The Truck, Trailer and Tyre Expo have been instrumental in providing a fitting platform to the industry magnates and OEMs to explore the market potential for their products in India. The expo, inaugurated by Bal Malkit Singh from All India Motor Transport Congress, Vimal Rai Kalra from Bombay Goods Transport Association and Santosh Mandelcha, Maharashtra Chambers of Commerce Industry and Agriculture, showcased a spectrum of technologies and products ranging across Truck, Trailer and Tyre industry and ensures to be an excellent one-stop destination to seek new business tie-ups, engage with industry experts, and find future business prospects.
The fourth edition, conducted at Navi Mumbai, offered host of new products for the industry. What met the eye was the air-suspension trailer axles. Mostly every manufacturer in the axle space had air suspension axles which offered extra payload of one tonne. Apart from this you had companies presenting their fabrication capabilities, telematics and cable solutions along with retreaded tyre suppliers, importers and distributors of various spares and parts. We present some of the major highlights of the show.
SAE-SMB showcases 12-ton axle and air suspension
ADR Group’s sister company SAE-SMB, that began its operation in India in 2016 focusing on manufacturing and selling axles, suspensions, spares and component parts of industrial trailers in India and middle eastern market, widened its axle and air suspension portfolio by showcasing a 12 tonnes axle and air suspension at the TTTE. The company had introduced the 14 tonnes and 16 tonnes trailer axles and mechanical suspension in 2018.
Speaking to MOTORINDIA, Giulio Segneri, Director, ADR Axles India Pvt Ltd., said: “With 12, 13, 14 and 16 tonnes trailer axles along with an air suspension for 12 tonnes axle in our kitty, we are a little more complete. We also have recently finished the ARAI approval for our landing gears and is part of the addition to our kit. So, we will have axle suspensions and landing gears all as a package. Slowly as the market requires, we will find right products for this market.”
SAE-SMB products have started to find place in the market with quite a few young entrepreneurs who wish to differentiate themselves in the trailer segment. “Young Indians are ready to accept quality products and balances the cost even while knowing that we are importing a few products; especially the beam of the axle which is seamless, forged and not weld, not because we cannot make it here but because that technology is still not available in India – which increases the cost,” explained Giulio.
In order to mitigate the rates, the company has an inhouse technical department that takes care of the local designing requirement – saving time and cost to get it from France or Italy. “We have designers now in India to help customize the design that can be given to the procurement team. We are not here to push our designs but give as per the needs of Indian customers, we will change if customer asks. That is possible only if you have design in house,” he added.
With air suspension axle giving a tonne extra payload, there is three tonne extra payload that a vehicle could carry. This also improves operational efficiency. Added, Vishnu Jadhav, Head – Sales, ADR Axles India: “In India the consumable parts, after sales and service are the most concerned area. With 12 tonnes air suspension axles, we are also matching and controlling a customer’s spares cost. A consumer who makes a package with a trailer is very happy using the product, especially a customer operating in an ICV segment. Today, we have a little over 50 service centers and every time we have new customer in new region, we establish a service branch to get closer to the customers.”
The company is also planning to invest in a bigger location expecting growth in 20-21. “Our production capacity currently is between 3,000-4,000 axles per year. We are now investing in a bigger location that will be operational next year for the growth we anticipate in the coming years,” revealed Giulio.
Tata DLT diversifies into development of trailer aggregates
India’s largest trailer manufacturer, Tata International DLT, displayed two interesting aggregates at their attractive pavilion at TTTE. Looking at backward integration, the aggregates were air-suspension and axles that can cater to the new regulation that allows a transporter to carry a one tonne extra per axle with air suspension.
Sharing details, Rajeev Batra, CEO, Tata International DLT, informed: “With most transporter looking to capitalize on the one tonne extra payload given an air-suspension axle, the demand for the product is phenomenal. We have recently registered 80 products of the same in the Mumbai Market for steel coil application. We have also offered 8 years AMC to the operator.”
Another highlight was the Hardox Tipper manufactured in house providing weight reduction in tune of 750 kgs. “We are working on development of our own aggregates because we feel backward integration is important and hence, we have developed our own axles, own suspensions and tippers. We are also looking at offering solution for refuse trucks utilizing our core expertise of fabrication and machining and within a year or two should come up with new products. This and many other things shall allow us to explore even export markets,” discloses Batra.
A few months ago, there were news about Tata International Ltd. selling its stakes from the company. Ask Mr. Batra and he clarifies: “There was this discussion for changeover of shareholders which got cancelled and Tata International Ltd. remains the owner and join venture company with Dutch Lanka Trailer Manufacturers (DLTM). In fact, our expansion plans are all intact and the Jamshedpur plant shall soon be operational with capacity to produce 300 trailers per month. We remain on course to become a Rs. 1,000-crore company by 2024,” concludes the CEO.
JAI presents indigenous air suspension with lift axle
Country’s largest manufacturer of leaf and parabolic springs, Jamna Auto Industries (JAI) presented its all new air suspensions with lift axles at the TTTE. As of today, many buses and trucks have been moving on from mechanical suspensions. With new legislation one can carry a tonne extra per axle if it is an air suspension. Also, when the truck is running empty, the driver would wish to lift an axle in order to reduce wear and tear to tyres. Keeping this in mind JAI had an interesting product display.
Sharing details, Sunil Laroiya, President – R&D, JAI, disclosed: “We have designed an air-suspension and have displayed it with the complete kit of lift axles. Whenever a vehicle is running empty, you can lift two axles and it can operate on one axle. It is automatic but we have given a switch in the cabin for any emergency. Otherwise there is a height control valve, based on which it operates (lift) automatically. We also have three options in this. One can have all three air-suspensions and have two axles rigid and one liftable axles or one rigid and two liftable for which the cost escalation will be very minimal. This is possible because everything has been designed by us in house in India and have been tested at ARAI for 100,000 cycles apart from the computer analysis done in house.”
Another homegrown display was the company’s leaf springs providing 25 per cent weight reduction than the parabolic springs. According to Sunil: “Most OEMs are moving to leaf springs as it provides better ride comfort, doubles the life of the product and is light weight. We are able to produce approximately 20,000 leaf springs per month and hence can take care of the cost apprehensions of the customers vis-à-vis a foreign brand.”
The major USP for JAI is definitely their Indian roots that help them understand Indian market and requirement much better than anybody. “With 73 per cent OEM share we have good impression with all the major players not only in engineering but also design. As a supplier of torque rods, U-bolts, anti-roll bars, etc., we have an understanding of both engineering and design requirement for the country. Not to forget that even the air bellows you see in the lift axle-air suspension kit is our patented one and offers 50 per cent better life to the external shocks compared to the existing competition product,” signed off Laroiya.
Galaxy reinforces biz ties with axle & trailer manufacturers
Gujarat-based Galaxy Bearings presented its range of wheel bearings and wheel hubs along with tapered and cylindrical roller bearings at the show. The company who has been in the trailer axle space for the last 10 years have been receiving positive feedback for their product range.
Nitin Santoki, CEO, Galaxy Bearings Ltd., expressed: “We are adding more and more customers every year and also increasing volumes with existing customers in the trailer segment. The fact that we have been a stable player producing around 3 million bearings a year, have helped us to gain a market share of 27 per cent in the trailer axle space alone.”
Exports remain Galaxy’s major focus with 70 per cent of its revenue coming from it. “In the 70 per cent export customers 46 per cent consist of direct OEMs. However, with the domestic players becoming organized the potential for growth in India is huge. Our focus is organised trailer manufacturers and global brands of axle and air suspensions, some of whom are present here at the show. We shall jointly develop light weight bearings with customers, further, even for electric vehicles. As a brand that exports more, these companies can expect international standards bearing at Indian price and also on time,” concluded Mr. Santoki.
Edscha’s growing acceptance in truck trailer segment
Eight years ago, when Edscha entered India it had to push the advantages of its products like a full tarpaulin curtain sider solution with a sliding roof on the top and the sides. Today the company sees a pull from the fleet operators for a system that is light in weight and helps fasten the loading unloading process. The growing number of prototypes that Edscha has delivered might be small in volume but still testifies the growing acceptance of their products in the truck and trailer segment.
Dheepan Ramalingam, Managing Director, Ringfeder Power Transmission (India) Private Ltd., told us: “Business wise 2019 has been a great year for us as we have seen prototype increasing, forecast is really good. It used to 8-10 till a few years ago and now it has reached 50 units. That means the fleet operators wants to test and logistics company project 100-200 trucks with tarpaulin roof with side or top open.”
The company has seen logistics player handling steel, components and cars and bikes drawn to them because of the benefits that Edscha’s product offers in terms of turnaround time and weight reduction. Operating largely from its plants in Germany and Czech Republic, the company plans to localize soon as the demand picks up. Edscha is also developing manual sliding roof, automatic (remote operated) version of which was showcased at the IAA Hannover show last year for Tipper application.
HDTPL looks forward to exciting 2020
HDTPL presented an air-suspension which uses a German Foston balloon, which promises a longer life and robustness. They also showcased a tubeless wheel rim made of mild steel, through which a transporter can get the benefit of tyre mileage cost, with less time wasted for repairing. HDTPL who manufactures mechanical suspension from its factory in Navi Mumbai, imports the air-suspension and wheel rims. In the mechanical suspension they also introduced heavy-duty mechanical suspension with self-lubricating bush in the equalizer, which the customers would not require to grease.
Partha Ghosh, Managing Director, HDTPL, said: “I am very grateful to the organisers of the show who brought the exhibition to our city. It helps us showcase our air suspension axles, tubeless, wheel rims and a whole range of mechanical suspensions and landing gears to the customers from all over the country. We look forward to a very fruitful 2020, given the many legislative and regulation changes settling down in the truck and trailer segment.”
Omni Matrix makes its presence felt
Omni Matrix looked firm to penetrate the manufacturers of trailers, truck operators and sensitize them with its standard products. Manufacturers of electrical cables, sockets, levers – joystick assembly as per customer specification, Omni Matrix prides itself as the only Indian manufacturer of these electrical coil cables who doesn’t rely on imports.
“We have managed to become the single source supplier to all the OEMs on the back of standard products. We have a brand reputation and hence want to showcase the customers here how they can benefit from our products rather than handling substandard products. We have a capacity of close to 40,000 cables per month and currently doing 12,000 cables and developing our European market reach apart from the aftermarket and OEs in India to fully utilize our capacity,” informed Nithin S. Prabhakar, General Manager, Omni Matrix Pvt. Ltd.
Midas Mileage promotes benefits of CPKM approach
Midas Mileage offers best quality retreaded tyres with an assurance of best price, cost per kilometer (CPKM) at the show. Midas has been supplying Tread Rubber, Precured Tread Rubber and other retreading materials to India and the rest of the world since 1969.
Explaining the significance of their products Divya Varughese, Director, said: “If a truck owner follows the CPKM they would find that Midas is the cheapest cost per kilometer. Our product Arcus is known to give double the tyre mileage. It is a tread which has been developed recently and has been tested to give double the mileage of a new tyre – which is around 1,50,000 kms. We are Asia’s largest in our field thanks to less organised fleets for whom every rupee matters. The one in two truck owners who use our product is our brand ambassador. We even want the large fleet players to understand that the retreaded tyres also provide better mileage and cost per kilometer. We have 110 dealers PAN India, who sell to the retreaders, who in turn sell it to the fleets.”
Midas boasts of a capacity of 4,000 tonnes a month and currently does 2,500 tonness every month. “One tonne gives you approximately 100 tyres, so we are currently doing 25 lakh tyres per month. We export to 60 countries around the world, Germany being the largest, that speaks volume about our quality. Our product Arcus is also known to give the fleet operators diesel saving in tune of 8-10 per cent if the truck has all the tyres from brand Midas,” beamed Divya.
Midas factories and offices are located around Kottayam town in Kerala, which is known as the Natural Rubber capital of India. The company looks forward to helping customers meet their particular needs, whether it is a faster delivery or a special compound requirement.