Greater focus on CV segment pays off
As a company fully committed to product quality, the Omax Group has its footprint in various fields, from two-wheelers, passenger cars, commercial vehicles to railways, & Homeware products. Started 30 years ago, initially with the manufacturing of components for two-wheelers and later passenger cars, it entered the CV segment by starting its Lucknow plant in 2007 for production of truck frame assemblies for Tata Motors.
In an exclusive interview to MOTORINDIA, Mr. Kishor Karnataki, President & CEO – CV & PC Group, Omax Autos Ltd., speaks in detail about his company’s successful diversification into the commercial vehicle segment. The Lucknow project started production in 2009, this offered a great opportunity for Omax to work with leading customers like Tata Motors. This was at a time when Tata Motors was planning to expand its Lucknow plant four-five fold with strategic partnerships with some select suppliers. Thus Omax begun with a single line, but opened its second line within just two years.
According to Mr. Kishor, Omax now supplies 100 per cent truck frame assemblies to Tata Motors medium & heavy commercial vehicles at Lucknow.
Capacity & quality
To begin with, Omax made 30 frames per day, today its daily capacity is 250 to 300 frames. The company owes much to Tata Motors for extending its support for attaining the targeted capacity & excelling in product quality, for which Omax was also awarded the Best Vendor Award, by Tata Motors.
Mr. Kishor further shared that Omax Pantnagar plant was set up in March 2012, specially to cater to Ashok Leyland requirement of commercial vehicles, chassis, cross members. With expertise in structural assemblies, the plant manufactures products for engine and transmission mounting, ensuring durability of whole frame assemblies. Today, Omax aims at becoming a major structural assemblies supplier for commercial vehicles (CVs).
The company’s Bangalore plant is in discussion with Volvo to supply different sheet metal parts for its new project in South East Asia, and also with Ashok Leyland – Nissan for new engine parts & frames.
Out of the total annual turnover of Rs. 1,200 cr. of Omax group, the CV segment contributes Rs. 250-300 crores. Omax has the latest production facilities across its various plants and partners with the major Automotive OEM’s like Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Hero, TVS, Maruti, Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, Sonalika, CNH, and many more.
In its bid for providing quality products and for further improvisation, Omax conducts in-house leadership committee meetings every month, wherein employees undergo training through group discussions. Besides, the OE customers are also invited to express their expectations & their views on market improvisations. Omax group is always ready for the giant leap with its prime focus on quality with technology.