Established in Bjerringbro, a small town in Denmark, in 1945, Grundfos is represented by over 83 companies in more than 56 countries today. With an annual production of over 17 million pump units, the company offers circulator pumps for heating and air-conditioning as well as centrifugal pumps for industry, water supply, sewage and dosing. In fact, it is among the world’s largest manufacturers for circulators, covering about 50 per cent of the global market. In addition, it produces and sells standard and submersible motors as well as state-of-the-art electronics for monitoring and controlling pumps. Additional products such as the BioBooster and Lifelink add to the company’s sustainability focus. Achieving sustainable goals The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that came into effect in January 2016 will continue to guide the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) policy and funding until 2030. While there are 17 goals building on the Sustainable Development Goals, the four strategic areas and priority SDGs at Grundfos include: SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation: The company wants to contribute to the global water challenge through technology and by utilising new business models to introduce sustainable water solutions. SDG 13 on climate action: The company offers solutions that use as little energy as possible, integrate products and digitally enabled solutions, and leverage new technology. SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth: This aligns with its heritage and value that focuses on people: to develop the individual with the belief that everyone in Grundfos has the passion and potential to make a difference. SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions: The company wants to maintain high ethical standards in its business throughout the value chain. Having started its India operations in 1998, Grundfos India, a 100-per-cent subsidiary of Grundfos, offers energy-efficient pumping solutions with the lowest lifecycle costs. It has further strengthened its offerings with iSOLUTIONS, a holistic approach to creating the most intelligent solution based on the unique demands of customers. This, plus solar pump offerings for rural application, helps address lack of electricity in some locations; there are also advanced pump solutions for smart cities. With an increase in demand and limited resources, an intelligent and innovative range of pump solutions, such as Demand-Driven Distribution (DDD), S Pump and Grundfos Remote Management (GRM), provide the right solutions by ensuring minimum use of energy and water while delivering optimal results. Going forward! Grundfos India is exploring opportunities to get into the Bangladesh market. “It’s a big market and there is a local requirement,” affirms Ranganath NK, Area Managing Director, INDO Region, Grundfos. Making it easier is that “the Northeast of India is going to open up for us,” he adds. India’s plans to connect the Northeast with Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port could serve as an effective conduit to ship commodities to Bangladesh. The purpose is clear: To work with customers and co-create solutions. “We have a business development team of about 14 people who connect with customers, understand pain points and evolve solutions; once these are acceptable, they are passed onto the sales team.” The company sees two ways to improve sales: by increasing its footprint, and increasing the depth and width of offerings. Indeed, Grundfos is looking to increase its footprint further in India, especially in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. In the next few years, Ranganath would like to see one Grundfos dealer and service provider in every urban agglomeration in India. SHRIYAL SETHUMADHAVAN