Well-known home-grown supplier of rubber components Polybond is ready with products to address the future challenges in the mobility ecosystem. Speaking exclusively to MOTORINDIA in an interview, Mr. Adit Rathi, Managing Director, Polybond India Pvt. Ltd., says: “Polybond is a trusted name worldwide in the field of rubber components for the truck and bus segment. We have grown at an average CAGR of 16% over the past 10 years. We have a focused business with truck and bus customers delivering products as per specific requirements from our world-class, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant supported by up-to-date technology and strong logistics across the globe.”
It is implied that this kind of consistent performance is the outcome of high-level product quality, especially when business from global customers is subject to meeting the stringent German VDA audits and certification.
Polybond’s product range includes rubber to metal/plastic bonded parts, rubber moulded parts, silicone & extruded hoses. The company offers engine mount, bump stop, radiator mount, and a wide range of CAC and coolant handling radiator hoses. It has created a niche in offering rubber parts at a global level for these applications and is associated with all leading truck OEMs globally.
E-mobility and anticipatory changes
An era is soon expected of electric vehicles and alternative powertrain calling for a change now. Mr. Rathi explains: “Our rubber parts have not changed much but, for sure, the application will undergo changes. For instance, with increasing electric vehicles, engine mounts will have no place. Silicone and radiator hoses also will no more be required if you don’t have a turbocharger. However new applications will come up in electric vehicles for battery and cooling packages. Evolution of the whole ecosystem around electric vehicles, on the most conservative side, will take 10-15 years till it completely takes over. Till such time requirement of conventional parts will co-exist.”
45% of Polybond’s total business comes from rubber to metal bonded parts that are mainly used for suspensions, which will continue to exist in both conventional vehicles and electric vehicles. Apart from this, parts like bump stop and radiator mount will continue to be in demand for both BS-IV and electric vehicles.
Sharing details on Polybond’s capability and future-readiness on the manufacturing side, the MD states: “Today our major business, around 65%, is from vehicle OEM and the remaining 35% comes from tier-Is. Since we cater to OEM and tier-I demands on our own, we have invested in adequate manufacturing facilities. Apart from a new plant in Madhya Pradesh, we have two other state-of-the-art plants at Alandi and Sanaswadi in Pune. It is difficult for us to quantify on how many tonnes of rubber we produce, however we can accept increasing demand from our customers by expanding our capacity, which we have done from time to time in the past. In the last one year alone, we have grown by 22%. The larger picture, which in fact is the best part, is to see OEMs from Europe and USA placing faith on us and on the manufacturing capabilities of Indian suppliers.”