TrendingNow – Electrification in the trucking segment is up on the horizon and so is hybridization. The 109-year-old automotive supplier is gearing up for this and more. Its product portfolio consists of hard parts for combustion engines such as pistons, bearings, engine blocks and a range of parts for the suspension of the engines, as well as mechatronic components.
Mr. Peter Hartung, SVP – Corporate Communications, talked about it: “Our Pierburg branch works on the mechatronics taking care of making products for reducing emissions, improving efficiencies of the engines, and those that manage liquid, heat and cooling in a vehicle.” As a global manufacturer of engine technologies, the company has the technologies to help the OEMs of trucks and buses to save fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions.
IndiaCentric – India is the ‘quickest developing markets’ for KSPG compared to their other markets in the world. Dr. Berthold Franz, VP – Business Units CDS & AES, Pierburg, shared: “India is thrilling and challenging currently. It is so because of its decision to skip Euro V and jump straight to Euro VI and this gives an enormous push to the OEMs in India. They need to develop new technologies, create new dealerships, and we as suppliers are in the middle of this activity because we need to deliver the products, we are requested for consultation to our customers on how to use these products and how to service them.” KSPG is sitting pretty because they are producing and developing in India already and hence can rise up to the occasion almost instantly.
Challenges – The supplier is eyeing one of its biggest challenges which is coming from India, Dr. Franz explained: “Currently, we are working against an exigent time scale in India, especially when it is being said that the transition to Euro VI will happen in the next 18 months. It means in terms of our product development we need to be ready much earlier because our OEMs need to give certification to the authorities and this takes place a couple of months prior to the introduction. So, for us the deadline is sometime the middle of next year and this is extremely short for the typical lead times in the automotive business.” Yet KSPG is prepared to support its Indian customers fully.
WhatWorks – While KSPG is gearing up for electrification and hybridization, it is also aware that big trucks around the world will continue to run on internal combustion engines for at least next 30-40 years. Mr. Hartung added: “Our company is strong in combustion engine technologies but we have been re-positioning our company for 4-5 years and we have developed competencies in electrification and hybridization.”
He also revealed that the company has received contracts worth 500 million Euros to manufacture products that are specific to hybridization and e-mobility. Dr. Franz let it out that: “We are surprised by many requests coming from India for fully electric vehicles where they are asking for electrical climate compressors or AC compressors, besides seeking solutions for heat pumps, and thermal modules to extend the range of the vehicles. This is something that feels like it is exploding, and it is wonderful because about a year and a half ago, we had no requests and now every week there are requests to know our product portfolios,” taking it in his stride.
KSPG is fully geared up to support its customers and already has a range of products in various developmental stages to cater to the rise in demand for parts for fully electric vehicles – be it from India or elsewhere.