First Multi-Diag units installed at Motorzone
ACTIA is an international group specializing in embedded electronic systems and is a major force in automotive diagnostics. A medium-sized French company, it can be called the inventor of advanced technology diagnostic tools for the automotive sector.
Its global operations started in 1986, prior to which the company was part of the Renault Group. With India emerging as one of the fastest growing automotive markets, both in general and particularly in the commercial vehicle segment, its fully-owned Indian subsidiary, ACTIA India Pvt. Ltd. was established in 2002.
On the occasion of bagging its first order in the Indian aftermarket, Mr. Damien Kesteman, Sr. Manager (Systems) – R&D, and Mr. Deepak Nair, Regional Manager – Marketing, ACTIA India Pvt. Ltd., spoke to MOTORINDIA on the company’s progress and plans, well strategized by Mr. Anurag Jain, Sr. General Manager – Marketing, ACTIA India Pvt. Ltd., for the Indian market.
The first ACTIA Diagnostic aftermarket product (Multi-Diag) catering to multi-brand vehicles in India was recently installed at Motorzone, a one-stop service facility for medium and heavy commercial vehicles, located in Chennai. Motorzone is a special zone with an integrated service facility for multiple OEMs under one roof which embraces innovative and advanced products and technologies as evident from the latest ACTIA equipment installation. Motorzone is part of the AB Group which also has one of India’s leading fleet operators Parveen Travels in its group.
“We have always been focused on being close to our customers and offer them a wide range of advanced technology ‘diagnostic tools and solutions’, both for OEM manufacturing plants and the aftermarket”, says Mr. Damien Kesteman. Among its various products, the On-Board Diagnostics and Telematics for buses and railways have been very well accepted worldwide.
In 2003, ACTIA made a big-ticket acquisition when it took over Muller BEM, a German company pioneering in testing equipment, which provided it access to the latter’s expertise in testing equipment. ACTIA’s software technology was inducted into Muller’s testing equipment which includes complete line of vehicle testing including brake testers, side slip testers, suspension testers and axle plate testers, among other products, which has resulted in world-class technological solutions for customers to the tune of more than 10,000 installations worldwide.
ACTIA has been well recognized for its advanced technology electronic systems which are working efficiently in many parts of the world. It has manufacturing plants in various locations including France, Sweden, South Africa, China and India. Ever since the ACTIA India plant was established in Noida in 2000, the company has been growing quite steadily in the local market.
Says Mr. Deepak Nair: “We have supplied various equipment and DC-DC connectors to leading commercial vehicle manufacturers in India including Tata Motors, Eicher, Force Motors and AMW. We also supply flashing tools to Ashok Leyland’s production lines and are looking at other potential customers too.”
The company has done quite well in the OEM segment and is keen on further leveraging on the huge growth potential in the Indian market in the coming years.
A wide product range
Having established good presence in the OEM segment, last year ACTIA decided to enter the Indian aftermarket space with the primary aim of promoting its range of garage equipment. The company offers a variety of products, including wheel aligners, wheel balancers and tyre changers, with TVS appointed as the national distributor for its AC equipment. After vigorous efforts, ACTIA recently made a breakthrough in the aftermarket segment when it installed its first Multi-Diag equipment for cars and trucks at Motorzone in Chennai. It has also recently introduced a concept of workshop connectivity by which it provides in-depth customized solutions to facilitate faster and more efficient functioning in workshops.
The company’s diagnostic tools for the Indian market are being imported from France in order to maintain quality standards. Its products, some of which have been patented, come with unique features and provide distinct advantages over other products in the market. For instance, it is a common practice in workshops for the vehicles to be taken to the two-post lifts or alignment equipment for diagnosis. When the workshop is equipped with ACTIA equipment, the operators can take the equipment to the vehicles rather than vice versa. ACTIA tools could easily be brought to the vehicle bay for inspection which saves a lot of time as well as space for in workshops.
On the whole, with its first breakthrough in the local aftermarket space, ACTIA India is gearing for the long-term as it aspires to become one of the leading garage equipment suppliers in the country in the coming years.