Tata Motors, which is planning to launch 11 different models as part of the World Truck series between October 2008 and May 2009, has chosen Eaton Corporation for supply of transmissions for the project. Eaton has set up a plant at Ranjangaon, near Pune, for manufacturing truck transmissions. It has started supplying to Tata Pre-World Truck. Currently the Tata LPS 4923 Tractor Trailer model comes fitted with Eaton transmission.
Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with sales of $13 billion in 2007. It is a global leader in electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; hydraulics, fuel and pneumatic systems for commercial and military aircraft; intelligent truck drivetrain systems for safety and fuel economy; and automotive engine air management systems, powertrain solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety.
Eaton’s Truck Group is a global leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of powertrain systems and components for commercial vehicles. Around the world, Eaton offers drivetrain components, systems, safety products and service tools, including manual and automated transmissions, hybrid power systems, clutches, collision warning systems with adaptive cruise control, and mobile resource management solutions.
Eaton India is also planning to set up its second manufacturing facility at Ranjangaon to meet the demand for transmission components from Eaton’s facilities across the globe and also to enable it to support emerging demand for such units from domestic commercial vehicle manufacturers.
Eaton has also been chosen for supply of transmissions by Mahindra International, a joint venture between Mahindra & Mahindra and International Truck and Engine Corporation of the US for manufacturing medium and heavy duty trucks for the Indian market.
At present Eaton makes gears and shafts at its Ranjangaon facility and assembles transmissions for medium and heavy duty commercial vehicles. It also exports these items to Eaton’s facilities all over the world. The current capacity of the existing plant is 15,000 transmission units.
Globally Eaton manufactures heavy duty, synchromesh medium duty transmissions for trucks and light duty transmissions for agricultural applications. It has manufacturing facilities in the US, Brazil, China, Poland, Mexico and India, and makes more than 100 manual and automated transmissions.
Eaton Corporation’s footprint in India has been growing steadily since 1999. With the global acquisition of Aeroquip Vickers in April 1999, it took over two manufacturing plants in Maharashtra, one in Mumbai and the other in Pune, under the name of Vickers Systems International Ltd. (VSIL). The Mumbai plant was integrated into the Pune operations in January 2002. The primary focus of the Pune-based VSIL is to manufacture a wide range of hydraulic components and systems.
With a view to expanding its presence in India, Eaton has established many new entities. The first was an engineering center at the Pune campus designed to do high-end engineering work for all of Eaton’s business segments. Since then, Eaton has focused on enhancing its presence in India in all business segments and on tapping into the diverse opportunities that India offers, including critical manufacturing and engineering capabilities, product development, service centers and globally competitive sourcing.
While India offers a huge market opportunity in itself, it also serves as a strategic location to enhance Eaton’s global competitiveness.
Eaton India Engineering Center was established in Pune to focus on product development and engineering effort for Eaton’s global markets. It currently employs 300 people and under its growth plan is likely to see employment increase to 900 by 2010.
Eaton has established an office in India as part of the group’s global sourcing effort, to tap the immense sourcing potential that India offers. It has also established a Global Support Service Center in Pune as an India-based customer center, serving hydraulics and aerospace customers in the US, Europe and the Asia Pacific region.
In April last, Eaton also agreed to purchase the engine valve components division of Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd., located in Ahmednagar and Nashik in Maharashtra. The acquisition is expected to be finalised soon.
