India’s growing construction practices for advancing infrastructure coupled with rising urbanization, deforestation, industrialization, and increased vehicular usage are contributing to the rising level of pollution in the country. The to the society at large is both from outdoor and indoor air pollution. Indoor air quality remains worse, posing a significant threat to human health. Several studies have suggested that indoor air quality is roughly 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air, leading to ‘sick building syndrome’ and other related ailments. Within India, the scope for improvement through the advancement of air filtration solutions, and pollution control equipment, is immense as most of the cities have outdoor Air Quality Index (AQI) levels above the WHO & NAAQ standards, sometimes crossing SEVERE/HARSH levels.
However, challenges like lack of awareness in society, and inadequate government focus & support in promoting this concern, along with regulatory ineffectiveness need to be addressed to ensure people live in healthier environments. American Air Filtration (AAF) International stands as an industry pioneer, thriving in this sector for over 100 years, manufacturing cutting-edge air filtration products for improving IAQ. Penetrating the Indian market as AAF India in 2005, the company established a strong presence with localized manufacturing setups, becoming a preferred supplier of air filters and air-filtration equipment in every segment of the industry.
Serving Diverse Industries
Known globally as a prominent manufacturer and a one-stop solutions partner for a distinctive and unique range of air filtration systems and equipment, AAF India has been serving every segment of industries. The firm enjoys a preferred partner status for leading industry names, particularly in the pharmaceuticals sector. The company’s major share of solutions is currently targeted towards the Life Science (pharma) segment that adheres to FDA regulations, thereby being particular and stringent about picking high-quality HEPA filters.
Moreover, the company has always endeavored to offer filters with advanced technology having lower pressure drops, which facilitates greater energy saving for its clients. Through these inventions and integrations, the firm not only excels as a leading solution supplier but also an overall reliable partner offering dependable solutions. Beyond manufacturing, the company also delves into continuous efforts for innovating advanced solutions pertinent to the industry with better filter media, as well as improved design which offers durability, ease of handling, and lower downtime, among other critical features. “We all need to understand the importance of the air we breathe. It has been established that we spend 90 percent of our time indoors and understanding the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) is an absolute must. If we are spending our maximum time in a building which is a sick building then we shall be suffering from related illnesses. In some cases, the impact of pollution is immediate and in others, it may take years, but the damage to the human body is mostly irreversible”, shares Shailesh Nigam, COO of EEMEA, CIS & SAARC Countries.
AAF follows a meticulous process for addressing customer inquiries, headed by a technically skilled sales force with a Pan- India presence that works very closely with the customers, end users, Industry Associations, and consultants. This team evaluates every inquiry rigorously, post which all qualified inquiries pass to the Application Engineering team that works on the proposal to meet the customer’s requirement. Later, a concerned salesperson engages with the customer to ensure that customer expectations are met. But this is not where the company’s efforts end. AAF India offers robust after-sales support services as well provided through a team of Service Engineers and Field Technicians.
Growing, Evolving, Innovating
Since its inception, AAF India has grown consistently into an air filtration systems and equipment major, evolving over the decades to accommodate industry advancements, and learning from the revolutionary changes being introduced by its international extensions.
“We have six major R&D setups globally, out of which two, one in Indiana, USA, and another in Osaka, Japan, are dedicated to developing the new products. Apart from these global R&D facilities, each region has its local R&D capability which works on the specific needs of the customers, local market & standards. Our constant interactions with our customers are the source of various ideas of product innovations as well as design improvements”, adds Shailesh.
As a part of the world’s number one air conditioning company Daikin, Japan, AAF also leverages exceptional innovation prowess and resources to bring out groundbreaking energy-efficient products that present a range of environment Friendly features and designs. Daikin has led the industry with innovative products that challenge the bounds of the industry and elevate standards for the global client. AAF India leverages these capabilities to bring out its own range of cutting-edge solutions. The company also focuses on evolving with the needs of the industry, which has enabled it to grow from being a simple filter supplier to a comprehensive solutions provider. The firm has prioritized customer collaborations, taking care of the minutest details to ensure its solutions perfectly align with the needs of the client. The firm closely works with clients and understands the specific processes that define the requirements, as well as any existing challenges that the system needs to address. Through these intensive insights, the firm expertly designs customized solutions that perfectly blend in with the client’s existing infrastructure, providing greater air filtering capabilities.
“At AAF, we understand the importance of helping the world protect the quality of its air. Doing so allows each of us to be our most productive. It also protects the globe’s critical processes and equipment and – most importantly – it improves humanity’s quality of life. We breathe 1000 times in an hour and almost 2200 gallons of air in a day. The air we breathe is not healthy and sanitized and impacts every cell of our body. We must take immediate measures to ensure that we are having a healthy indoor environment around us, to remain healthy and fit”, further shares Shailesh.
It is AAF’s constant effort to offer innovative filtration solutions which are energy efficient & environmentally sustainable
Supporting Customers, Promoting Environmental Well-Being
Driven to create a healthy environment for people to enjoy and thrive in, AAF India takes proactive measures to ensure that in manufacturing its products, it observes environmentally friendly practices and policies. In addition to strictly adhering to statutory and mandatory environmental regulations, AAF also focuses its efforts on ensuring sustainable manufacturing practices. The idea behind these initiatives is to minimize pollution and ensure no hazardous waste or gas is generated or emitted, which can ultimately hamper the air quality and the environment as a whole. The firm also takes conscious measures to discard waste responsibly through certified disposal agencies.
Simultaneously, the firm is dedicated to spreading awareness in society about indoor air pollution, for which it is equipped with a dedicated sales team and business team that designs campaigns to spread the message.
“As the society lacks awareness about indoor pollution, our sales team and business development teams are involved in the marketing campaigns, directly one-on-one or on the public platforms or through social media, to bring the necessary awareness to the people. We make the people aware about the threats of indoor air pollution and offer related solutions which are IAQ improvement equipment”, lastly shared Shailesh. Through such comprehensive measures and a customer-centric approach to designing and deploying solutions, AAF India is not only poised to lead the air filtration systems sector in India but has the potential to be a revolutionary force, capable of changing how seriously people view air filtration in the country.
