GE Water & Processing Technologies has signed up a 50:50 joint venture deal with the Eureka Forbes to make and sell water purifiers in the Indian market.

The new joint venture named “Infinite Water Solutions Pvt Ltd (IWS)” would make and sell products and technology solutions through the large sales network of Eureka Forbes.

IWS would make up GE’s reverse osmosis membranes at its greenfield facility Aquamall in Dehra Dun, Uttrakhand.

Suresh Goklaney, Eureka Forbes Vice Chairman and Managing Director said, “The Joint venture will place Eureka Forbes Ltd in a close relationship with GE, leveraging the complimentary skills of both organisations to create a powerful presence in the domestic market.”

Both GE and Eureka Forbes are also inquiring into other opportunities to serve clients jointly, especially in sections where Eureka has significant presence.

Marzin Shroff, vice-chairman, Infinite Water Solutions, said, “The Indian residential water purification market has developed as a point-of-use market. The company will now tap point-of-entry segments such as residential commercial and rural regions.”
 
Mr. Shroff said that the company is eyeing residential complexes and commercial establishments including hotels to make entry into the residential commercial segment commanded by the unorganised players.

In India, about 80% of diseases are water-borne and 60% of the hospital beds cater to patients afflicted with such diseases.
 
With a 15% growth rate, the Indian residential water purifier market is pegged at Rs 1,500 crore. The penetration of water purifiers is 40% in small towns as compared with 15% in the metropolitans.