Graco Inc. Concentrating on Specialized Distribution Network in India

Graco Inc. serving the Indian fluid handling equipment market with its extensive products range is to expand its distribution network and its technical services to offer total solution backed with highest warranty in the industry, tell Mr. Mike Westwood, Director–Sales & Marketing South East Asia & India and Mr. Denzil D'costa, Country Manager South Asia & India, Graco Inc. in their Interview with SKK. Tell us something on Graco Inc global operations, its manufacturing facilities and locations and also highlight important business areas of the company.
By way of introduction, Graco is a manufacturing company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota with 2006 gross revenues of over $800 million. Graco was established in 1926 and is today a world leader in the manufacturing and sale of fluid handling systems and components. Graco designs, manufacturers and market systems and equipment to move, measure, control, apply, dispense and spray fluid materials. Our products help customers solve difficult manufacturing problems, increase productivity, improve quality, conserve, save expensive material, control environmental emissions and reduce labor costs.

What are industrial segments being covered by Graco Fluid handling equipment and products in India?
Automotive OEM Paint Circulation, Lubrication After market, Mining, Protective Coating, Road Marking, Sealant & Adhesive Application, Paint Application for the contractor Industry, Industrial Paint Finishing, Process & Food & Sanitary pumps to move and dispense chemicals and liquid and semi-solid food ,and to refinish and repair automobiles.

How do you look at the Fluid handling equipment market in India, your market share and measures at hand to garner more market share in Indian market?
Expand distribution network and concentrate on Specialized application through specialized distribution.

India is a vast market—what is your distribution network to reach such an extensive market and your plans to strengthen the arrangements already?
Developing distribution is a continuous process and will continue.

What are various technical services available to your clients in terms of equipment operation and maintenance, product trouble– shooting and product application including a sustained campaign to create awareness about cost effective lubrication equipment and products to consolidate andstrengthen your very effective position in the market?
Our Distributors are trained to support equipment. Most specialized products are not sold unless the distributors selling them are trained to support them. We sell total solutions and a product that we back with the highest warranty in the Industry.

Is it possible to enumerate one or two success stories about the application Graco Fluid handling equipment and products that have made a significant contribution to the user?
Our success–story include project handled for various clients in India such as Runway marking with the Bangalore International Airport– Using Graco Airless Application to complete the line marking quickly. Using Automation system for sealant reduced material wastage for Maruti Udyog.

Other clients include:

• Mahindras Tractors Converted for Air Spray to Electrostatic Guns reducing over spray and Saved Paint Wastage.
• PSL Pipe Coating–Using Plural Component Painting Equipment to Mix Paint on demand reducing paint wastage, solvent used for flushing and down time.
• Spectrum Deco Chennai Pvt. Ltd–Invested in Contractor Equipment and increased its output 10 fold of painting, this not only increased its turnover but also managed to pay its painters more.
• Lube Systems for Cement Mills– Graco lube Pumps with its longest warranty in the industry continuously delivers coolant oil to lubricate and cool the bearing, this bearing if fails is not affordable to change or replace because of the continuous operation. Used in most cement plants and supplied by OEMS.