India remains a priority market for ABB Electrification

Our plans in India are always with a long-term view and we will continue to invest in local manufacturing to bring our customers cutting-edge technology, design, and materials in products that are industry benchmarks.
CP Vyas, President – Electrification business, ABB India

We remain committed to India and our plans will grow in sync to reflect the growth potential of this vast country, said CP Vyas, President – Electrification business, ABB India in an interview with Subhajit Roy. He also briefs us about the company’s smart building business segment and newly launched anti-bacterial range of modular switches.

The government has expressed its commitment for ‘self-reliant’ India through indigenisation. How is ABB’s Electrification business placed in terms of localisation of production in India?
ABB Electrification has been manufacturing in India for over 40 years, so we are very well placed to support the government’s push for self-reliance through localisation. We have always endeavoured to manufacture locally for local markets while adhering to our global design and manufacturing standards.

We strongly rely on India’s engineering and AI capabilities and have invested significantly in them. We have set up robust global business operations out of India, including three Indian manufacturing locations in Nelamangala, Nashik, and Vadodara. Our strong R&D or engineering centres in Bengaluru, Nashik and Hyderabad support on a local and global level.

As the Indian government emphasises ‘power for all’, localisation of data storage, digitalisation, making cities smart and development of infrastructure in rural markets, ABB Electrification is well equipped to cater for these initiatives with a strong product and solution portfolio supporting the ‘vocal for local’ movement with a self-reliant manufacturing ecosystem.

ABB considers India as a strategic market for its Electrification business. Is there any change in strategy in terms of CAPEX plans and M&A due to COVID-19?
India remains a priority market for ABB Electrification. At ABB India, we are constantly identifying the right opportunities that fit with our business model and we continue to evaluate any opportunities that come our way.

There is a strong skilling capability in India and our deep focus on digital offers customers a platform to leapfrog varied solutions in terms of energy efficiency and automation. We continue to invest in India and keep all options open for growth and bring the very best to our customers in Electrification.

We have worked on some impressive projects in line with the government’s aim for India’s transformation to electric. Last week we installed our very first public DC fast charger in New Delhi with EV Motors India, the major charge point operator for BSES Yamuna Power Ltd.

Last month, we launched our anti-bacterial modular range of Tvisha switches and sockets, which have been positively received by our customers. Such a flurry of new product introductions demonstrates how significant and strategic India is for ABB Electrification.

How significant is the ‘Smart buildings’ portfolio in your Electrification business?
Globally, we are the leading provider of smart building and smart home solutions and we intend to strengthen our presence in India. Sustainability is in ABB’s DNA. Therefore, it is only natural that our smart building solutions make up a significant part of our business.

We are uniquely placed in this segment as we do not only provide digital and smart power solutions for medium-voltage and low-voltage electrification, but also provide the entire building management system along with building automation. Our offerings under this portfolio include intelligent automation to control the building environment, be it lighting controls, HVAC controls, movement detection solutions and energy management to name but a few.

Our portfolio also includes digital tools facilitating the planning, commissioning and operating phase, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), configurators and apps. Our smart homes solutions provide comfort, security, smart design, efficiency, and safety aspects for any home. With growing urbanisation, digitalisation, connectivity and buildings expected to be net carbon zero, we are well placed to provide end-to-end solutions in this segment.

We are firmly committed to Mission to Zero, a vision for a cleaner and greener society, delivering innovations which enable our customers to use less energy and cleaner energy. Aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal No. 11 – making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable – we also recognise the need for energy-efficient buildings that cut electric consumption and costs in industrial, commercial and residential environments.

What is driving the growth of your smart buildings business segment in India?
Cities around the world are challenged to sustainably accommodate increasing populations, or to become more sustainable, competitive and liveable. Smart buildings play a major role in making our cities into the global smart cities we envisage, as they provide safety and comfort to the occupants as well as energy and deliver efficiencies for building operators.

An increasing focus on automation and energy efficiency across India is largely driving the smart buildings segment as well. We continue to provide customers with value added solutions in the form of world-class technology coupled with energy efficiency. For our end-to-end digital offering covering power (MV/LV) and automation, our building and energy management system makes it easier for a customer to define the scope of efficiency and discuss it with a single solution provider.

We are proud of our contribution to India’s Smart Cities Mission with intelligent, sustainable solutions that help improve quality of life and meet the growing demand for sustainable, reliable energy, water supply and transportation solutions in buildings and industries.

Cities like Bhubaneswar, Indore, Ludhiana, Rajkot, Patna and Nagpur have witnessed a significant growth over the last few years, leading to greater demand for automation and energy efficient solutions. Our various solutions in buildings, be it our digital circuit-breaker with its reduced footprint and cloud connectivity or our intelligent building automation, have contributed significantly to increase energy efficiency.

As India enters the next level of growth and development and working from home becomes the new norm, tier 2 cities and small towns are placed at an advantage and are expected to become the hotbeds of sustainable technologies.

You have recently launched a range of anti-bacterial switches and sockets. Could you let us know more about this technology?
In the current climate, health and safety is incredibly important to us all. The inadvertent spread of infections and bacteria remains a constant concern and we all tend to look at technology to safeguard us.

The ABB Tvisha anti-bacterial range of modular switches is an innovative solution that helps users keep bacteria at bay. Designed for both commercial and residential use, this product range includes switches and sockets that have been developed with anti-bacterial properties, keeping their surfaces free from bacteria.

The complete range of antibacterial products is manufactured adhering to the guidelines of ISO 22196 and kills 99.9 percent of bacteria. The technology involves micro silver particles being added during the moulding process of these products. The silver particles used are suitable for use in plastic products made of polycarbonate. Elemental silver gets transported to the surface which acts as a catalyst and disables the growth of microbes. These silver particles are non-migratory in nature, non-toxic.

As hospitals, laboratories, and homes prioritise cleanliness and hygiene more than ever, we believe this product will serve a much-needed purpose to keep people safe. These products are manufactured in India, promoting the self-reliant manufacturing ecosystem in India.

Are the products available in retail market? How has the response been since its launch?
We received a really positive response from our customers for this product. We have had interest from the hospital and healthcare segments who see the value in the solution offering. We are now taking this product to more remote markets in India through our strong channel partner network.

Are you planning on adding more products?
As a rule, we continuously launch new products to meet changing customer and market requirements. Traditionally, we have been launching new products or product extensions on a regular basis. This not only helps to keep us ahead of the changing trends but also helps us bring the latest in technology and design to our customers.

What are your plans for the Electrification business for the next few years?
We are exploring our approach to penetrate and expand into high growth segments such as data centers, buildings, healthcare, F&B, utility, rail and metro. Digitally enabled products and solutions with advanced user-friendly technologies are going to be even more relevant, and that’s where we continue to focus our efforts.

Our plans in India are always with a long-term view and we will continue to invest in local manufacturing to bring our customers cutting-edge technology, design, and materials in products that are industry benchmarks. We have strong foundations in place in India, both in terms of demographics, talent, diversity and ability. With the government’s push n these areas and the motive to develop a self-reliant ecosystem, the opportunities are varied, especially in e-mobility.

The future of mobility in India is electric, and ABB is already there, building the charging infrastructure to allow the move from fossil fuels to electricity-driven mobility. We remain committed to India and our plans will grow in sync to reflect the growth potential of this vast country.

Megatrends that will define the future of smart building technologies
• Urbanisation, with 70% of the world’s population expected to live in cities by 2050.
• Digitalisation, inter-connecting over 33 bn devices worldwide by 2020.
• Integration of renewables, with the solar market alone expected to grow to 150 GW in 2025. Integration of flexible demand with electric vehicles representing over 55 percent of the overall market by 2020.