India-made hand driers launched with New Zealand technology

A Tamil Nadu-based industry is set to launch electric hand driers based on foreign technology to target more than one million proposed toilets under the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' programme, said company official.

The city based Mrinalini Industries is setting up a new plant to make these electric hand drier with the technical know-how from New Zealand headquartered SPL Limited, the top official said.

"We are in the process of building a new plant to make hand driers. The plant will have a capacity to make around 2,000 units per month and plan to scale it up to 40,000 units per month later," Managing Partner Elansudar of Mrinalini Industries told reporters here late Tuesday.

The company launched its Elan brand hand drier priced at Rs 8,500.

According to Elansudar, the company will market its product directly and would focus on institutions.

He said under the 'Swachh Bharat Abiyan' programme, the central government has proposed to construct 11 crore toilets between 2014-2019 giving a good business opportunity for hand driers.

Elansudar said hand driers that are sold in India are imported ones whereas we will be making the product in India.

He said the Bureau of Indian Standards is yet to develop the standards for hand dries as there were no manufacturers in the country till date.

According to Managing Director John Stares of SPL Ltd another five modes of hand driers are ready in the pipe line to be made by the Indian company during the following year.

Earlier speaking at the product launch function Honourary Consul of New Zealand for South India and Chairman of Rane Group L. Ganesh said that the bilateral trade between India and New Zealand is growing and is at $1.8 billion.