Walton eyes int’l market with high production

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/11/08/83704.html

Walton eyes int’l market with high production

Walton Refrigerator. Source: http://www.waltonbd.com/

Mehdi Musharraf Bhuiyan

Local consumer electronics giant Walton has aimed at more than doubling its daily production of refrigerators by the end of this year as the company is looking to make its mark in the wider international market.

The wholly Bangladeshi owned company- which is a concern of the local R.B. Group, is planning to increase its daily production output of refrigerator to 2,500 from its present level of around 1000, the company authority said Saturday.

“With the Eid ul Azha in the offing, demand for refrigerators, which is our trademark item, is running high in the local market at the moment” a senior marketing official of Walton told FE.

“However, after the end of the Eid season, we would increase our daily production to 2,500 per day as we are eyeing a number of overseas markets for our export”, said Moudud Parvez Mamun, Marketing Manager of Walton.

The conglomerate says that recent years have seen a boom in sales of its locally manufactured refrigerators in the domestic market and currently a total of 11 various brands of Walton refrigerators are available in the local market.

“We already have talked with dealers from a total of 13 countries around the world and by next year we would begin to export refrigerators in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia” Mamun said, adding “Walton has already shipped a range of its refrigerators to Sudan”.

The company says that the lower price of its products would give them a competitive advantage over other international competitors in the overseas market.

In addition, Walton is also looking to gear up its production of locally manufactured motorcycles by more than three fold, which it has identified as another highly potential market both home and abroad.

“Currently we churn out around 300 motorcycles per day from our factory in Gazipur. But by the beginning of the next year, we aiming to increase it to almost a thousand”, Mamun said.

The Bangladeshi company has recently signed an agreement with the Malaysian auto manufacturer Ageth to set up an automobile plant in its factory premise.

“Now we are hoping to commence the establishment of the plant by December which would ultimately see us manufacturing private cars and other automobiles within the country”, Mamun added.

Apart from the manufacturing of refrigerators and motorcycles, the company also assembles television, washing machine, generator, battery and energy saving lights while in the next summer; it is also planning to market its locally manufactured air conditioners.

R.B. Group- to which Walton is a subsidiary, first started its journey in 1977. The company started manufacturing and assembling electronic products back in 1996 and thus has played a pioneering role in electronics manufacturing in the country.

Sale of Walton refrigerators up ahead of Eid

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=141922

Sale of Walton refrigerators up ahead of Eid
ECONOMIC REPORTER

Walton showrooms all over the country are experiencing growing turnout of customers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the year’s busiest shopping periods. Huge rush of buyers is being seen at the all showrooms of metropolitan cities, district and upazila towns.

Company sources said: “Walton refrigerators have created huge enthusiasm among local customers as they became aware of Walton brand high quality refrigerators, manufactured at Walton Hi-tech Industries in Gazipur, being exported abroad.

During a visit to the Bashundhara City Shopping Complex, the largest shopping centre in the country, people were seen returning home after buying Walton refrigerators.

Sabina Mallik, a customer in the city’s Kathalbagan area said she had bought an 8cft refrigerator at Tk 18,500. About why she chose to buy this brand of refrigerator, Sabina Mallik told the correspondent that she had discussed the matter with her relatives and all had advised her to buy a Walton brand refrigerator, says a press release.

Bashundhara City Shopping Complex’s Walton Showroom Manager Lutfor Rahman said: “A refrigerator is not a thing of luxury now. Due to the impact of globalisation and improved technology, it is now within the purchasing capacity of middle class and lower middle class. RB Group offers every one essential commodities at competitive rates. Walton refrigerator prices are 20-30 per cent lower compared to imported ones.”

He informed that a 10cft Walton refrigerator was being sold at Tk 20,500 while the same refrigerator of other companies was being sold at Tk 30,000 in local market. A 12cft Walton refrigerator was being sold at Tk 23,500 while the same refrigerator of other companies at Tk 35,000.

He claims that the company has set up a service centre at every showroom with a view to providing after sales service, which also attracts the customers.

Sirajul Islam, Additional Director of RB Group of Companies, about the product said, “The Group always has something innovative and new for its consumers.” imported one.

He claims that the company is committed to exchange any sold product if any major fault is seen within five years and to provide five years service after selling. Walton also gives customers a facility of supplying colour, door, handle, etc as per customers’ choice.

One of the main features of Walton brand refrigerators is 100 per cent copper condense as a result there is no problem within two years. Compressors of Walton refrigerators are imported from Malaysia whose gas charge continues at least 10 years, he also claims.

A senior official of RB Group said in foreign countries a customer buys a refrigerator for two or three years. Later, the customer changes the model.

New model Walton LCD TV hits market

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=136972

New model Walton LCD TV hits market
Economic Reporter

Walton, one of the leading electrical and electronics assemblers of the country, has introduced three new models of LCD television in the local market.

Director of the RB Group Sirajul Islam said, “To meet the customer satisfaction, our company has launched three new models of Walton TV in the market to cater to consumers.”

Islam said the new model Walton television sets ensure good quality sound and picture that viewers will enjoy.
The new model of Walton TV helps reduce electricity consumption and increase durability.

The price of TV set is most competitive as 42-inch set sells at 1,09,000 compared to other 42-inch LCD television set sells at Tk 2,50,000.

The electricity consumption is also less compared to the television that uses ‘tension mask.’

In this regard deputy director of this company Monirul Hasan said, as the Walton TV has the picture tube of PIL technology, it lasts long as well as saves on electric bill.

Quoting a survey report on the market, Hasan Swapan claimed that the picture tube of Walton TV lasts long as it uses the digital technology and ‘precision in line’ technology.

“Those three new models are already available in the market, which have YUV technology,” media adviser of RB Group, Mizanur Rahman disclosed this on recently.

He said, customer’s choices are change through the terms of time and technology. To meet the customer satisfaction, our company has launched those three new models of Walton TV in the market.

As these three new models contain high quality picture, sound with the assistance of digital decoding circuit, a TV viewer would easily enjoy the variation of brightness contrast and colour, he said. For this reason Walton LCD television is the most popular television in the market, he added.

Customers go for locally made refrigerators

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=135446

Customers go for locally made refrigerators
Economic Reporter

Selling of refrigerators at Walton showrooms across the country are on the rise as the heat wave forces lower income people to opt for locally-made refrigerators, once dubbed as a luxury household item, cheaper price of which is making it affordable for more people.

Walton refrigerator, the first-ever locally made refrigerator, is drawing large number of customers for its affordable price and world class quality of the product.

Salma Islam, a housewife from Kalabagan, said at a Walton showroom at Bashundhara City in the city that she did not know that a local company was producing refrigerators at its own plant in the country. “As soon as I learnt that there is a locally made refrigerator in the market of world class standard and pretty cheap I made no delay in coming to Walton showroom to buy a refrigerator,” said Salma Islam.

Another customer from Kuril, Golam Mawla, said “I sought suggestion from my friends and relatives about buying a refrigerator and they all advised me to go for Walton refrigerator.”

Sajal Hassan, manager of the showroom, said that the company is producing refrigerator using Malaysian compressor with Japanese machinery and technology. Engineers from Japan are monitoring the production, which made these refrigerators better than the imported ones.

RB Group has launched commercial production of refrigerators at its large manufacturing plant in Gazipur.

The plant – Walton Hi-tech Industries – now produces about 6 lakh units of refrigerators against a demand for 4 lakh units across the country. About 2,500 workers are working in the plant, set up on 20 acres of land to meet the local demand and export abroad.

The high-tech industry plant started its journey setting up a composite manufacturing plant a few years back to produce refrigerators and some other electronic goods. In the Walton plant, all the backward linkage accessories are also being produced to support the main product. Several thousand workers are engaged in different sections like dice, mould, sheet processing, power press, powder coating, injection molding, pre-foaming, thermo-foaming, gasket making and packaging.

Country can export refrigerators, motorbikes: Faruq Khan

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=8&id=45258&date=2009-07-11

Country can export refrigerators, motorbikes: Faruq Khan

DHAKA,Bangladesh,July 11 (BSS)- Commerce Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruq Khan today said it was possible to export refrigerators and motor bikes of international standard produced in the country after meeting domestic demand.

He was visiting production process of Walton Hitech Industries Limited of Arby Group at Chandra under Gazipur district.

The factory can produce six-lakh refrigerators and 1,0,8000 motor bikes every year, which is more than the country’s total demand.

During the visit, the minister went round different production units and exchanged views with the owners and workers.

Managing Director of Arby Group Nurul Alam Rizvi, Chairman of Walton Hitech Industries ASM Shamsul Alam, Managing Director Ashraful Alam and deputy commissioner of Gazipur were present, an official release said.

Appreciating quality production of the factory, Faruq Khan said that refrigerators and motorbikes produced here could easily be exported and assured of all cooperation from the government side in flourishing this sector.

Expressing satisfaction over the prevailing good relations between the owners and the workers, the minister said country’s skilled workers could prove their worthiness if they are provided with expected jobs.

As part of building digital Bangladesh, he said the commerce ministry would introduce e-commerce very soon and activities of the ministry could be monitored through its web-sites.

The factory management declared reduction of Taka 200 in each refrigerator and increasing salary of every worker by Taka 200.

Local electrical products draw visitors’ attention at city fair

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/06/21/70503.html

Local electrical products draw visitors’ attention at city fair

FE Report

The local electrical products manufacturers got wide appreciation from the visitors at the three-day Third Bangladesh Electrical Products Fair 2009, which concluded in the city Saturday.

Bangladesh Electrical Merchandise Manufacturers Association (BEMMA) organised the fair.

Around 25,000 people have visited the fair. The local manufacturers expect orders worth Tk 100 million within one month of conclusion of the fair, said chairman of the fair sub-committee and executive member of the BEMMA Md. Nuruzzaman Khan.

“We are quite happy we have showcased quality electrical products at the fair and the visitors have accepted those warmly,” BEMMA president Md. Nasim Ullah Hemayet said.

He also said through holding this fair, the local electrical goods producers have been able to make interactions with the other people of this sector. Besides, the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) has shown interest to use the local electrical products instead of foreign products.

BRB Cables, Philips, Navana Engineering Works, MEP Cable and Accessories, Hossain Electrical Industries, Raz Metalex, TGL Fan, MQ Electrical Industries, Easin Cable Industries Ltd, the leading companies in the country, got a satisfactory number of orders at the fair.

Electrical products fair begins in city on June 18: 80pc electrical goods being produced in country

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/06/16/news0213.htm

Electrical products fair begins in city on June 18: 80pc electrical goods being produced in country

Business Reporter

Country’s electrical manufacturers are now producing 80 per cent of electrical products against the total demands in the local markets worth about Tk 20,000 crore.

“We are producing international standard electric goods in the country. But the tendency of local customers are to the foreign goods,” said Nasim Ullah Hemayet, President of Bangladesh Electrical Merchandise Manufacturers Association (BEMMA).

Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club yesterday, he said they also export electric products aboard after meeting the local demands.

The BEMMA President said they are going to organise the ‘3rd Bangladesh Electrical Product Fair-2009′at Bangladesh-China Friendship Centre from June 18 to 20 with a view to introduce local products to the customers.

Commerce Minister Faruk Khan will inaugurate the programme as chief guest and FBCCI president Anisul Huq will also attend as special guest, they mentioned.

The three-day long fair to be organized with the aim of focusing the quality based locally made electrical products will start 10am and close 8pm, which is open for all. The BEMMA President said that they are organising the fair in collaboration with Light Engineering Product-Business Promotion Council (LEP-BPC) and Ministry of Commerce to introduce people with Bangladeshi quality based electrical products as many people have tendency to buy foreign quality less products.

He said about 70 stalls exhibit electrical accessories like switch, cable, fan, meter etc.

Anayet Hossain, a former President of the BEMMA, urged all to buy local products and the government to remove electricity and financial problems.

Shahin Ahmed, co-chair of the fair committee and CEO of Shahin electrical industries told The New Nation that they would not allow any stall without its own brand.

Nurul Amin, senior vice president, Golam Mostafa, vice president, Nuruzzaman, chairman of the fair committee, among others, were also present on the occasion.

Refrigerators to be exported to Africa, Europe

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=127518

Refrigerators to be exported to Africa, Europe
Economic Reporter

For the first time, a local company is going to export its world standard refrigerators to African and European countries.

RB Group of Companies, a familiar name in the country’s electronics and automobiles sector, has completed most of the tasks including signing agreements to export refrigerators to some countries of the two continents. Sources said RB Group would be able to send their world standard products to the countries within few months.

Walton High Tech Industry established on 20 acres of land at Chandra in Garipur, outskirts of the capital Dhaka, is now manufacturing world standard refrigerators. The high-tech factory is capable of producing over six lakh refrigerators annually as against as the domestic demand of four lakh refrigerators. The factory has created an employment opportunity for over two thousand of people.

Policymakers of the company said the factory is equipped with the latest technology and capable to increase production of refrigerators if they get opportunity to export more refrigerators to foreign countries.

Assistant Director of RB Group (Export) Mizanur Rahman said Japanese entrepreneurs now are not interested in manufacturing refrigerators in their country as they are facing high labour cost and other problems. Japanese now see import of refrigerators from foreign countries like Bangladesh that witness duty free facility and cheap labour cost.

With a view to importing refrigerators from Bangladesh, representatives of several Japanese companies recently visited the Walton High Tech Industry and have expressed their satisfaction over the world standard production facility of the factory. Some Japanese companies have already taken some initiatives like opening LC to import refrigerators. Mizanur Rahman hoped that within few months Walton refrigerators would be exhibited in the showrooms of Japan and some European countries.

Walton to export refrigerators to African nations

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/may/20/busi.html#9

Walton to export refrigerators to African nations
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka

Bangladesh is going to add another item, refrigerator, to its export basket as the local refrigerator-manufacturing-company RB Group has signed initial agreements with Japan and some other countries in Africa.

According to its officials, the local business group, after massive negotiations, signed its agreements with a number of importers in African countries to export its brand-product Walton Fridge. Now they are preparing to open LC for the import.

‘An agreement is likely to be signed soon with Japanese importer,’ said RB Group assistant director Mizanur Rahman.

He mentioned that some representatives of a Japanese importing company recently visited the RB Group’s manufacturing plant in Gazipur.

‘They have expressed satisfaction with the quality and standard of our products,’ Mizan said. ‘We’re expecting to export our products to Europe also as negotiations are going on.’

The RB’s manufacturing unit, Walton Hi-tech Industries, now produces about 6 lakh units of refrigerators against a demand for 4 lakh across the country. About 2,500 workers remained engaged in the manufacturing plant, set up on 20 acres of land.

The plant was set up not only to meet the local demand but also to export abroad. But the recent economic meltdown gives the Walton a good advantage as its production cost is relatively low due to lower labour cost.

RB officials noted that after the global meltdown, many manufacturing plants in developed countries were forced to shut down. These countries are now looking for imports from developing countries.

Mizan said his group has been the first local company which entered into production of refrigerators and some other electronic goods. ‘We’re also producing motorcycle to meet the local demand,’ he added.

He claimed that Walton offered a 10-CFT refrigerator at Tk 20,700 while a similar-size imported refrigerator sells between Tk 30,000 and 33,000.

‘We can offer a cheaper price if we get policy supports and incentives from government,’ he said.

In the existing policy, he said, the import of refrigerator is easier than its production locally. ‘Import duty on raw materials is higher than duty on import of finished one.’

Presently, Walton is marketing 12 models of refrigerators by its 600 exclusive outlets and also by vendors throughout the country. Another 7 models will come into the market next month.

‘Consumers opting for locally-made refrigerators’

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=124593

‘Consumers opting for locally-made refrigerators’
Economic Reporter

RB Group, the first local company to start producing refrigerators and other electronic goods, offers refrigerators at 20-30 per cent reduced rates compared to other imported foreign refrigerators

Walton, a brand of RB Group, offers a 10-cft refrigerator at Tk. 20,700 while a similar size imported refrigerator is selling between Tk 30,000 and Tk 33,000, says a showroom manager of Walton at Bashundhara City.

The group recently launched commercial production of refrigerators at its manufacturing plant in Gazipur.

The plant of Walton Hitech Industries now produces about 0.60 million units of refrigerators against demand for 0.40 million units in the country. Company officials hope that the locally made refrigerators would be exported Thailand, South Korea and some African countries, including Sudan, from July as negotiations are on to sign the export deals.

Marcel, another brand of the company, also offer refrigerators at a similar price.

ACI eyes assembling Panasonic products

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=84890

ACI eyes assembling Panasonic products

Sarwar A Chowdhury

ACI Limited plans to set up a plant in Bangladesh to assemble Panasonic-branded products after embarking on electronics business with distributorship of the Japanese company’s audiovisual items.

“After signing a sole distributorship agreement with Panasonic in Singapore recently we have started retailing Panasonic-branded audiovisual products in Dhaka and Chittagong areas,” Muallem A Choudhury, chief financial officer of ACI, told The Daily Star.

“We have a dormant dream of setting up an assembling plant in Bangladesh, where completely knocked down (CKD) items will be put together for a finished Panasonic branded item,” Choudhury said.

Setting-up of the assembling plant depends, however, on the success of retailing of Panasonic products, to some extent, said the company’s other senior officials.

Panasonic has approved an assembling plant in Vietnam after observing its product-retailing for seven years.

ACI has projected to sell 5,600 pieces of Panasonic audiovisual products worth Tk 128 million in the first year, which will be 2.5 percent value share of the audiovisual product market.

The product profile comprises colour television, flat panel television (LCD and Plasma), DVD home theatre, DVD player, mini hi-fi system, digital still camera and video camera.

Earlier, Panasonic products were marketed by Nicole, now defunct.

“We are reintroducing Panasonic items in a big way,” Choudhury said, pointing to the previous distributors’ performances here, which he deems unsatisfactory because Panasonic’s market share is less than 1 percent in Bangladesh.

ACI promotional drives for Panasonic items will be funded by the Japanese company.

Among the product profile, liquid crystal display (LCD) and plasma-televisions are premium products that targeted high-end customers, corporate houses and hotels and motels.

ACI Consumer Brands, a strategic business unit of ACI, has already sold four 50? plasma televisions each at Tk 3.82 lakh, eight 42? plasma televisions each at Tk 2.30 lakh and eight 42? LCD televisions each at Tk 1.51 lakh.

Panasonic is superior in manufacturing television with hi-definition plasma and LCD.

“Our target is not only selling the premium products, but also regular or common items for middle income group to upper level,” Choudhury said.

Panasonic’s regular colour television, the price of which is lower than Sony brand but higher than Chinese and other brands, is a quality product, he said.

Colour television is the biggest segment of the Tk 1,330 crore electronics market, with 15 percent annual growth, according to industry sources.

Around 400,000 television sets worth Tk 440 crore were sold last year.

Among the television brands, Chinese Konka is the top player with 21 percent market share, followed by TCL with 18 percent, Singer with 12 percent, LG with 11.25 percent and Samsung with 10 percent.

ACI will also introduce Panasonic refrigerators in the next phase to capture a position in the refrigerator market, the second biggest segment of the electronics market.

“Our purpose is not to compete with Chinese items, rather our main objective is to provide quality products to customers,” the ACI official said.

ACI, also involved in pharmaceuticals, agro-business and consumer items, made a net profit of Tk 107.56 crore last year.

sarwar@thedailystar.net

Local company manufacturing cheap refrigerators

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/apr/12/busi.html#7

Local producer offers cheaper whiteware
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka

RB Group, a local refrigerator-manufacturing company, has offered its products at 20-30 per cent reduced rates compared to other imported foreign refrigerators.

‘The rate RB Group has offered is cheaper compared to any other refrigerators available on the market…’ said RB Group deputy director Mainul Haque.

He said RB Group had been maintaining a world-class standard as it exports its products to the world market as well.

RB Group has recently launched the commercial production of refrigerators at its large manufacturing plant in Gazipur.

The plant – Walton Hi-tech Industries – now produces about 6 lakh units of refrigerators against a demand for 4 lakh units across the country. About 2,500 workers are working in the plant, set up on 20 acres of land to meet the local demand and export abroad.

Company officials hope the Bangladeshi-made Walton refrigerators will go to Thailand, South Korea and some other African countries, including Sudan, from July next, as negotiations are on to make the export deals.

RB Group’s assistant director Mizanur Rahman said his group had been the first local company which started producing refrigerators and some other electronic goods.

‘We’re also producing motorcycles to meet the local demand.’

He claimed that Walton offered a 10-CFT refrigerator at Tk 20,700 while a similar size imported refrigerator is selling at between Tk 30,000 and 33,000.

‘We can offer a cheaper rate as our production cost is much lower because of some advantages… We’ve got cheaper labourers which has made it possible,’ he added.

Presently, Walton is marketing 12 models of refrigerators by its 600 exclusive outlets and also by vendors throughout the country.

Another seven models will come into the market next months. Each of the Walton outlets also provides service facilities to the customers.

Bangladesh likely to export refrigerator soon

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=120122

Bangladesh likely to export refrigerator soon
Economic Reporter

Bangladesh is likely to emerge as refrigerator exporting country in the international market as R.B. Group of Companies Ltd is going to export refrigerators for the first time.

Walton High-Tech Industry at Chandra in Gazipur, 40 kilometres off the capital, has started manufacturing world-class refrigerators. Many foreign buyers are showing keen interest because of the competitive price of the international-standard Walton products.

The plant can now produce about 2,000 units of refrigerators a day, sources said, adding the production could be enhanced by three-times if there is a market demand.

The high-tech industry plan started its journey with setting up a composite manufacturing plant a few years back to produce refrigerators and some other electronic goods.

In the Walton plant, all the backward linkage accessories are also being produced to support the main product. Several thousand workers are engaged in different sections like dice, mould, sheet processing, power press, powder coating, injection molding, pre-foaming, thermo-foaming, gasket making and packaging. The manufacturing plant has state-of-art-technology where raw materials enter one side and finishing products come out from the other side.

Sources said, the country’s annual demand for refrigerators is about 500,000 units. The demand is growing with the rapid urbanisation and also the increasing purchasing power of the rural people. Once, refrigerators were imported from foreign countries especially from Japan.

Recent years our local market is being flooded by low quality refrigerators mainly imported from China, India, Thailand and Malaysia. Those low quality refrigerators become useless within one or two years. As a result, this becomes not only a waste of money of local customers but also the country is to spend huge amount of foreign exchanges to import the products.

The growing demand has prompted the Walton management to set up their manufacturing plant near the capital city. The growing demand in the neighbouring countries was another reason to opt for setting up such a venture in the country.

RB Group Director Emdadul Haque Sirkar said in foreign countries a customer buys a refrigerator for two or three years. Later, the customer changes the model. But in our country people expect using refrigerators for 15 or 20 years. The company is manufacturing products in keeping the mind the local environment, he added.

About the product, he said the Group always has something innovative and new for its consumers. Keeping it as a motto R.B Group has introduced Walton refrigerators in the market. Price of Walton refrigerator is 20-30 per cent lower compared to imported ones.

Bangladesh to emerge as refrigerator exporting country

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/03/21/news0634.htm

Bangladesh to emerge as refrigerator exporting country

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh is going to emerge as a refrigerator exporting country in the world market.

According to industry sources, Walton, a local firm, has started manufacturing world-class refrigerators in its high-tech plant in Gazipur, 40 kilometres off the capital.

Walton officials claim they can produce about 2,000 units of refrigerators a day. Even production could be enhanced to three-times as well if there is a market demand.

The Walton High-Tech Industry had set up a composite manufacturing plant a few years back to produce refrigerators and some other electronic goods in the country.

The country’s annual demand for refrigerator is about 500,000 units. The demand is growing with the rapid growth of urbanization and also the increasing purchase power of the rural people.

Such growing demand has prompted the Walton management to set up their manufacturing plant near the capital city.

However, the growing demand in the neighbouring countries was another reason to opt for setting up such a venture in the country.

In the Walton plant, all the backward linkage accessories are also being produced to support the main product. It contains other facilities for die, mould, sheet processing, power press, powder cooking, injection moulding, pure-foaming, thermo-foaming, gasket making and packaging.

Several thousand workers are engaged in the manufacturing plant.

Walton officials claim that cost of their manufactured refrigerators is 20-30 percent lower compared to imported ones.

They said at present, local traders are importing refrigerators mainly from China, India, Thailand and Malaysia. But those products are not up to the mark.

“But our products are world-class and we can assure their life-span is more than the imported ones,” said Walton director Emdadul Haque.

“We’re manufacturing our products as conducive to our own environment,” he added.

Haque said although the main consumers of Walton fridge are local people, but “export is also our target as this product is more competitive.”

He said they would move to world market soon as many foreign buyers are showing huge interest because of the competitive price of Walton products with world-standard.

Walton displays wide-range of products at DITF

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=112061

Walton displays wide-range of products at DITF
Economic Reporter

Walton, one of the popular electronics brands of the country, introduced the largest size fridge at the Dhaka International Trade Fair-2009, which is drawing huge attention to the large number of visitors and customers.

Price of the 810-litre mega size refrigerator has been fixed at Tk 119,000. The fridge has created huge attraction among the visitors and customers.
“The fridge is the largest one in the country,” claimed a salesman of the company.

Besides, selling price of Walton 12 cft fridge, which is the normal size, is Tk 21,700 and the same product of other companies will cost around Tk 30,000, he added.
Walton has introduced a wide range of product including -11 varieties of motorcycles, 13 models of television and 19 types of refrigerator at the fair.
The company has been offering special ‘gift card’ at the time of purchase of Walton product.

A customer will get one gift card if he/she buys a product ranging Tk 7,000 and two gift card will be given if one purchase products above Tk 30,000.

Lucky winners will get Tk 200 to a Walton Motorcycle as gift card prize. On the other hand, one can get a free dinner set by purchasing a Walton motorcycle. Meanwhile, Marcel brand fridge, washing machine, generator, energy saving bulb, DVD player, VCD, microwave woven, wristwatch, industrial generator are available at competitive price at their pavilion.

Walton electronics and motorcycle, which are the concerns of RB Group, have already gained popularity among the local customers due to product quality and competitive price, said sources.

RB Group has wide-range of products including television, remote control motorcycle, steam microwave oven, power tiller freeze, air conditioner, generator, energy saving lamp, and other handy electronic products are also available at the Walton pavilion.