Siemens enters local fire protection market
Siemens enters local fire protection market
JAKARTA (JP): Swiss fire protection equipment maker Cerberus
AG, a unit of the Germany-based technology company Siemens AG,
has set up a joint venture offering fire protection and security
systems to buildings in the country.
Cerberus president for the Asia-Pacific region Michael T.
Felder said on Wednesday the creation of the joint venture was
part of the company's efforts to lead the fire protection market
in the region in the next five years.
Felder said the company currently saw weak demand in the
industry due to the monetary crisis but foresaw a huge potential
market once the region's turbulence subsided.
"Despite the crisis, we are continuing (our business) here,
because our business is for the long term," Felder said.
The joint venture, called PT Cerberus Indonesia, is 90 percent
owned by Cerberus and 10 percent by the company's former agent PT
Cerindo Kencana Makmur. Cerindo has an option of increasing its
stake to 30 percent under the joint venture deal.
Felder said the company started to pay more attention to the
Asian market in 1995 after it succeeded in taking control of the
European and American markets.
Siemens took over the company from Swiss' technology company
Electrowatt last month and put it under its Siemens Building
Technologies division.
Felder said Cerberus opened four offices in the region last
month, in Indonesia, Thailand, Australia and Malaysia. It
promises to open offices in the Philippines and Taiwan in the
near future.
The company provides equipment like fire detectiors, access
controlers, closed circuit televisions, and gas and extinguishing
systems. Most are imported from its factories in Europe and the
United States.
It also provides services like designing fire and security
systems and systems maintenance.
Felder said Cerberus' products were among the five best
sellers in the region alongside competitors including Chubb,
Wermold, Johnson Controls, Hinne, Nohmi, Honeywell and Thorn.
Company general manager Michael H. Connelly said prior to the
crisis, the local market's demand for fire and security system
was estimated at US$70 million per year. (jsk)