Whether it is reducing CO2 emissions, increasing the efficiency of existing drive concepts or keeping pace with the trend toward new alternative energy sources, Miba supports its customers every day with pioneering technologies. In this exclusive interview with MOTORINDIA, Satish Barve, Managing Director, Miba Drivetec India (P) Limited shares insights about the company’s India operations, its manufacturing capabilities, expansion plans and the measures adopted to fight the ongoing pandemic
How strong is the presence of Miba in the Indian market?
Miba Group has had its presence in India since 1998-99 ever since we started supplying ceramic clutch buttons from our plant in Austria for the OEMs in India. This is a part of our dry friction business. In 2007 we started a subsidiary, Miba Drivetec India Private Limited, which manufactures wet friction discs and intermediate steel discs based out of Pune. At that time, Miba had the first mover advantage as far as manufacturing of wet friction discs for oil immersed brake technology in India was concerned.
Our new, state-of-the-art and expansive manufacturing plant is located at Koregaon Bhima on the Pune – Ahmednagar road and is fully operational to cater to both existing and future demands for domestic as well as global requirements. This move shows the commitment of Miba Group towards India. In fact, India occupies prime position in our overall global strategy. We are also a big contributor to the ‘Make in India’ initiative promoted by the government.
Could you elaborate about Miba’s journey and the milestones achieved in India so far?
Miba Drivetec India is actively supporting customers with its offerings pertaining to friction solutions both organic and ceramic, e-mobility, industrial and engine bearings, special purpose machinery, automation solutions and aftermarket support for its all offerings. After the global acquisition of the off-highway business of Hoerbiger Drive Technology, Miba Drivetec India came into existence and has been steadily growing since then. We cater to Tier 1 suppliers like Brakes India, Schaeffler, Setco, Valeo, ZF, Carraro as well as to end customers such as John Deere, International Tractors, etc.
The number of customers as well as the product varieties has increased multifold since these years mainly for the organic wet friction discs and steel discs. We are expanding our facility to locally manufacture ceramic clutch buttons as well which we have so far been importing from our parent plant in Austria. Our Pune plant is certified with IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 to produce high-quality products as per global standards and requirements. Our lead customers like John Deere India, Setco, Valeo, Schaeffler and Brakes India have recognised and appreciated our efforts for on-time delivery, quality as well as new product development activities and cost optimization measures.
Which business segments is Miba present in across the world?
Globally, Miba Group has 30 manufacturing sites catering to the needs of various segments, namely, automotive and on-highway vehicles both passenger and commercial; off-highway vehicles such as construction and mining machinery, agriculture and farm equipment; railways; marine aircraft; industrial applications; and power generation and transmission. In India, the focus is more on agriculture and farm equipment, construction and mining equipment, automotive – commercial vehicles, wind energy, bearings for industrial applications and e-mobility components for automotive, commercial and material handling applications such as forklifts, etc.
Going ahead, what’s your view on the development of the sectors where Miba is offering its solutions?
The Indian market is quite promising and growing. However, the present pandemic has adversely impacted almost all sectors, thus reversing the growth pattern. The automotive sector in terms of both passenger as well as commercial vehicles has been down since more than a year but we expect a turnaround beginning the next financial year. However, the farm equipment sector has been doing quite well and would continue its trend in the coming period too due to good monsoon forecast and government subsidies.
Meanwhile, e-mobility concept is one of the promising sectors which has picked up well with a majority of the OEMs ready to introduce electric versions of their products. A number of new players including start-ups have also jumped into the fray, thus making it more competitive. The industrial sector though down is mainly due to the pandemic but should start recovering or coming out of the red by the fourth quarter of this financial year to a great extent.
What according to you are the USPs of Miba’s friction division that puts it ahead of competition?
Miba is a family-owned company with global experience of more than 90 years in the engine and vehicle business. The Miba Friction Group has been a development partner and supplier of high-performance friction materials to the international automotive and machine industries for over 40 years. Our customers benefit from optimized components for clutch and brake systems. Thanks to high-quality materials and innovative processes, our products have excellent tribological properties and high wear resistance. For each application we have a customised product – from high-performance friction materials for wet and dry running applications to mating discs and fully assembled friction packs.
With our constantly growing portfolio of friction materials, we offer ideal solutions for any application and for high power densities. A variety of friction materials and grooving profiles guarantees optimum adaptation to individual operating conditions, in brakes, transmissions, all-wheel and auxiliary drives such as fibre composite, carbon weave, carbon composite, molybdenum, sinter bronze sprinkled and steel discs.
Discs are developed in close coordination with our customers. Our own fast and flexible in-house prototype production facilities allow us to keep development times short. Disc pack testing is carried out under real conditions on our own test rigs at the Miba Friction Group’s research and development centre. We are one of the very few companies globally that have their own research and development unit which leads to continuous innovative offerings in line with customer and market expectations. Moreover, we have our own manufacturing facility for different grades of friction material (fiber composite) under the name Miba Fibertec based out of the Czech Republic. Thus, we have the flexibility to offer different grades and types of friction material to suit a wide portfolio of applications for optimum performance.
How strong is your local presence in India and what difference does it make for your customers?
As mentioned earlier, Miba Drivetec India has been operating in India since 2007 and serving customers across the country through our automated new facility based on the outskirts of Pune. As of today, we have the capacity to manufacture friction discs and steel discs of different sizes, profiles, groove designs, fiber composite grades and material thicknesses. Soon, we would be commencing production of ceramic clutch buttons too. Due to this we are in a position to meet our customers’ demand with respect to delivery time, flexibility, complexity and variety. All this together gives us the strength to maintain a competitive edge.
What has been the pandemic’s impact on Miba in India? How have you handled the situation as regards your employees as well as customers’ requirements during this period?
Globally the business scenario has changed and has been adversely affected due to the pandemic. In India, we started to feel the impact from mid-March when we had to shut down plant operations. The imposition of travel restrictions, working from home, limited or no manpower availability at our end as well as throughout the supply chain and the suspension of goods and transport services disrupted the entire business cycle. We restarted the plant with limited manpower and working hours from mid-May. It has been up and running so far without any positive cases of the virus being reported at our end.
However, the reduced manpower and timing has affected the production output as well as some delays in response though there has been a growing demand from customers. We have installed sanitization spray booths for all those who enter the factory premises after checking their temperature through infra-red non-contact type thermometer. We have also put into use foot operated non-contact sanitizers’ facility at key locations in the plant and office along with the mandatory use of face masks. Social distancing is also a must on our premises.
As such, these are some of the key measures taken by us during this period. Further, regular updates on the pandemic situation as well as developments regarding orders and dispatches are shared with all our customers. Timely communication is the major key to business and we have ensured it is done via phone, emails, video conferencing, etc. with all our stakeholders. In a nutshell, we have been able to manage the crisis at Miba Drivetec India reasonably well till now.
What are your future plan for the Indian market and how would Indian customers benefit from the same?
Miba Drivetec India has very ambitious plans which started with our relocation to a much bigger manufacturing premise. This has resulted in increased capacity, flexibility as well as scope of expansion as per the need of the customers. Secondly, the new sinter facility to manufacture ceramic clutch buttons will be commissioned by the end of this year in the same facility. There is renewed focus on adding new customers while also concentrating on business verticals and improving service efficiency with our existing major accounts. The Miba brand is popular and in demand globally for its quality, engineering expertise and service and the same parameters would be replicated in India too.