The Swiss Franc 310-million turnover Sauter manufactures sensors, actuators, room control units and others for building management systems. The Chennai company sources almost all its requirements from Sauter. "The technical expertise of Race Technologies and our leading edge product range will open new opportunities for both the partners," said Sauter CEO Bertram Schmitz.

According to Race Technologies director R Suresh, Sauter has committed a further investment of Rs25 crore over next 30 months. "The final stake per cent that Sauter would hold in Race Technologies will be decided later." However he ruled out Race Technologies getting into manufacture of the building management products along with Sauter.

Adds chairman V Seshadri, "The money raised would be used for expansion and creating new infrastructure to take advantage of the buoyant Indian market."

Simply put building management systems is an integrated system of hardware and software that manages the access controls, ventilation, room temperature, fire alarms and others to make a building healthy and safe place to work in. The buildings could be factories, offices or any other kind.

"We hold nearly 60 per cent market share in the domestic pharma industry," claims S Bhagavan, director. Race Technologies has won orders from pharma companies like Cadila, Orchid Chemicals, Torrent, Ranbaxy, Alembic and others. "Managing pharma plants is a challenge. For instance the air temperature, humidity and pressure between two manufacturing chambers would be different and though both would be located nearby. Further the air from one room should not mix with that of the other room."

Race Technologies has executed projects for wide range of users like public sector companies, defence units, food products, auto component/textile units, IT parks, hotels and others.

The company has also executed projects overseas and has sizeable overseas orders.