The Bitzer Group is the world’s largest independent manufacturer of refrigerant compressors. Bitzer is globally represented with sales companies and production sites for stroke piston, screw and scroll compressors as well as pressure vessels. The group has consolidated global revenues of Euro 600 million employing over some 2,600 employees worldwide.
Bitzer, the No.1 in the transport air-conditioning, sold over 80,000 compressors to the bus segment alone in 2008, which is only five per cent of its total business. Currently transport as a segment includes bus, truck, trailer, container and rail constitutes 12 per cent of Bitzer’s total business. The plan is to increase the business to 30 per cent, says Mr. Helmut Meyer, Division Manager for Transport Products, Bitzer.
Bitzer has been present in India for well over a decade catering to the industrial and transport air-conditioning segment. Currently all the products are being imported from its German plant. But very soon the Indian plant will start commercial production. Initially it will manufacture products for the industrial segment, particularly for malls, hotels and other non-transport applications. Compressors for transport applications will continue to be imported till it reaches a critical volume which will justify manufacturing, adds Mr. Helmut.
In the transport segment Bitzer is looking at the bus, truck and rail applications in the Indian market. The company has a very strong presence in China too with close to 18,000 compressors supplied to Songz, a leading Chinese bus AC manufacturer.
Globally, Bitzer works with all the major AC manufacturers, including Carrier, Thermoking, Spheros and Ingersol Rand. In India, the company, apart from working with all the global brands, is also working with domestic brands like Sidwal and Haiger.
