Konvekta AG has been a front-runner in the manufacture of HVAC and thermal systems for commercial vehicles for nearly six decades. The German company has been eyeing the Indian bus and truck market with its products for quite some time now and is likely to commence operation at its Indian facility by the end of the current year. It has already started identifying potential customers for its bus air-conditioning systems and has also begun test runs with some customers for its truck refrigeration systems.
Through decades of experience and innovative applications in the field of air-conditioning and refrigeration technology, the company offers a wide range of standard and customized air-conditioners that are adapted to individual vehicle types, no matter how complex the requirements are. Having already set up eight service centres in India and with an office in Mumbai, the company plans to extend its service footprint in North India and also commence operations at its manufacturing facility in Mumbai.
“In India, over 95 per cent of the buses are non-air-conditioned. We see the market picking up with lots of new and potential customers. We are not the cheapest in terms of cost, but are confident about the quality and reliability of our products. 
Our key target is to find customers who accept the price-quality relation. Our manufacturing unit in India is likely to start production before the end of 2014”, says Mr. Reiner Boland, Director, Business Division Bus, Konvekta AG, in an exclusive chat with MOTORINDIA.
Customer trials
In India, 40 per cent of vegetables and fruits perish before they reach the market and the consumers due mainly to lack of proper cold chain transport and cold storage. In spite of several incentives from the Government to improve this sector, there are hardly any developments so far.
Mr. S.K. Edroos, Chairman & Managing Director, Konvekta Refrigeration India Pvt. Ltd. and Konvekta Bus India Pvt. Ltd., says: “Konvekta has been a pioneer in transport refrigeration around the world for decades. We have entered the Indian market with our range of solutions for the truck refrigerations as also bus air-conditioning segments. We already have made some progress on the truck refrigeration side. We have imported reefer boxes with our refrigeration systems from Europe, fitted them on vehicles in India and put them on trial runs. The results have been extremely satisfactory. As for bus air-conditioning systems, our product range will cover luxury buses, inter-city coaches, city buses, vans, etc., in a phased manner.”
Konvekta has developed strong capabilities to design and develop a wide range of products in-house at its facilities, to suit the varying requirements of different markets as well as the customers. Its products are designed to maintain temperatures ranging from zero degrees to minus 25 degrees celsius.
“Though there has been decent progress in the Indian market as regards development of the cold chain sector, the poor road infrastructure often damages the refrigeration equipment. This makes customers hesitant to invest in high-cost products. Konvekta is looking at all possibilities to help our customers find solutions for such problems. We have a very strong customer base in Europe and have started talks with some vehicle manufacturers in the Indian market as well”, adds Mr. Edroos.