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time engaged in acquisitions with a view to complement its line of business. Following are some milestones achieved by Buhler in this regard:
1972 : Acquisition of Miag Mühlebau und Industrie GmbH, Braunschweig (Germany), including 11 affiliates;
1986 : Acquisition of Richard Frisse GmbH, Bad Salzuflen (Germany);
1990 : Acquisition of software engineering
company Control, Design and Development Ltd, Peterborough (United Kingdom);
1994 : Acquisition of the world's largest manufacturer of optoelectronic sorting machines, Sortex Ltd, London (United Kingdom) and establishment of two joint ventures in China;
2003 : Acquisition of the Dispersion and Micro Wet Grinding Technology unit of Draiswerke GmbH in Mannheim (Germany);
2004 : Acquisition of the Twin-screw Extruder unit of Theyson Maschinenbau GmbH
in Salzgitter (Germany), Buhler also rolls out its first application in the field of Functional Food.
The 146 year-old Buhler is present
in 140 countries, employing more than 7,000 people world-wide.The company is a pioneer and leader in rice and flour mills.With its “new regions”
Global Overview of Buhler AG
Buhler is a technology group and global market leader in food processing equipment, chemical process engineering and die-casting.The Buhler business units are assigned to three product divisions:
• Grain Processing Division: Under this
division, Buhler manufactures production systems and process technology for grain milling, feed and oilseeds, grain handling, brewing, rice milling and colour sorting;
• Engineered products division: Under this division, it produces plant and equipment for producing chocolate, pasta, paints, inks, chemicals, extrusion systems and thermal processes;
• Die casting division:This division makes die casting systems, die casting cells and peripheral equipment for molten metal die casting,
magnesium die casting, semi-solid metal casting, squeeze casting and vacuum applications.
Buhler's history dates back to 1860 when the first iron foundry was set up by its founder Adolph Buhler. From then on, the company has embarked upon a series of expansions to broad base its product offerings and widen its market presence.
Inorganic growth has been at the core of its global business strategy.The company has from time-to-
BUHLER INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
Company Mode of presence in India Year of entry Key business
Buhler India Pvt. Ltd. 100 per cent subsidiary 1992 Food processing
equipment
23 in Asia. China and India remain high on its
global growth plans.While the share of local manufacturing in China increased in 2006, in India it has expanded its production facilities and increased workforce in both these markets.
Its targeted capital investments, customer service orientation and market developments in Asia have borne fruits in the year 2006.The service business grew by 15 per cent over the previous year and Buhler in Asia grew by about 30 per cent.This growth is remarkable in comparison to the growth witnessed in its traditional markets, Europe and the US. Sales volumes in these regions increased by 13 and 18 per cent respectively. As per its financial results as on December 31, 2006, the Group's turnover crossed US$ 1.3 billion.
Buhler in India
The Indian operations of Buhler commenced in 1992, with its base at Attibele, near Bangalore (Karnataka) with an initial investment
of approximately US$ 1.34 million.The company has around 250 personnel, of which 32 employees are members of the Sales and concept, which covers eleven regions, Buhler
offers its customers more expertise than ever.
This approach enables functions such as sales and service, engineering, technology, procurement, logistics, and - where possible - even production to be reoriented. It gives customers easier access to specific Buhler expert knowledge on
a transnational basis - for a successful expansion strategy.
In the recent past, Buhler AG's growth markets have been witnessing a gradual shift.While US and Europe have been traditionally strong markets accounting for over 50 per cent of sales (value), contribution from Middle East, Africa and Asia has been growing at a sharper pace. Middle East and Africa together account for about a fifth of its total sales. A volume of the same magnitude is generated
• Rice mill
• Colour sorting
• Flour milling
• Grain handling
• Animal feed technology
• Brewing/Oil milling
• Chocolate manufacturing
• Pasta & extruded products
• Grinding and dispersion
• Thermal processes
• Die casting Buhler India offers complete solution in the following areas
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and accessories. It is also engaged in the production of cleaning section equipment, milling section machines, control systems and aspiration
equipment required by the flour milling industry.
Recently the company invested significantly to double its capacity by 50 per cent.The facility also supplies solutions to neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma and Sri Lanka.
The major segments in which Buhler India operates are:
Rice mill technology: Buhler India has a rich presence in the rice mill technology market in India, which is one of the dominant rice
producing countries in the world. Rice processing is still predominantly an agricultural activity.
Globally, only five per cent of all rice processing operations is industrialised.The potential for industrialisation is thus large. In the Indian industrialised rice processing market, Buhler Service (SAS) organisation.The development
and project team of Buhler India is made up of specialists who are trained at the parent's facilities in Switzerland and Germany. A team has also been created for the design and engineering of customised control systems.
The sales team and the large customer service team work out of the regional offices, fully in line with the Buhler philosophy of always being close to customers. Its sales offices are located at New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar and Raipur, along with established service centres at Kakinada, Karnal and Ahmedabad.The turnover of the company in India is more than US$ 35.6 million.
Buhler India is primarily recognised as a leading supplier of equipment for rice milling, flour milling, colour sorting, animal feed technology, oil milling, grinding and dispersion technology and die casting systems.The Buhler production facility at Attibele manufactures the main rice milling machines along with the control systems, aspiration equipment
25 process) and milling of maize, oats, millets and
barley. Buhler India has established a market share of about 65 per cent in the roller flour milling industry, which is now becoming more and more organised, with large capacity projects coming up.
Animal feed technology: Buhler India offers animal feed technology comprising of equipment solutions provided to feed industries for poultry, cattle, aqua feed, pet foods and pre-mixes.The company designs, supplies, erects and commissions feed mills and equipment parts for mash, pelleted or crumbled feed, as well as a combination of the three.
Colour sorting: Since the introduction of the revolutionary Z-series sorter by Buhler, which has transformed the optical sorter industry, the company's product, SORTEX, has become the by-word in processing products like rice, coffee, pulses and even plastics.The success of Z series colour sorters has established Buhler as an undisputed leader in colour sorting industry.
In 2006 Buhler introduced its new SORTEX Z+
series optical sorters, which offers improved productivity, lower running costs and higher yields with less wastage.
Die-casting:With India set to become a hub of manufacturing for automobile and automotive industry, the die casting industry is expected to be a prime beneficiary. Buhler supplies die casting machines that provide die casting foundries with technology required for achieving international quality standards. Buhler is the market leader in machines having 800 tonnes locking force and higher.
Key Success Factors in India
The Indian food processing equipment sector provides a growing market, characterised by few major players.The sector has been expanding at is the market leader and holds a share of 25 per
cent. In the field of rice milling machines, the company provides complete plant and equipment, having capacity of more than two tonnes per hour.
It is also the supplier of the world's largest rice processing plant, which is located in India.
In the pulses segment, Buhler's engineers have leveraged their rice milling experience to develop a complete plant for the gentle processing of various types of pulses and spices. Further, the company has developed multi-seed processing plants specifically suited for India.This has benefited Indian spice producers largely by offering flexibility to them to change their product mix more frequently.The Buhler multi-seed processing plants clean, classify and sort different products by merely changing the machine parameters.
Flour mill equipment: For flour mills, Buhler provides complete plant and equipment, including engineering, erection and commissioning services.
The same service is offered to starch plants (dry
• Multi channel ECG
• Monitoring
• Spirometry Systems
• Pressure Injectors
• Telemedicine
• Stress Test Systems
• Defibrillators
• Ventilators
• Hotler Systems
• Blood Pressure
• Infusion Pumps
• Surgical Diathermy
• Anaesthesia Product range-India
26
Future Plans
In line with Buhler's global strategy, Buhler India is striving to increase its share in the Group's total revenue. China and India occupy top slots in Asia for Buhler's expansion programme owing to their buoyant economies, rich market potential and low cost advantage. In India, it intends to sharpen its focus on rice processing segment, in which it is already a market leader. Consolidation of over 40,000 small commercial rice processors into larger operating units is expected to happen over the course of time, which presents a lucrative business opportunity for Buhler India. As the industrialisation of rice processing generates an important market potential, the company is determined to get an increasingly larger piece of this pie.
an average annual rate of 10-15 per cent for the last few years.The growing Indian market for processed food items and associated equipment offers promising prospects for global suppliers of food processing equipment.Technology, price, delivery and performance standards are critical factors that determine whether food-processing equipment can be sold in the Indian market. After- sales service is also a key concern of Indian buyers.
In this backdrop, Buhler India's key success factors are:
Quality Consciousness
Food processing equipment industry demands high quality and performance standards. Buhler India has done well in supplying high quality products, with its expertise in technology, backed by a strong technical team that has helped it build a strong reputation in the market.
Urge to innovate
Constant innovation and provision of upgrades/
add-ons to its products, especially those required for capacity expansions has been a key element that has helped Buhler remain competitive in the market.
Efficiency in delivery
Wide sales network to remain close to the customer, along with efficiency in service across the processes have helped Buhler India establish a strong presence in the country.
Cost savings for the user
The cost of equipment and low running costs remain primary factors that influence the sale of food processing equipment. On this front, Buhler has scored well. Superior technology from its parent, blended with the advantage of manufacturing in a low cost region, has resulted in operational cost savings to its clients.
Buhler's India operations
• Set up as a 100 per cent subsidiary, with an investment of US$ 1.34 billion
• Production facility located at Attibele, near Bangalore. Sales offices located at Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar and Raipur, along with established service centres at Kakinada, Karnal and Ahmedabad
• Leading supplier of equipment for rice milling, flour milling, colour sorting, animal feed technology, oil milling, grinding and dispersion technology and die casting systems, with a turnover of more than US$ 35.6 million
• Indian facility also supplies solutions to neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma and Sri Lanka
