New washing machines from Samsung

Aiming to strengthen home appliances business, Samsung India Electronics Limited in Chandigarh on Tuesday announced the launch of its new range of top loading and front loading washing machines, even as the company is looking to do business worth Rs 6,500 crore (Rs 65 billion) by December end this year.

Announcing the company's plans for home appliances this year, Deputy Managing Director of Samsung India, Ravinder Zutshi told a press conference that "we are aiming at over an 40 per cent growth in home appliances this year. We hope to consolidate our position at the number two slot in air conditioners this year and are aiming at a leadership position in the top loading washing machine segment by the year end."

He said the present 1.4 million washing machine market in India offered great scope of expansion and the company was looking to tap that.

The company announced the launch of eight top loading washing machine models in the capacity range between 6 kg to 9 kg, priced between Rs 12,990 to Rs 25,990, with majority of these machines equipped with the company's patented 'silver nano technology,' which the Samsung claims combines disinfectant and antibiotic properties of electrolytic silver nano-particles in washing machines to remove almost all bacteria.

"With the introduction of the new range, Samsung has a total of eleven models in its top loader line up, in the capacity range between 5.8 kg to 9 kg. In the front loading category, we have launched six models priced between Rs 22,900 to Rs 75,900," said Rajiv Kenue, company's General Manager, Living Appliances. Kenue said that company had invested $10 million over the past three years to perfect silver nano technology.

He said that Samsung aims to attain the premium brand position in the Indian home appliances market by this year end.

Zutshi said that Samsung India had commenced exports of refrigerators to Africa, the Middle East and CIS countries from India in April this year.

"We plan to export 50,000 frost-free refrigerators in various capacities ranging from 180 litres to 380 litres this year. The company also plans to export 100,000 colour televisions from its Noida facility this year," Zutshi said.

Asked about the plans for the northern states comprising Punjab market, he said the company expects to do a business worth Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) by the end of this year in the consumer electronics and home appliances segment.

"We are targeting a growth of around 40 per cent in Punjab this year," he said, adding the company was also looking to strengthen its position in the audio-video appliances segment.