By R. Natarajan, Managing Editor
International Automotive Components (IAC) is the world’s third largest interior components manufacturer with a global turnover of $4.4 billion. It has around 76 facilities globally, including the Engineering Centre at Chakan, Pune, set up in 2008, and another plant opened at the same location last year.
Addressing a video conferencing session arranged for a select few Indian journalists who recently visited IAC’s Pre-Production & Validation Centers located at Troy, USA, Mr. Gajanan V. Gandhe, Senior Vice President, Asian Operations, IAC Asia Ltd., Pune, said though the Pune operations of the company were initiated mainly to cater to the needs of Mahindra Navistar trucks, it has gradually expanded the customer base in India. Today the company has emerged a major supplier of products to Volvo Trucks, Eicher Buses, Volkswagen, Mahindra Reva, etc. The company keeps expanding its capacity with increasing business from Indian OEMs.
He said currently IAC has three facilities in India, two at Chakan in Maharashtra and one at Manesar, Haryana. IAC’s Indian Engineering Design Center also supports the North American as well as European customers for their offshore services. Recently the company received a major contract for Ashok Leyland’s New Generation Cab. Considering the current group business from commercial vehicle manufacturers, around 30 per cent of sales is expected from this segment.
In addition to interiors, IAC India also develops exterior products for commercial vehicle manufacturers. Overall, there is tremendous scope to expand Indian operations, and the growth will be mainly through organic means, added Mr. Gajanan.
Mr. R. Natarajan, MOTORINDIA Managing Editor, who was in the team, was delighted to learn during his visit to the Pre-Production & Validation Centers facilities at Troy that IAC has reportedly invested a lot in technology with the sole objective of becoming a global leader in the interior and exterior components industry.
The second unit of the IAC Group at Chakan opened last year covers an area of 118,000 sq. ft. Located in the Mahindra Supplier Park, this facility makes IAC one of the first automotive suppliers to establish their operations in the Supplier Park. The first facility of the company was started at Chakan in early 2009. Together the two plants enhanced the company’s footprint in the western automotive hub of Pune, which is also home to IAC India’s regional 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 segment, a global core competence of IAC is its expertise in the design, engineering and manufacturing of vehicle interior and exterior components and systems. The company is bringing that core competence to the new Chakan plant to turn out products 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 engineering center in the Pune area, but also further expands its presence in the region following its ongoing expansion in the Indian market.
The latest Chakan facility specialises 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, laminating headliners, int. soft trims.
It was in January 2011 that IAC acquired Manesar-based Multivac India Private Ltd., a tier-one supplier of vehicle headliners, instrument panels, interior trim and door panels to key global vehicle manufacturers. This strategic acquisition established its northern India footprint in proximity to the New Delhi automotive region.
The IAC India Engineering & Design Center in the Rajiv Gandhi InfoTech Park, Hinjewadi, Pune, has state-of-the-art computing resources and 60+ CAD workstations. Offering high speed data connectivity to worldwide locations, the engineers and designers with global experience have special expertise in packaging and feasibility, fit and finish 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, prototyping, validation, manufacturing and supply; Global Truck Platform from Mahindra Navistar involving engineering design & development, FEA, prototyping, validation, manufacturing and supply; Global Harchback & Notchback Platform from Volkswagen for product development, validation, manufacturing & supply; New Generation Cab (Truck) from Ashok Leyland involving engineering design & development; New Electric Vehicle (CAR) from Mahindra Reva involving engineering design & development, FEA, prototyping, validation, manufacturing and supply; and New Cab (Truck) from Volvo involving prototyping, validation, manufacturing and supply.