Conair Forms Joint Venture in India To Manufacture and Market Auxiliaries
Conair has formed a new joint venture company that will allow it immediately to manufacture and sell most of its plastics processing auxiliaries to plastics processors in India. The new company, called Nu-Vu Conair Pvt. Ltd., is a 50/50 partnership with Nu-Vu Engineers, a well-established Indian supplier of loaders, hot-air dryers, granulators, chillers and mold-temperature controllers.
“Conair is establishing itself in India in order to serve existing customers who need us to support their efforts in the region,” explains Larry Doyle, Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing for Conair. “We have had a presence in India for many years. But by joining forces with Nu-Vu, we can now supply local customers with total customer support. Nu-Vu has manufacturing, sales, service and administration in place today, and they have the necessary experience designing and manufacturing auxiliary equipment.”
The venture is headquartered in a 43,000 sq. ft. (4000 sq. meters) facility in Ahmedabad, India. It is managed locally by Bhaumik V. Patel, K.M. Shah, Ajay Shah, and S.P. Kudva with a combined total of over 100 years experience in the manufacture and sale of plastics equipment in India.
Nu-Vu Conair will continue to manufacture and sell existing Nu-Vu equipment and begin making the U.S.-designed Conair products in India this year, Doyle says. These products include loaders and conveying systems, dryers, feeders, and heat-transfer equipment. Granulators and blenders will be offered there in the near future. The two companies have begun an exchange of engineering personnel to familiarize Conair with the Indian manufacturing operation and to allow the Nu-Vu engineers to learn about Conair design, production and quality control practices.
“Our goal is that the first Indian-made Conair equipment will be delivered before the end of the year,” Doyle said.
BUSINESS BOOMS IN ASIA
The new company will have two immediate priorities in this rapidly changing part of Asia. One is to serve global plastics processors who support consumer product manufacturers with operations in India, including automakers and producers of electronics and packaging, Doyle explains. At the same time, there is a tremendous growth opportunity as India’s infrastructure expands to support its increasing population. Packaging, including water bottles and containers to help keep perishable foods fresh as they are shipped around the country, is in high demand, he says. Increased disposable income, created by economic expansion, is growing the market for transportation, mobile phones, household electronics and the like.
“The timing is perfect to make this commitment and investment in India,” comments Chris Keller, President of Conair. “Our international customers know and appreciate Conair equipment and can now get the kind of support that only a local factory can provide. Almost immediately we can adapt our equipment to meet the needs of local processors.”
The Indian joint venture is the second manufacturing venture Conair has started in Asia this year. To support customers in China, the company recently opened a plant in Shanghai, which it shares with sister company Rapid Granulator AB. The 32,300-square-foot Shanghai plant produces dryers and materials-handling equipment for Conair, as well as Rapid granulators.
