Trane unveils its design centre in Chennai

Chennai: Trane, a $7.45 billion US-based provider of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and services (HVAC), has launched its India Design Centre in Chennai. This is its seventh global R&D centre — four in the US, and one each in China, France and India.

The company provides solutions around energy efficiency, including controls and services for buildings.

With the Indian market for HVAC estimated to be around $3 billion, the company is also considering manufacture of Trane products, hardware components and assemblies for residential and commercial buildings, Mr Prakash Bedapudi, Vice President, Global Engineering and Technology, Trane, told newspersons. Trane has over 25 major manufacturing centres in countries such as the US, China, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia, he added.

The Chennai design centre at Ascendas IT Park will have around 200 people in the next two years and support the India market and be a global R&D facility for Trane controls.

Trane has been providing HVAC systems in India since 1993 for leading hotel chains, commercial buildings, malls and pharmaceutical companies. Its clients include Reliance Industries, GE India, Dr Reddy Labs, Ranbaxy, Hyatt Regency, Oberoi and Marriott.

Mr Bedapudi said 80 per cent of energy consumption in New York buildings involves HVAC, and even a 10 per cent saving in energy could save millions of dollars.

Similarly, with large IT parks and increased activities in sectors like hospitality, pharma and retail, India would be one of the biggest markets for Trane’s systems, he said without giving any numbers. Around 70 per cent of its systems are installed in old buildings, he said.