JOIN US Germany-based Probat, the leading supplier of roasting and grinding plants and machinery for the coffee and food industry worldwide, opened its new production site at Kaapi Machines in Bengaluru, a top executive said.
Talking to Deccan Herald, Probat Group CEO Wim Abbing said, “Emmerich-headquartered Probat Group founded in 1868 has presence in 40 countries and has over 800 employees worldwide. The standard programme of Probat comprises roasting machines of all sizes, whole roasting plants, industry grinders, controls, as well as spare parts.”
Abbing said, “After serving the Indian market over 50 years through a representation, we joined hands with Kaapi Machines India as a joint venture in 2012. What served as a service and distribution point for the Indian market for more than two generations, has now become a production site for Probat.”
On market opportunities, Abbing said, “Two out of three cups of coffee you drink somewhere in the world are produced on a Probat roaster. In all, the Probat Group realised sales of over €150 million in 2014.”
Globally, Europe is the biggest market for Probat Group with 30-35 per cent market share, followed by Asia (25-30 per cent), and North America (25 per cent).
Abbing said roasters with a batch size capacity of 25 kg will be built at the new plant, and are of identical construction as the roasters produced in Europe. “We are sourcing the materials, and with 70 per cent localisation, these roasters will be attractive for Indian customers,” he said.
Kaapi Machines India Chief Executive Vikram Khurana said, “We are expecting about 20 roasters per year to start with. We also see an opportunity where roasters would be sold from India to neighbouring countries within a year.”
Khurana added, “Along with consumption, the coffee roasting market is growing rapidly in India. With many coffee chains mushrooming, we are actually entering the boom period for coffee. In the south, coffee has been traditionally accepted. Even in the West and the North the consumption of coffee is growing significantly.”