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NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 23:

        Touted as the first air conditioners in India with a certification from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), the new range of products from Carrier Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Ltd (Carrier India) consumed less power with reliable performance for a longer duration, it was claimed.

'The Durakool and Estrella range of air-conditioners would fundamentally change the way customers bought the products in the market. We have been a leader in energy-efficient and eco-friendly products and now Carrier has launched air-conditioners with BEE label which would benefit market-savvy consumers,' said Zubin Irani, managing director, Carrier India. Addressing a press meet here on Wednesday, he said in the last two years the company has witnessed solid growth in Indian market for HVACR — heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration — industry with all its three business units, Home Comfort, Building Systems and Food Safety (commercial refrigeration), recording an overall growth of over 30 per cent, as against the market growth of 25-30 per cent. Thus, the company gained market share in the air-conditioning industry valued at Rs 5,000 crore with a turnaround in the profitability in 2005.         In 2006, the company reorganised its business structure and in that year, a range of non-ozone depleting refrigerants and energy-efficient air-conditioners were introduced for light commercial and building segments.

Carrier's Durakool AC (window room)

       Indian market has always been attractive for Carrier India with its focus on three broad categories — Residential and Light Commercials ACs; Commercial Applied ACs; and Commercial Refrigeration. 'We are looking for deeper penetration of our products (air-conditioners and refrigerants) in the organised retail which is going to drive our growth in commercial segment. In South India, we have our own brand equity with key presence in IT and ITeS, BPO and retail, even as we raised our channel partners by 20 per cent in this year,' Irani said.

        Having set up India operations in 1986, Carrier group commissioned its own factory at Gurgaon in 1988 which is now the headquarters of the Indian subsidiary. The Gurgaon plant is one of the 71 plants across the world set up by the Carrier group to manufacture a range of air-conditioners and refrigerants to cater to global markets. Carrier group took the lead in phasing out ozone-depleting refrigerants and stopped the global production of CFC-based equipment in 1994, one year ahead of the deadline in the US.

        With certified energy-label from India's BEE, the Durakool and Estrella air-conditioners used less power, thus reducing operating costs for home-owners. These models were available in 0.75, 1, 1.5 and 2 tonne capacities at a price range of Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000. The company's growing success with large accounts was mainly due to its exclusive dealers numbering 345, apart from 600 retail outlets, which focused on retail markets in residential, light commercial and high-value commercial segments, Zubin Irani explained.

        Carrier India is part of $13.5 billion Carrier group which is owned by the US-based United Technologies Corporation, a global major in high technology products and services for aerospace and commercial buildings.