Growth in flat cathode ray tube (CRT) television market worldwide is diminishing, whereas in India it is on a growth path. To take advantage of this situation, global consumer durable majors TCL India Holdings and Samsung India have decided to set up their first manufacturing facility for flat CRT TVs in India. Flat CRT TVs contribute about 70% to the 12.5 million units In India?s CTV market, which is growing at the rate of 15% per annum. Domestic firm Videocon Industries is also planning to hike the installed capacities for flat CRT TVs by an additional 20% this year, VN Dhoot, its chairman told FE. On the other hand, Haier Appliances India too is planning to expand the capacities of flat CRT TVs by an additional 10 to 15%.
Warren Wang, MD, TCL India Holdings, told FE, ?The global flat CRT TVs market is likely to perish by 2010 due to the growing popularity of LCD and plasma TVs. Hence, we are strongly focusing on the Indian market for setting up a facility here for flat CRT TVs.? Once completed, TCL will start exporting flat CRT TVs to China, US and Europe.
Samsung India is planning to make flat CRT TVs in Chennai by August-end. Ravinder Zutshi, its deputy MD said, ?The installed capacity for flat CRT TVs will be about 1.5 million units apart from 2 lakh for LCD TVs at our new Chennai facility.? Competitor, LG Electronics India has already set up a manufacturing facility for flat CRT TVs in Pune. Haier Appliances India is planning to expand the installed capacity for products at the third party?s facility based in Dehradun, Pranay Dhabhai, its chairman, said.