MUMBAI, June 23: SAMSUNG Electronics India Ltd (SEIL) has launched three models of its microwave oven range in India. The ovens will be priced at Rs 9,900 for the 20 litre unit and going up to Rs 27,000 for the 34 litre one.

SEIL managing director BM Park said the focus will be on the metros and gradually the entire range of home appliances will be marketed in the rural areas.

The flagship model of the microwave range being introduced in India is the combi grill convection microwave. The company said that the 34 litre combination, grill, convection microwave oven with a power output of 900 W is the only model in India offering 6-way variable cooking modes.

The third model is a horizontal multi-split unit which allows skewer styled cooking such as kababs while the traditional horizontal rotating spit enables styled cooking.

The company plans to set up `brand shops' in the four metros which will showcase technologies from the Samsung stable. It also launched six models of cameras in the country. The Samsung camera range starts at Rs 1,800 and goes up to Rs 15,500.

Samsung's product line in India comprises 12 models of colour televisions (CTVs) in the 14 inch to 52 inch range, five Compact Disk (CD) based audio systems, two video-CD players, two models of 6 Kg washing machines, eight models of over 300 litres frost-free refrigerators.

On the manufacture of the consumer durable range in India, Park said $30 million has already been invested, inclusive of the CTV unit coming up at Noida. The level of indiginisation for the CTV plant is nearly 50 per cent, Park said.

This will be followed by refrigerators and washing machines, microwaves, airconditioners, video CDs, audio products and components like the colour picture tube anode compressors.

The CTV segment which was stagnant last year will achieve a 10 per cent growth in 1997 with Samsung having an eight per cent share, Park said. Samsung is also planning strategic alliances with consumer durable majors for sourcing products, Park added. u

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.