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MOTORINDIA
l
April 2012
73
headquarters.
Success story
Headquartered in Luxembourg,
the IAC Group is a leading global
supplier of automotive components
and systems, including interior and
exterior trim. Derived from its long
heritage in the vehicle interiors seg-
ment, a global core competence of
IAC is its expertise in the design,
engineering and manufacturing of
vehicle interior and exterior compo-
nents and systems. The company is
bringing that core competence to the
new Chakan plant to turn out prod-
ucts ranging from instrument panels,
floor consoles, interior and exterior
garnish trim to air distribution vents
and door panels for Mahindra and
Mahindra Navistar vehicles.
The opening of the facility not
only complements IAC’s existing
manufacturing facilities and engi-
neering center in the Pune area, but
also further expands its presence in
the region following its ongoing ex-
pansion in the Indian market.
It was in January 2011 that IAC
acquired Manesar-based Multivac
India Private Ltd., a tier-one suppli-
er of vehicle headliners, instrument
panels, interior trim and door panels
to key global vehicle manufactur-
ers. This strategic acquisition estab-
lished its northern India footprint in
proximity to the New Delhi automo-
tive region.
The IAC India Engineering & De-
sign Center in the Rajiv Gandhi In-
foTech Park, Hinjewadi, Pune, has
state-of-the-art computing resources
and 60+ CAD workstations. Offer-
ing high speed data connectivity to
worldwide locations, the engineers
and designers with global experi-
ence have special expertise in pack-
aging and feasibility, fit and fin-
ish development, layout drawings,
kinematics studies, assembly load
studies, dimensional management,
continuous engineering (change
management) and computer-aided
engineering (CAE).
The recent Awards received by
the IAC Group include the Global
SUV Platform from Mahindra &
Mahindra, involving engineering
design & development, FEA, pro-
totyping, validation, manufacturing
and supply; Global Truck Platform
from Mahindra Navistar involv-
ing engineering design & develop-
ment, FEA, prototyping, validation,
manufacturing and supply; Global
Harchback & Notchback Platform
from Volkswagen for product de-
velopment, validation, manufac-
turing & supply; New Generation
Cab (Truck) from Ashok Leyland
involving engineering design & de-
velopment; New Electric Vehicle
(CAR) from Mahindra Reva involv-
ing engineering design & develop-
ment, FEA, prototyping, validation,
manufacturing and supply; and New
Cab (Truck) from Volvo involving
prototyping, validation, manufactur-
ing and supply.
w
An outside view of IAC India Chakan plant
IAC’s inside view of the plant
Focus on Detroit
The latest Chakan facility special-
ises in injection moulding, vacuum
forming, laser scoring, hot air
cold staking and cockpit assembly,
while the Manesar facility has its
focus on thermoforming, waterjet
cutting, foaming, slitting, laminat-
ing headliners, int. soft trims.