Vapor Bus International, part of the Wabtec Corporation of the US, has entered the Indian market for automatic door closing systems. Vapor has tied up with Pioneer Friction Ltd., an Indian subsidiary of Wabtec, for manufacturing these products in India. Pioneer Friction already manufactures brake shoes for locomotive, freight car, passenger coach and EMU applications in the Indian market
Mr. James R. Pearson, Marketing Manager, Vapor Bus International says: “Vapor Bus is the principal door equipment supplier to the North American bus industry. A broad range of products is available for transit and commuter buses, inter-city and tour coaches, and utility vehicles. The company offers complete automatic door systems as well as individual components such as actuators, door controls, door panels, seals, and door accessories. Both pneumatic and electric actuators are available. Control options range from simple electro-mechanical devices to high-capability, microprocessor-based systems”.
Mr. Gautam Chattopadhyay, Manager – Sales and Service of Pioneer Friction, observes: “As we were looking for a product to expand our offering in the Indian market, we found a very interesting product in Vapor Bus range which is relevant to the Indian bus market. The selection of a door system for a bus depends upon the type of vehicle and its total operating environment. Vapor Bus is experienced in the entire range of buses, including urban transit buses, commuter buses, inter-city and tour coaches and commercial vehicles. Vapor Bus can provide the optimum door system for any vehicle. Through our group company, Ricon Corporation, we can also offer compatible access ramps and lifts for handicapped as well as window systems”.
Ricon Corporation, a division of Vapor Bus, engineers and manufactures ramps and lifts that allow vehicle access to passengers with wheel-chairs, walkers, shopping carts and strollers. Ricon products are applicable to low and high-floor buses, commercial and personal vehicles, school buses, motor coaches and passenger rail vehicles. Ricon also supplies transit bus windows and “anti-graffiti” window accessories.
In India, Vapor Bus will provide technical, design and manufacturing knowledge, and the products will be manufactured at Pioneer’s facility in Kolkata. Initially components will be imported and assemebled in India, and over a period of time the components will be completely indigenised, adds Mr. Chattopadhyay.
The company is looking at both the city bus and coach markets. Pioneer is already in discussions with major Indian bus manufacturers for supplying automatic door closing systems for their city bus applications.
The parent company of Vapor Bus, Pioneer and Ricon is the US-based Wabtec Corporation which provides products and services to virtually every major inter-city passenger transit system in North America. Inter-city and metro cars, commuter cars and light rail vehicles are all supplied with an integrated series of components that deliver safety, efficiency and passenger comfort. The company also offers maintenance, repair and overhaul services for commuter locomotives and passenger car components.
