Kochi Trade, Technology, Engineering & Industry

[Arunz]

KOCHI: Spices major Synthite Industries Limited, a global leader in oleoresins, anchored its foray into the international market for natural products by acquiring a Chinese firm for a consideration of $3 million (Rs 159 crore) early this month. The acquisition of the firm based at Xinjian in the southern Jiangxi province is the first of its kind by a Kerala-based firm.

The Rs 800-crore Synthite, based at Kolenchery near Kochi, has been scouting for potential acquisitions for the past few months to expand its market for natural products in China and Indonesia.

Link: TOI

[Malayaali]

Synthite sets up new product division as part of internal rejig

Spices and natural products company Synthite Industries Ltd has set up a new product development division (NPD) early this month which will come up with value-added solutions for oleoresins and other export-oriented spice products of the company. Synthite Ltd Director Aju Jacob will lead the new division.

The NPD has been set up by merging the Synthite Natural Specialties, R&D and Technical Services divisions. The move is expected to bring out the synergies in these functions, Jacob said.

"The new division will study the application of products in specific segments of the food industry. Based on this study, we will develop standard products for each of these segments, which can then be sold to a large number of customers. The products so developed can be customised again to meet specific needs," Jacob said.

The NPD will have 33 people on its rolls. "We are planning to build a new technology centre in Kolencherry and move employees there to foster an atmosphere that aids creativity," Jacob said. He also stated that Synthite would look beyond developing generic and customised solutions for flavour houses and develop standard products that cater to a wider audience in the food and feed industry.

The company will build the NPD around four different classes of products - natural specialties (flavours), natural colours, anti-oxidants and health ingredients. "The anti-oxidant market holds great potential. We are trying to understand the anti-oxidation properties inherent in foodstuffs like meat and seafood."

Synthite presently markets its anti-oxidant brand under the tag of 'Neox'.

The R&D department will provide the research backbone, while the technical service team will develop suitable equipment, processes and products to launch commercial production.

[Malayaali]

FACT likely to seek private investment

FACT’s attempt to move out of the red is going to be tough with no major public sector undertaking (PSU) showing any interest in it. In this scenario, the fertilizer company is likely to join hands with the private sector for its expansion. Initially, FACT’s plan was to go in for a joint venture with a PSU to implement some of its long-pending projects such as the new urea plant, phosphoric acid plant, and capacity expansion for factamfos production and a container freight station (CFS). However, no company has responded to its express of interest (EoI). The CFS was aimed to tap business related to the International Container Transshipment Terminal. The urea-plant project gains significance in the wake of India’s demand for about 28 million tonnes of urea, of which only 8 million tonnes are being imported. Heavy interest on loans availed of by the company to tide over the liquidity crunch is a major problem before the FACT management. The company paid a whopping `140 crore as interest alone during last year and suffered a loss of around `40 crore. “If the company did not have such a burden, we could have generated a profit of `100 crore,” FACT chairman and MD Sham Lal Goyal had said at a seminar recently.
He had said that the firm was planning to approach the Centre for an interest-free loan of `550 crore to tide over the crisis. The management was looking for a joint venture with PSUs such as Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers or any of the oil companies. “We were mainly looking at public sector oil companies, but none has evinced interest. However, no decision has been taken on private investment,” said a company spokesperson.

[Malayaali]

New Factamfos plant likely to be set up

Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) is expected to see a major investment in expansion and capacity addition in 15 years in the form of a new, 1,000-tonnes-per-day Factamfos plant at the Kochi division.

The last major investment in the fertilizer company was in a 900-tonnes-per-day ammonia plant, which involved an investment of more than Rs. 600 crore.

Several plans on anvil

Involving an investment upwards of Rs. 250 crore, the proposed Factamfos production facility is among several other plans on the anvil for the public sector fertilizer giant. A Rs. 680-crore, five-lakh-tonnes-per-day urea plant, using carbon dioxide from FACT's ammonia plant and 2,000-tonnes per day sulphuric acid plant have also been proposed.

The detailed project report is ready for the proposed Factamfos plant and a detailed environment impact assessment study is under way. The plant is likely to be commissioned in two years, the money being found through internal accruals and assistance from the Union government.

FACT management is also preparing a detailed project report on increasing the capacity of 360-tonnes-per-day phosphoric acid plant to 540 tonnes per day.

Factamfos, the 20:20:0:13 complex fertilizer from FACT, is its sales driver and during 2010-11 the company sold nearly 6.5 lakh tonnes of the product. Factamfos sales this financial year stands at over 4,20,000 tonnes till the end of December.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that consultant Deloitte is reviewing the working capital requirement of FACT, which uses naptha as feedstock. The consultant had recommended in 2008 that FACT should be given a lifeline in the form of a special assistance of Rs. 450 crore in working capital. The money, being given as interest-free loan, was meant to bridge the gap in working capital till LNG was made available in Kochi with the commissioning of the LNG terminal.

FACT is at a disadvantage over some of the other fertilizer companies in the country considering the feedstock it uses. While the cost of LNG input is a little more than U.S .$ 4 per MMBTU, naptha costs six times that amount. Though the Union government provided Nutrient-Based Subsidy Scheme to make up for the gap, FACT's share of compensation was, initially, much lower than some of its competitors.

For example, while FACT was awarded Rs. 2,331 per tonne of Factamfos under the NBSS, its counterpart Madras Fertilizers was awarded Rs. 4,784 per tonne for its Factamfos-equivalent product. This anomaly is being rectified through an interim increase in the rate of compensation to FACT.

End with a profit

The FACT Officers' Association has said that the fertilizer company made a profit of Rs. 30 crore over the last two quarters and that the company would be able to end the year with a profit given that it would get its share of fertilizer subsidy and other incentives.

A spokesman for the Association said that FACT's future depended on the availability of natural gas at competitive rates. He pointed out that if FACT received LNG as feedstock at the rate it was made available to other fertilizer companies, FACT would have ended the financial year 2010-11 with a profit of more than Rs. 200 crore.

[Malayaali]

H&R Johnson to scale up Woodenza business

Johnson Woodenza, the wooden flooring business of H&R Johnson (India), a division of Prism Cement announced an aggressive scale up across pan-India. The company is using the franchisee retail route for the business growth with focus on high-volume markets to drive business penetration and volumes.

As part of this business penetration, the company is looking at creating a specialized franchised hub network across key markets like Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata and Ludhiana. This Franchisee network will function in a Hub & Spoke manner thereby being a strategic hub to recruit multiple Spokes in the form of retail counters to drive business volumes. H&R Johnson expects South India to contribute nearly 30% of business volumes in the Woodenza business while North and West India are expected to contribute about 25%, East India is expected to contribute nearly 20% volumes.

Commenting on the planned scale-up of its Woodenza business, Vijay Aggarwal, Managing Director, Prism Cement (Q,N,C,F)* said, ``The wooden flooring segment is growing about 40% every year as it has become the preferred choice in shops, restaurants, hotel rooms, and residential projects. Our business scale-up plans for Woodenza is in line with our commitment to grow in the wooden flooring business by delivering innovative and stylish products to consumers.``

Johnson Woodenza products are an international range sourced from some of the top wooden flooring brands in the world. The Johnson Woodenza range, lends its signature beauty and elegance to the rich interiors of homes and commercial projects built to make a statement.

[Malayaali]

DGCA favours financial autonomy for AI Express

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has recommended giving financial autonomy to Air India Charters Ltd (AICL), the company which runs Air India Express, the low-cost brand of Air India operating in the international sector.

“From a safety perspective, it is imperative that AICL be given financial autonomy,” said a financial audit report done by the aviation regulator.

The DGCA decided to go for a financial audit of all the airlines after Kingfisher Airlines grounded planes and cancelled flights without prior information. A safety audit had raised issues on the functioning of Kingfisher and AI Express. The audit of Air India is currently on.
AI Express is the international low-cost carrier subsidiary of the government carrier, and operates in West Asian and Southeast Asian countries with its base in central Kerala’s Kochi. The airline operates 204 flights a week and connects 14 international destinations

The airline, with an equity base of Rs 30 crore, operates 21 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Of the 21 aircraft, 17 are owned by the company, while the rest are on lease.

AI Express has accumulated losses of Rs 1,105 crore and is estimated to incur losses of Rs 430 crore in the current fiancial year. It has a debt of over Rs 3,687 crore, comprising Rs 2,387 crore (long term for aircraft acquisition) and Rs 1,300 crore (short term).

According to an agreement with parent company Air India, the airline shares 25 per cent of the revenue with the latter. It is projected to share Rs 430 crore for 2011-12 on revenue of Rs 1,700 crore.

AI Express has to depend on its parent company for pilots and other administrative staff. “AI Express is considered the training ground for AI pilots,” said a senior AI official, who did not want to be identified. “The airline does not have its own pilot cadre. The shortage will continue unless it creates its own cadre of pilots.”

AI Express, the official added, is financially much stable than its parent company, which is under huge losses. “AI Express is estimated to make losses of Rs 430 crore, and that is exactly the amount it will pay to Air India,” the official said. “If one removes that, the airline will be a profit making company.”

Air India is under huge losses of Rs 20,000 crore and a debt of Rs 43,000 crore. The airline is also working on debt restructuring plans with 26 banks that had lent to the carrier.

It has also asked the government to infuse around Rs 5,400 crore more in the current financial year. The government has already infused Rs 3,200 crore (Rs 1,200 crore infused in 2011-12) in the airline.

[Malayaali]

Creating a fresh cluster culture

Kerala Furniture Consortium Private Limited, near Kochi, and Confederation for Ayurverdic Renaissance Kerala Limited (CARe Keralam), Thrissur, are among the seven industrial clusters selected by the National Innovation Council from across the country as part of a pilot programme to “seed and strengthen innovation in industry clusters.”

These industrial clusters, incorporated in 2006 and 2011 respectively, were established under a programme of cluster development by the Union Ministry for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. They won national recognition for leveraging the strength of micro and small enterprises in building a fresh manufacturing culture and establishing niche markets.

Initiatives at CARe Keralam under the pilot programme include efforts to “take Ayurveda to the world through revalidation by way of science,” said its Managing Director Karimpuzha Raman on Tuesday. Standardisation is the first issue being tackled by the consortium of 110 manufacturers spread across Kerala, he said.

The furniture cluster is holding skill development programmes and is being equipped with hi-tech machinery for raw material processing; components development and accessing the bulk supply market under the initiative by the Innovation Council, which seeks “to transform an industry cluster into an industry innovation cluster.”

Collaborations

“The Cluster Innovation Centre will promote collaborations, bringing together industry, academia, research institutions, professional service organisations, government, non-government agencies and society,” said the Council report on the pilot project that covers seven sectors including automobile components, Faridabad; bamboo products, Agartala; brassware, Moradabad; food processing, Krishnagiri and life sciences, Ahmadabad.

Raw material standardisation will ensure that Ayurvedic products have a common standard. Stringent testing for quality at the CSIR-affiliated laboratory at Koratty, near Thrissur, is another step in taking Ayurveda to the world.

A research and development section and a museum on India's own system of medicine are also part of the programmes being implemented.

Managing Director of the Furniture Consortium K.P. Rajendran said that the Consortium figured in the 20 clusters chosen by German agency for international cooperation GIZ, and it also found a place among the 40 industrial clusters chosen by the MSME Department.

[Malayaali]

Multi-brand IT outlets mushrooming in the city

[Malayaali]

Hankook concept store opened in Kochi



Source: Manorama

[Malayaali]

Sree Sakthi Paper registers 7.3% sales growth in Q3

Notwithstanding the economic slowdown, the Kochi-based Sree Sakthi Paper Mills Ltd managed to register a 7.3 per cent growth in sales during the quarter ended December 31.

The kraft paper manufacturer produced 18,666 tonne during the lean quarter (as compared to 18,526 tonne in the corresponding quarter of the previous year) and clocked a net turnover of Rs 47.40 crore for the three-month period as against Rs 44.25 crore in the corresponding period of 2010 . The average net sales realization this year was higher by 7.9 per cent.

After taking into account a foreign exchange fluctuation loss of Rs 71 lakh, the company made a profit of Rs 119.46 lakh. But for the forex fluctuation, the operating profit would have been higher by 11 per cent.

The company's boiler project is slated to be completed before the end of the current fiscal. With the economy showing some signs of improvement, the benefits of recent modernisation-cum-expansion should be felt in the coming quarters, a company statement issued here said.

[Malayaali]

Furniture consortium plans big with Toyota method

What has Toyota Production System, known also as lean manufacturing practice, got to do with Kerala's ambitions to become a rubber-wood industry powerhouse?

The Kerala Furniture Consortium, a venture of small furniture manufacturers, near here, backed by the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Industries, feels that adopting the globally renowned manufacturing practice will take the State closer to realising its ambitions.

While the consortium is in the middle of adopting the manufacturing system, it plans a furniture design and patenting facility in Kochi with help from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

Tata Consultancy Services is its consultant for adopting Quality Technology Tools and it has already soft-launched Kerala's furniture brand of the future — Kefcon, its managing director, K.P. Raveendran, says.

The consortium, he says, is among the seven chosen by the National Innovation Council for special support. It was incorporated in 2006, has 33 members, and helps out more than 600 small-scale wood product makers in Ernakulam.

The consortium provides a common raw material processing facility; makes high-tech machinery available to small manufacturers; and helps them in components development and in accessing clients such as Railways and defence services, which require bulk supplies.

Common centres

The consortium also plans common facility centres soon in Kollam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Kannur.

Mr. Ravindran is confident that Kerala can catch up with Malaysia, a leader in the rubber-wood furniture market provided there is support to obtain new technologies. Kerala offers skilled labour, comparatively cheaper than what is available in Malaysia, he says.

However, the price of rubber wood is a big area for concern. C. Sabu, managing director of Meenachil Rubber Wood Ltd., in which the Rubber Board has a major share, says that rubber wood costs about Rs.6,500 a tonne in India. It costs around Rs.2,500 a tonne in Malaysia, Thailand, China, and Vietnam.

Countries such as Malaysia are already exporting rubber wood boards at Rs.60-65 a sq.ft, while the India-made boards cost about Rs.90 a sq.ft, Mr. Sabu says.

Indian rubber wood industry manufactures products as varied as packing cases to knocked-down furniture. There are just about a score of big players, who together account for a business volume of around Rs.200 crore a year.

But rubber wood's acceptability in the European market as timber that does not eat into tropical rainforests is a big advantage.

If enterprises in the State can add value to at least 25-50 per cent of the estimated 1.5 million cubic metres of rubber wood available annually, it can make its mark on the world market.

An official of the State-run cooperative Rubco says that only about 10 per cent of the rubber wood now goes into value addition. This situation has to change drastically.

[Malayaali]

Asus to launch premium tablet

Personal computer and accessories manufacturer Asus will launch its premium computing tablet Prime on February 22 in India, said Alex Huang, country head for the business systems group of Asus Technology Pvt Ltd (India).

He was in Kochi to inaugurate Laptop World, the company's third outlet in Kerala.

Running on the Android Honeycomb 3.2 operating system, the slim tablet will have a 10.1 inch screen. "This is a premium product with an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quadcore processor priced at Rs 49,999," said Huang.

Asus' Transformer, a crossover between a tablet and a netbook launched last year, accounts for 5% of the total portable devices market in the country, he said.

In Kerala, the model gained only 2.5% of the portable devices market.

Kerala contributes 7 to 8% of the overall turnover of Asus Technology. Huang believes that this will rise to 10% of the top line by the end of the current fiscal. Nationwide, the company is on an expansion drive and is planning to open 100 shops in 4-5 months. Asus currently has stores in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Kozhikode, Goa, Jaipur, Thane, Raipur, Bhilai, Gurgaon and Durgapur.

[Malayaali]

Sree Sakthi Paper top line up 7% in Q3+

Notwithstanding the economic slowdown Kochi-based Sree Sakthi Paper Mills Limited managed to register 7.3% growth in sales during the quarter ended 31st December, 2011.

The kraft paper manufacturer produced 18666 MT during the lean quarter (as compared to 18526 MT in the corresponding quarter of previous year) and clocked a net turnover of Rs 47.40 cr for the three-month period as against Rs 44.25 cr in the corresponding period of last year. Average net sales realization this year was higher by 7.9%

After taking into account a foreign exchange fluctuation loss of Rs 71 lakh, the company netted a profit of Rs 119.46 lakh. But for the forex fluctuation, the Operating Profit would have been higher by 11%.

The company's boiler project is slated to be completed before the end of current fiscal. With the economy showing some signs of improvement, the benefits of recent modernization-cum-expansion should be felt in the coming quarters.

[Malayaali]

Gurnee firm opens office in India

Henry Broch & Company said Wednesday it has established an office in Cochin, India to source ingredients for the food processing industry throughout Southeast Asia.

Broch, at 3940 Porett Drive in Gurnee, along with its subsidiary, Antonetti, Price & Kuzma, represents natural ingredients — spices, vegetables, fruits, herbs and extracts — from supply sources worldwide, and sells to major food companies in the U.S. and overseas.

“Our office in Cochin allows us to have direct, daily contact with growers and up-to-the-minute information on growing conditions and production in Southeast Asia,” said Greg Antonetti, Broch vice president of sales and business development. “Our newly established field office will ensure that the ingredients we source are consistently of the highest quality.”

Broch, one of the largest U.S. industrial ingredients sales and distribution firms, was founded in 1941. Cochin (Kochi) is a major port city on the Arabian Ocean in southwest India.

[Malayaali]

KSIDC proposal to set up 'Ready-mix concrete' plant in Kochi

The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) is proposing the setting up of a ready-mix concrete plant in Kochi against such a background.

Ready-mix concrete is ready to be used, with cement, sand, metal, and other additives mixed as required by the client. It is manufactured in a centrally located factory (batching plant) and delivered to the worksite, generally in special trucks known as transit mixers, capable of mixing the ingredients en route .

A KSIDC report says the ready-mix concrete business in India is still in its infancy. Nearly 80 per cent of the cement consumption in developed countries is in the form of ready-mix concrete and 20 per cent in the form of recast.

In India, ready-mix concrete accounts for less than 5 per cent of the cement consumption. In contrast, 70 per cent of the cement produced in a developed country such as Japan is used by the ready-mix concrete business, the report says.

Availability of raw materials, such as sand, metal and water, apart from cement, are to be considered before deciding on the location of the plant. Kochi is considered suitable as the ingredients can be made available without much difficulty.

A unit will consist of a batching plant, a transit mixer, and a concrete pump. The cost of machinery for a plant with a capacity of 30 cubic metres per hour is around Rs.2 crore. The total cost of the project will be Rs.4 crore. The plant will have to employ 20 persons. The KSIDC project will be executed with private participation.

[Malayaali]

Cisco eyes $400 mn IT opportunity outside top six metros

Networking major Cisco on Tuesday said it aims to tap the USD 400 million IT market outside the top six metros and would focus on partner-led business model to increase its geographical reach.

He said the company plans to scale up operations and create growth leveraging on its partners. Cisco will develop joint business plans along with partners and allocate funding and resources to tap the market.

"Over the past few years, we have experienced remarkable growth in the partner-led segment. Today, this segment is a major contributor to Cisco's revenue in the country; with significant headroom for market development and expansion, particularly in tier II and upcountry markets," Menon said.

Partner business group is the fastest growing business unit for Cisco in India and accounts for one-third of its India revenues. "It is the fastest growing business division for us, growing at over 45 per cent CAGR for the last three years. We would further increase our channel efforts to augment partner capabilities," Menon said.

The partner-led strategy will focus on increasing geographical reach and drive business for products and services for India market.

Cisco, which follows July-June financial year, will focus on strengthening its base across top 14 non-metros to which it would extend its reach in the current financial year.

These cities are Chandigarh, Lucknow, Gawahati, Jaipur, Bhopal, Indore, Ahmedabad, Vododhara, Bhubaneswar, Vizag, Coimbatore, Kochi, Kanpur and Patna.

Menon also said that its Unified Communications Manager BE 3000 - its first product designed and developed for the Indian market by its team here, has around 300 users at present. Cisco expects to sell about 10,000-12,000 units of the product in the next six months.

[Malayaali]

Originally Posted by e_arunsid

I have seen plenty of office space lying vaccant in area's like Kadavanthra and Kaloor simply because of over supply.

Similarly there is another high end office space u/c from Calicut based Hi-Lite U/C in Vyttilla. Wonder if we really have such demand in Kochi.

I just figured out the presence of MNC's in Kochi, not considering their size, utility or area of business. And here's few findings of mine! Add to the list if you are aware of more firms, as there's many

Mott MacDonald
Huawei
CITI Bank
IBM
Microsoft
Nokia Siemens Networks
HSBC
ABB
JCB
Acer
Siemens
RBS Wealth Management
Honeywell ADI
MAERSK Line
Evergreen-Line
Mediterranean Shipping Company
HAPAG-LLOYD
MOL Mitsui OSK Lines
APL
COSCON
NorthgateArinso

[Malayaali]

CISCO, ADOBE etc joining soon. Kochi is a business hub!

Adobe Revamps India Strategy

Adobe has revamped its go-to-market (GTM) strategy to include channel expansion; it also intends to target enterprise customers aggressively. Besides, the company is moving ahead with its plans to become customer-focused from being a product-focused organization.

“Our GTM strategy for 2012 has a two-pronged approach: channel expansion and a focus on enterprise customers,” said Vineet Sood, Director, Channel, Alliances and Inside Sales (South Asia), Adobe Systems.

Increasing its focus on enterprises, Adobe is planning to expand its channel base of about 80 active partners to more than 120 in 2012. The company is eying system integrators (SIs) to service its enterprise customers. Further, it has plans to revamp its partner program, and will be rolling out its third generation program, Adobe Partner Connection (APC), in Q22012.

“APC has three objectives: improve the earning-to-sweat ratio of Adobe partners by increasing margins on Adobe solutions; expand the channel base beyond metros and tier-1 cities to tier-2 cities such as Kochi, Jaipur, Pune and Kolkata; and align SIs like Wipro, HCL, TCS and Dell to serve enterprise customers. We are already in touch with these large SIs for partnerships,” explained Sood.

Adobe is planning to introduce specialized certification programs for partners operating in the education and digital media segments.

Added Sood, “We are revamping our set-up to become a customer-focused organization with an emphasis on segments like media, entertainment, BFSI, telecom, FMCG, manufacturing, IT/ITeS, retail and e-governance. We also expect good growth from digital media and digital marketing solutions. While SMB customers will be serviced directly by partners, enterprise customers will have direct representation from Adobe, while the implementation will be done by partners.”

Meanwhile, the company has appointed Kulmeet Bawa as Director, Enterprise Business, India and South Asia. It has also appointed regional territory managers in several cities including Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Ahmedabad.

[Malayaali]

BenQ launches slew of products in Kerala

As part of strengthening its channel outreach in south India, BenQ, the internationally-renowned consumer lifestyle brand, has announced the launch of more than 20 products in Kochi. This includes Projectors, Monitors, TVs and Cameras in various price ranges.

Mr Rajeev Singh, Country Head and General Manager, BenQ India, said that Kochi is a booming market for technology with rapid developments taking place. With the Government announcing a project to build an industrial park named Electronic City, the demand for projectors and monitors are expected to grow, opening up new opportunities for the company.

AIMED AT EDUCATION SECTOR

Aimed at enhancing the teaching and learning process at schools through the maximum use of ICT tools, the focus is on providing the schools with multimedia projectors, monitors and other IT-enabled devices for better learning in the classrooms. Kerala has been a traditionally strong market for BenQ projectors, having supplied more than 4,500 projectors for educational institute in 2011with customers and partners like Keltron and Next Education, the company see that the numbers from the State can be doubled in 2012, he said.

Upsurge in demand of projectors is key to BenQ's growth in India, with the market size increasing from almost 300,000 units in 2011 to estimated 500,000 units in 2012. BenQ has tapped this potential market coming out as a leader with a massive 20 percent overall share, he said.

Keeping in mind the rise in demand for projectors from the education sector in India, BenQ plans to unveil new models to meet the demands of this sector.

[Malayaali]

Products of 2 UK companies launched

Hope Kochi gets the nod for the plant!

Kochi, Feb 15 (PTI): Foreshore Automation Systems Private Ltd, a Group company of UAE based Kingston Holdings, today said it was aiming a sales turnover of 10 million US dollars this year from various products of two UK based companies in India. While Xpelair is a world leader in Ventilation products, Rexon Technologies is into lifestyle, Security, and Energy efficient products and solutions LED lighting and Sensors. Launching the products Lalu Samuel, Chairman Kingston Holdings Group, told reporters here this was the first venture in India of the two UK based companies. The up market products were higly priced and energy efficient. Though the products are presently being imported, they were looking at Kerala, Karntaka, Chennai for setting up a manfuacturing plant, he said. In Southern India the construction sector was active and there could be demand for the products. Products manfuactured by Xpelair are Carbonite compliant which ensures less impact on planet resources. It uses lesser energy making it economical in the long run. The product range includes energy saving auto controls (sensors) deisgn to respond to changing indoor Air quality without human intervention, Ian Michael Urmston, Xpelair International sales manager and Stephen James Mongan International Marketing manager said. Rexton has diverse portfolio in various categories including Home security, Door Entry, Access control , Data storage, Samuel said. The group was targetting 20 per cent growth in the next 5 years and new products would be introduced.