RSB Transmissions, a fast growing engineering and technology organization with 12 state-of-the-art manufacturing plants, inaugurated its 13th plant in Lucknow on April 16. With this the company added its seventh different location to its Indian footprint.
The plant, located at Khandak village on the outskirts of Lucknow and adjacent to Tata Motors plant was declared open by Mr. S.B. Borwankar, Sr VP Manufacturing Operations (CVBU), Tata Motors Ltd., along with the Guest of Honour, Mr. Alok Saxena, Plant Head, Tata Motors, Lucknow.
Inaugurating the plant, Mr. Borwankar complimented RSB for setting up the plant in Lucknow and thereby demonstrated its deep commitment as a leading and important vendor to TML. In fact, TML needs support from committed and quality vendors like RSB to enhance its position in the automotive business in India since RSB has its excellent quality, housekeeping and operating systems.
In his address, Mr. RK Behera, Chairman of the company, explained that the Lucknow plant is a dedicated facility for TML that would enable RSB to deepen its engagement and serve Tata Motors better. Initially some of the existing products currently being supplied from other RSB locations to TML, Lucknow, will be migrated to this plant and subsequently it will take up manufacture of new products. In today’s competitive environment, quality and cost efficiency are the most important parameters to combat both domestic and global competition.
Mr. Behera explained that RSB’s core philosophy is to satisfy the ultimate end customer. Hence it proactively collaborates and partners with all its customers on resolution of quality issues and performance enhancement, be it related to design, material, production, manufacturing process or systems. This collaborative approach helps in enhancing the image of the company customers in the emerging markets.
The Lucknow plant, besides supporting TML, is also RSB’s small contribution to bring about inclusive growth by proliferating manufacturing in locations starved of industry and to facilitate local employment by providing and supporting educational initiatives in the neighbourghood, he added.
Mr. Alok Saxena complimented RSB for setting up the plant in Lucknow and appreciated the company’s foresight in creating capacity ahead of time to support the growth of TML.
In his address, Mr. SK Behera, Vice Chairman & MD of the company, explained RSB’s deep engagement with TML by highlighting that the company has manufacturing facilities in all locations – Jamshedpur, Pune, Dharwad, Pantnagar and Lucknow – wherever TML or its associates have their units. The Lucknow plant has been set up to serve Tata Motors better by delivering propshafts and axle beams on JIT basis.
Signing off on a very optimistic note, Mr. Behera added that the automotive landscape in India is just unfolding; the future is vast and the opportunities are many, notwithstanding the occasional short-term dips.
To mark the opening of the plant, Mr. Alok Saxena handed over the first purchase order to Mr. SK Behera. The first consignment of the propshafts from the Lucknow plant was also flagged off by Mr. Ashish Sharma, Head – Materials, TML, Lucknow.
In 2012, RSB is expected to post a top line of about INR 1500 crores. This will be about 28 per cent year-on-year growth. The company hopes to maintain the momentum and grow at a CAGR of 20-25 per cent for the next few years. Plans are afoot to realize this ambitious target.
RSB is a leading global manufacturer of propeller shaft systems & components, an array of axles, including front axle, trailer axle, tractor axle, dummy axle and axle beam, fully finished gears & shafts and transmission components like differential cases, yokes and carriers. In the construction equipment segment, it is a leading manufacturer of heavy fabrications and aggregates like frames, arms, booms and buckets.
Leading Indian and global auto companies like Tata Motors, Tata Hitachi, John Deere, Fiat, Ford, Allison Transmissions, AAM, Eaton, Magna, GKN, Caterpillar, Terex, Leyland, Komatsu, GE and Mahindra Group are RSB’s regular customers.