Dependable power continues to be a critical requirement

In an interview with EPR Magazine, Abhinav Gupta, Regional Marketing Manager—South Asia, Perkins India, shares more on the importance of standby power and the company’s contributions to the market.

How is the demand trend for diesel gensets from residential, commercial and industrial segments?

India has a highly competitive diesel generator set market that continues to provide growth opportunities for those in the electric power generation sector. With state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, India is a leading provider of goods and services, both domestically and for export. We’re also seeing that key Indian initiatives like Make in India, Smart City Mission and Housing for All, are expanding the scope of power utilities in residential, commercial and industrial segments. To meet the demand for diesel generating sets, Perkins has invested in two facilities in India— Aurangabad and Hosur—which manufacture engines to our exacting global standards for customers in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Our engines provide reliable power solutions to hospitals, airports, universities, real estate, data centres and large manufacturing industries among others.

How is the diesel engines market progressing in India?

Critical applications such as healthcare, data centres and real estate continue to drive the requirement for diesel generator sets and at Perkins, we are well positioned to serve customers with dependable engines. While the demands may vary at different cycles, a lifetime of low cost is an important consideration for all our customers, especially in India which is one of the most competitive dollars per kVA markets in the world.

What opportunities do you see for diesel engines and gensets?

Technological advancement in the functionality of the diesel generator set has been an important consideration for a while now. India is moving from an unregulated market to being a country with stringent performance norms in place, thereby creating an environment for technological and design innovation. Value for money and utility are among the key requirements in this market.

Can you shed some light on your manufacturing footprint in India?

Power is critical for economic growth and the welfare of the nation. India has one of the most diversified power sectors in the world and our facility at Shendra Industrial Estate, Aurangabad aligns with India’s vision to support various industries in their aim to be self-reliant.

Operational since October 2015, Aurangabad produces Perkins® 4000 Series which generate electric power for installations across India and the rest of the word. Our Hosur facility manufactures our 1100 and 2000 Series engines.

How is the company gearing up for the future demands? What are the expansion plans?

Perkins has a great opportunity in the Asia Pacific region, as we have the right mix of products— from 400 to 2,500 kVA—to meet varied customer requirements. India has always played a key role in this region and it is an important market for us. We have invested heavily in our Aurangabad facility which builds engines used for standby power, particularly in key sectors like telecommunications and healthcare. The growth seen in construction projects, especially aligning with India’s vision of Housing for All, and various smart city projects across the country, has triggered the demand for diesel generator sets. The requirement for uninterrupted power at manufacturing facilities such as healthcare and the automobile industry, is also expected to drive the continued demand for standby power.