Johnson Controls to build digital platform for smart cities

$31.4 billion Ireland-based Johnson Controls, is witnessing increasing opportunities in India’s smart cities and smart buildings’ space. It is a global diversified technology company specialising in creating intelligent buildings, efficient energy solutions, integrated infrastructure and next-generation transportation systems.

Highlighting the opportunity, Visal Leng, president, Building Solutions, APAC, Johnson Controls, “Globally, smart cities have been a big focus area and opportunity for us. Johnson strong in hardware capabilities but it is now strengthening its software capabilities. We are building digital platforms that have applications in smart cities and smart buildings. Smart cities in India offers a $27 billion opportunity and already about 5,000 projects in 100 smart cities are under implementation. We have contributed to smart cities globally and with the help of our engineers in India, we are actively engaged in smart city projects and will continue to seek more opportunities in future as well.”

Johnson Controls India primarily provides products, solutions and systems across heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), building management system, fire suppression, industrial refrigeration, monitoring, adaptive traffic, retail and marine. The company has expertise across segments including industrial, commercial, retail, airports, metros, datacentres, smart city transportation and surveillance, hospitality and healthcare.

India market
Shrikant Bapat, GM, Building Technologies and Solutions, Johnson Controls, India, said, “All our products are focused on ensuring energy efficiency. Cost of electricity is high in India and everyone wants to save on electricity. And the green concept and culture is fast picking up. The company operates five R&D facilities, eight manufacturing units, eight offices and over 40 branches across India. We have scope to expand our existing facilities, and wherever we have necessity, we will explore green-field facilities. If the Hyderabad market continues to grow the way it is growing now, we could look at establishing a facility here. We cater to both domestic and export markets from our India units. We are currently exporting our products to Middle East and Africa. Datacentres are a growing segment at present in India where we provide chillers, air distribution systems (ducting, diffusers, filters, grills, dampers and a whole suite of products), building management system products (sensors and server management solutions), and fire detection and separation. Many datacentres in the country are using our solutions today. We also provide video surveillance and access.”

Major verticals for the company had been commercial buildings sector, followed by the residential space. Within the commercial building space- multi-use properties, datacentres, airports, retail, hotels and hospitals are the key sectors. The company sees double-digit growth in India across its offerings year-on-year and will continue to make significant investments in the country.