Crusaders Technologies is helping people breathe easy with ‘Made for India’ air purifiers
To combat indoor air-pollution, Delhi-based Crusaders Technologies manufactures air purifiers and anti-pollution masks, especially designed in accordance with the Indian environment.
According to a Greenpeace study, ‘The Global Burden of Disease’, ambient air pollution in India is responsible for 3,283 premature deaths every day. Since 2015, the number of deaths due to air pollution in India has been greater than that in China. The research further highlights that unlike China, efforts to bring down air pollution level in India haven’t taken a consistent shape, and this calls for a national clean air action plan.
Crusaders Technologies, which has been developing pollution control products for years, now aims to reduce air pollution with its anti-pollution masks. With a strong focus on improving our daily health, the brand offers air purifiers, ceiling mount unit, car air purifiers, ozone air purifier, fruit and vegetable purifiers, refrigerator ozonator, air quality meter and filter.
“Our USP lies in our research, which is done keeping in mind the Indian environment. Over the years, it has helped us develop products with the best filtration technology at the best price,” said Kapil Chawla, Founder and Managing Director, Crusaders Technologies.
So far, the ISO 9001:2000 certified company has served over 80,000 customers ranging from the offices of President and Vice-President of India, government ministries to big industries like Reliance, SAIL, NBCC, Jindal Steel, DCM Shriram, among others. The brand has also tied-up with popular e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal, aiming to extend its reach to all corners of the country. To ensure customer delight and quality after-sales service, the company has a robust service network in all major cities of India.
Tracing the beginning
With an initial investment of Rs 25,000, Kapil Chawla started Crusaders Technologies in 1991 with some technological products like EPABX, anti-radiation screens and digital note pads, and presentation systems.
In 2004, when air purifier was still a new product for the Indian market, the company got into its manufacturing and distribution. After figuring out the right combination of filters that could work best in India, it launched its own range, starting at a price of Rs 8000.
Recalling the eureka moment, Kapil adds, “During one of my travels abroad, I saw an American company showcase air purifiers as they were quite popular in the North American market. I was suffering from acute sinusitis and a nasal issue which used to flare up with a change in weather and due to dust allergy. The product helped me find a solution to my ongoing problem and I asked the company to send two units to India as samples. But I wanted to customise and build the product as per India’s environment as the pollution level is high in the country.”
In 2017, the Crusaders Technologies entered into the category of anti-pollution mask and offers two variants — Crusaders Marathon and Crusaders Dart that are equipped with N99 + carbon 4 layer filtration technology. The brand claims that the masks can block both particulate pollutants such as dust, pollen, PM 10, PM 2.5, microbes as well as toxic gases, foul smell, smoke, among others.
Creating a niche in the market
Today, air purifiers market in India is still believed to be at its nascent stage; several big companies are competing to occupy the top spot. Eureka Forbes is estimated to have the maximum market share in terms of revenue generated, followed by Daikin, Panasonic, and Sharp. Apart from these major companies, there are several other companies such as Honeywell, LG, Philips and Kent which constitute a small share of the air purifier market in India.
Though for these brands, air purifier is just one of the many products they offer, Crusaders Technologies claims that its sole focus is on air purifiers accompanied by a deep understanding of the local market and the pollution problems of India.
“We are always looking forward to develop products which are right for India both in terms of technological superiority and price competitiveness,” highlights Ankur Chawla, Director – Sales, Crusaders Technologies.
What’s in store for future?
In the last five to six years, the company has been growing at about 30 percent CAGR every year and is backed by over 40 employees. Besides Kapil Chawla, who has been at the helm, the brand’s core team comprises of Shraddha Gupta, Ankur Chawla, Amrita Kaur, Renuka Sharma and a few others. It has operations in major metro cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata and also has a presence in Tier II cities like Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, among others. Going ahead, it plans to grow aggressively pan India in the next three years. Since its inception, Crusaders Technologies has been self-funded and is looking for strategic alliances that will help it grow rapidly.