(R-L) Sandeep Singh, Director – Sales & Marketing; Pramod Verma, Director – Sales & Service; and Sukhdev Singh, Director – Operations, KRN HVAC Products (KRN SPH)
The growing adoption of air-conditioned buses across India, coupled with the rapid electrification of public transport, is creating fresh opportunities for HVAC solution providers. Looking to capitalise on this momentum is KRN HVAC Products (KRN SPH), a joint venture that combines KRN’s manufacturing strengths with Sphere’s long-standing expertise in bus air-conditioning systems.
Making its debut at Prawaas 5.0, the company received an encouraging market response, signalling strong interest from OEMs, bodybuilders and fleet operators. “We are participating here for the first time and the response has been beyond our expectations. We have seen a very good flow of customers and enquiries,” said Mr. Sandeep Singh, Director, KRN HVAC Products (KRN SPH). Congratulating the organisers for the growth of the exhibition, he added that the increased industry participation reflected the positive outlook for the bus and passenger mobility sector.
Service as the key differentiator
While the bus HVAC segment already has several established players, Sandeep believes the biggest opportunity lies not in product alone but in after-sales support.
“More than the product, service is important. We have to sell service and trust first, and then the product,” he said. “What we have observed is that while there are many players in the market, service has not received the level of focus it deserves.”
According to him, KRN SPH’s strategy is built around delivering high product quality backed by a responsive nationwide service network. Drawing on over two decades of industry experience, the company intends to establish a strong support infrastructure across India as well as neighbouring markets such as Nepal, Bangladesh and Dubai.
The rapid growth in bus production, particularly in the electric segment, has also increased the need for scalable manufacturing capabilities. “The market volumes have grown almost three to four times over the past few years. To cater to such demand, you need high-capacity manufacturing backed by strong engineering and testing capabilities,” Sandeep observed.
Strong manufacturing and testing backbone
One of KRN SPH’s biggest strengths lies in its backward integration. The company manufactures its own heat exchangers, giving it greater control over quality, performance and supply.
“Our expertise is in manufacturing heat exchangers, and that gives us a significant advantage,” Sandeep explained.
Complementing this is a state-of-the-art testing laboratory located near its manufacturing facility in Neemrana, Rajasthan. The AHRI-approved laboratory – claimed to be unique in India for bus air-conditioning system testing – is capable of testing systems up to 55 tonnes of cooling capacity.
“Whatever we manufacture and supply to customers is thoroughly tested using the best available equipment. That gives customers complete confidence in the product,” he noted.
The company is also introducing patented OZKEM coating technology for copper components, designed to improve corrosion resistance, particularly in coastal regions where copper deterioration is a common challenge. The coating significantly enhances product life and will serve as another important differentiator for KRN SPH in the Indian market.
Ready for the electric mobility era
With government policies accelerating the transition towards cleaner mobility, KRN SPH is investing aggressively in solutions for electric buses.
“Electric air-conditioning systems are extremely important for us going forward,” Sandeep said. “We have already developed air-conditioning systems for 7-metre, 9-metre and 12-metre electric buses. Along with that, we also offer battery cooling systems, traction cooling systems and roof hatches.”
The objective, he explained, is to provide OEMs with a complete thermal management package from a single source, simplifying procurement and system integration.
The company has already secured business from PMI Electro Mobility Solutions and has signed a Letter of Intent with EKA Mobility. Discussions are also underway with Switch Mobility and JBM, while several leading bus bodybuilders, including MB Coach, Azad Coach, Damodar Coach Builders and Veera Vahana, are either working with or evaluating the company’s offerings.
“We are very happy with the progress we have made in such a short period. The response from both OEMs and bodybuilders has been extremely encouraging,” Sandeep remarked.
Expanding service footprint
For FY2026-27, KRN SPH has set a revenue target of around Rs. 150 crore while simultaneously investing in its service infrastructure.
“Our priority is to ensure that no customer is left unattended after purchasing our products,” Sandeep emphasised. “We are targeting a response time of around two hours, resolution within 24 hours for minor issues and within 48 hours for major issues.”
The company currently operates six company-owned service touchpoints and plans to add another 15 during the current financial year. Along with its dealer network, KRN SPH aims to establish around 30 service centres across the country.
Summing up the company’s philosophy, Sandeep said: “If the air-conditioning system is not working, the bus cannot operate as expected. That’s why service is not just a support function – it is the foundation of customer confidence and long-term business success.”
