr. Deputy Director,
In the buyers’ mobilization program in Africa, M
IndusFood is gearing up for its upcoming 2020 fixt
In a series of buyer outreach program in Africa, M
Supports shower from Rwanda continues. Shri Oscar
It is an honor to receive supports from overseas.
After promotions in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, Mr
TPCI got overwhelmed with the eminent visit of Mr.
With Government’s resolve to double the income o
IndusFood 2020 is reaching destination to destinat
While Mr. Deepak Vohra, Sr. Deputy Director, TPCI,
Apart from the promotions of IndusFood 2020, Ugand
While Mr. Deepak Vohra, Sr. Deputy Director, TPCI,
After the successful execution of promotional meet
In a series of buyer mobilization program in Afric
Expressing huge interests in being a part of Indus
Mr. Reuben Rwekuuta, Principal Officer, Ministry o
In the buyer outreach programs in Africa for Indus
Work in silence and let the success make the noise
After Kenya and Tanzania, it is great to see the e
In a series of buyer mobilization program in Afric
With reverberating success of IndusFood 2018 and 2
Supported by Shri R. Chandramouli, First Secretary
In an interactive session with Mr. Jignesh Kothari
Hitting some new records of success, Mr. Deepak Vo
In a series of outreach programs in Africa, IndusF
As IndusFood 2020 slowly and steadily reaches the
Raising promotions and buzz for the 3rd edition of
In a promotional meet with Mr. Deepak Vohra, Sr. D
IndusFood 2019 registered eminent presence of top
Mr. Deepak Vohra, Sr. Deputy Director, TPCI, reach
Mr. Deepak Vohra, Sr. Deputy Director, TPCI, confi
Promoting the annual USP, IndusFood2020, Mr. Deepa
Potential buyers and exhibitors are two pre-requis
In a buyers mobilization and outreach program, Mr.
Mr. Deepak Vohra, Sr. Deputy Director, TPCI, met a
It is a pleasure to get invited by Group CEO of Bi
In a series of outreach activities for IndusFood 2
A great chunk of buyers is always a pre-requisite&
With jubilant memories of IndusFood 2019, the team
In the outreach activity for the 2020 chapter of I
With IndusFood 2020 slowly reaching the board, the
IndusFood 2020 had recently received all poss
With a huge success of IndusFood 2018 & 2019,
Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) is pleased
Mr. Mohit Singla, Chairman, TPCI welcomed the Hon
Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Cabinet Minister
A photo of the Vietnamese delegation prior to the
A pleasant welcome of Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, U
Inaugural of Indusfood 2019 by Harsimrat Kaur
Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Cabinet Mini
Mr. Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI presenting momento
TPCI conducting roadshow to promote Indusfood 2019
TPCI conducting roadshow to promote Indusfood 2019
Mr. Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI presenting momento
TPCI conducting roadshow at Alexandria Business As
Mr. Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI inviting Mr. Moham
Mr. Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI inviting Mr. Deepa
Mr. M K Parimoo, Secretary General, TPCI meet
Mr. M K Parimoo, Secretary General, TPCI inviting
Mr. M K Parimoo, Secretary General, TPCI discussin
Mr. Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI inviting Mr. Ashra
Mr. Mohit Singla, Chairman, TPCI exploring strateg
Mr. Mohit Singla, Chairman, TPCI discussing bilate
Indusfood 2019 promotion & presentation at Cha
Mr. Suresh Makhijani, Jt.Director General, TPCI in
Indusfood 2019 Roadshow being conducted by Mr. Ash
Mr.Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI inviting The Grain
Indusfood 2019 presentation at the Federation of I
Indusfood 2019 roadshow conducted by Mr. Ashok Set
Mr. Mohit Singla, Chairman, TPCI inviting Jumbo, o
Mr. Mohit Singla, Chairman, TPCI exchanging best p
Mr. Mohit Singla, Chairman, TPCI identifying bilat
Promoting Indian American food partnership in clos
Mohit Singla Chairman - TPCI (extreme right) with
Jahangir Bin Alam, Secretary & CEO, India-Bang
Mohit Singla, Chairman #TPCI after a perfect tea t
Mohit Singla, Chairman #TPCI had an excellent meet
Mohit Singla, Chairman #TPCI had a very detailed d
Mohit Singla, TPCI Chairman (second from left) wit
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI giving the memento
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI, presenting the TPCI
Mr.Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI, met Mr. Yahya Zakar
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI, with Mr Vinod Baha
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI with Mr C Mohammed Y
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI with Mr Nirman Shety
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI had an excellent me
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI, can be seen present
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI giving the memento
Mr.Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI, met Mr. Yahya Zakar
Mr. Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI, along with Mr. Moh
India's Missions abroad provide work overtime to p
Mr. Ashok Sethi (Director TPCI) can be seen with D
Mr. Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI with Mr. Amir Hosse
Mr. Ashok Sethi (Director TPCI) and Ms. Nupur Kuma
Iran imports a good amount of tea from India. Mr.
Mr. Ashok Sethi (Director, TPCI) met chairwoman of
Mr. Ashok Sethi (Director, TPCI) had a special mee
M/s Shiren Asal is the owner of Mohsen - a reputed
Mr. Vahid Akbar Daryan (MD Tejarat Gostar Toranj)
Ali Bin Ali - the largest FMCG organisation in Qat
Mr. Massih Keshavarz (General Secretary, Iranian R
Mr, Ashok Sethi (Director TPCI) made a presentatio
Officials of Indian embassy in Kuwait are working
Several Qatar businessmen are looking forward to s
TPCI has signed an MoU with Moscow Chamber of Comm
Mr. Mohit Singla, Chairman-TPCI with Mr. George Th
Mr. Ashok Sethi (Director-TPCI) with Mr. Sumit Mal
Mr. Ashok Sethi (Director-TPCI) had an excellent m
Encouraging participation by the Indian States! An
H E Shri Rakesh Adlakha (DCM and acting Ambassador
Mr. Deepak Vohra of TPCI gave a presentation on th
As part of his tour of GCC countries, Mr Ashok Set
Mr Ashok Sethi met Mr Hemant C V Patel, Chairman,
Mr. Ashok Sethi with Mr. Hameed Yousif Rahma- the
Mr. Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI, with Mr. Shyam Kap
Mr. Ashraf Ali M.A, Exec. Dir., Lulu Group Interna
Mr. Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI, with Mr. Pankaj Bo
Mr. Ashok Sethi with Mr. Santosh Pai, GM, Consumer
Mr. Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI with H.E. Shri Alok
Minara Chamber of Commerce, South Africa will be p
The Dhaka based India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commer
Importer delegation from South Africa will be grac
Mr. Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI with Mr Sandeep Khi
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI met Mr Sahel Tanvir
Mr Ronaldo Philip, Head of Food Imports, Shoprite
Mr Salimul Haque Essa, President of Bangladesh Fre
Mr Sandip Das, Director, TPCI had a fruitful meeti
Mr Legent Emiroglu, Director of International Expa
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI - had a successful
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI invited Mr Ashish J
Aylin Odabas, Coordinator of Fairs & Exhibitio
Mr Mohit Singla, Chairman, TPCI with Ms Stefanie S
Mr Mohit Singla, Chairman, TPCI with Mr Dirk Rader
All Food International Trade Association will visi
Mr. Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI with Mr. Devi Dass
Mr. Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI with Mr. Anil D Tiw
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI with Mr Kamal
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI with Mr Nirman Shety
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director TPCI with Mr C Mohammed Y
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI giving the TPCI mem
Presentation-Promotion of Indusfood II conducted b
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director of TPCI met Mr Kapidhwaja
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director-TPCI met Manjeev Singh Pu
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director met Mr B.C. Pradhan, Cons
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI with few of the pro
Promotional presentation of Indusfood to Mr S.M. J
AGORA- 2nd largest retail chain with 18 stores in
Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce &
Mr Ashok Sethi, Director, TPCI with Mr Gaurav Gand
Mr Ashok Sethi with Mr Shishir Kothari, Commercial