Time and performance factors are essential for cold chain logistics

WIKA is aligned with the segment as it has integrated heating, ventilation, and air handling system and refrigeration technologies that can be perfectly calibrated.

While discussing about WIKA products, Navjyot Singh, Sales Application Specialist, Electrical Temperature Measurement, Process Instrumentation-Temperature, WIKA Instruments India Pvt. Ltd., mentioned to Thermal Control Business Update that WIKA has a vast opportunity to grow in the cold chain industry.

 

Emerging opportunities in the cold chain industry 

The cold chain involves transporting temperature sensitive products through thermal and refrigerated packaging methods for which special equipment is as necessary as the logistical planning to protect the shipments from decaying. As geographical distances are being closed by effective freight, it is vital to have a perfect ambiance for the goods like agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies.

Cold chain logistics increasingly favor high levels of integration since maintaining temperature integrity requires sophisticated control of all the processes involved. Time and performance factors are the most important for cold chain logistics, especially as it also becomes a public health issue if temperature change triggers bacterial, microbial, and fungal contamination.

WIKA has embarked on a path of continuous optimisation, market, and customer orientation, an uncompromising approach to quality and environmental protection. Measurement technology that includes thermometers, pressure gauges, pressure sensors, switches, and integrated pressure gauges with the electronic pressure switch or output signal are just a few technologies that WIKA presents. WIKA has a vast opportunity to grow in the cold chain industry as we work with customers for customised solutions from nearly 50 plus temperature and pressure control products.

 

WIKA’s product line and solutions 

The WIKA instrumentation for air-handling applications fulfills and exceeds the requirements of ventilation and air-conditioning technology. Quick installation, simple commissioning, suitable materials, and modern design characterise this product family. In the filter section of the application, there are analog differential pressure gauges, switches and transmitters fitted. There are specifically developed air flow meters and PID control instruments for the ventilator unit. Air velocity transmitters measure the airflow and the air velocity in air ducts and air conditioning systems. A frost protection thermostat also prevents frost damage to the heat exchangers by monitoring the airside temperature. For temperature, air quality, and carbon dioxide measurement in the ventilation duct or the central unit WIKA offers a wide-ranging product portfolio of sensors in various designs.

 

Various temperature measuring instruments used in the HVACR industry 

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is designed to achieve the environmental requirements of the comfort of occupants and the processes. The market for heating, air-conditioning and ventilation technology is changing, with it, the demands on the versatility and quality of the individual components. Ambitious plans within the industry regarding sustainability and energy conservation demand a reliable partner who can understand the future trends. WIKA helps its customers to ideate and implement through specially designed workshops.

WIKA supports innovative applications like integrated heating systems, solar thermal systems, combined heat and power plants, heat pumps, wall-hung gas boilers, heat transfer and distribution stations, components and systems, industrial boiler systems, and air handling units to provide for the temperature maintenance. In instrumentation, WIKA has pressure measuring instruments, level switches, resistance thermometers, and thermocouples, along with accessories for temperature controllers and thermometers with switch contacts.

 

Calibration facilities and certifications 

Labs are required to check the accuracy and calibration. It is an obligatory requirement for the kind of industry that WIKA caters to—especially the precision measurements and technology we deal with. All four labs of WIKA are equipped with these calibration labs. NABL is the highest body to issue this certificate in India. Adherence to certification for better business outreach and customer satisfaction is essential and strictly followed by WIKA policy. Quality products help customers minimize their downtime and maintenance cycle, thus adding to their businesses. WIKA has also launched new mobile vans for servicing customers at the doorstep, where calibrations are enabled by a master switch.

 

Various industries and processes catered 

WIKA is a specialist in Pressure, Temperature, Level, Flow, & Force for critical industrial applications. We deal in segments like Oil & Gas, Chemical and Petrochemical, Food and Pharmaceuticals, Transport and Infrastructure, Power Engineering, and Machine OEMs, with multiple buyers. We have more than 6000 customers on our list. And we are adding to it. Most of the big names of process-oriented manufacturers are our customers. Companies like Tata Power, Toyo Engineering, BHEL, Hero MotoCorp, NTPC, Maruti Udyog Limited, Godrej, Hitachi, Siemens, Sulzer, Nestle, Bayer, Heineken, Dupont, Tata Chemicals, ONGC, Shell, Indian Oil, Adani, Bharat Petroleum and many others are on our customer list.

 

Measuring instruments market for cold chain industry growth and change for the future According to industry studies, the Indian cold chain logistics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 14 percent during the forecast period of 2020-2025, with demand from sectors like organized retail, processed food, pharmaceuticals, and growing shift towards horticulture. As the product transported becomes complex and the distance covered by the goods increase, demand for high-level and consistent equipment will increase. The cold chain systems in emerging markets are not integrated and compatible with multiple perishable commodities, which poses a significant challenge to market growth and provides an opportunity for growth. WIKA is aligned with the segment as it has integrated heating, ventilation, and air handling system along with refrigeration technologies that can be perfectly calibrated to match the requirement of agriculture and pharma products. WIKA can provide the customers with mechanical, mechatronic, and electronic measuring instruments to measure pressure, temperature, and level. The comprehensive WIKA accessories program is the optimum complement to our broad product range. This comprises valves, stopcocks, siphons, digital indicators, temperature controllers, and much more.

 

Market share of Wika’s Instruments as well as growth expansion plans 

Today, WIKA has a firm foothold in India. The strategy is to maximize market share in our present segments. The second strategy is for localisation. WIKA India has a list of products for localisation, and we are actively pursuing plans to localise them fully. WIKA India is following Strategic initiatives through a senior leadership programme, so we can focus on different segments– championing and campaigning to grow market shares. WIKA deals in specialised products which are all exclusively suited to various segments of markets—we plan to focus on each of these growing segments to understand which are the best suitable for growth in the current economic situation and work accordingly.

 

WIKA India wants to double its turnover in the next three. Also, we are looking at transforming India into a localisation and a distribution hub for the near-most global markets. WIKA India plans to encash the advantage of affordable labor and thus the costeffective production process. And with a good supply chain and distribution channel, we will also be able to supply products for WIKA Global.