Wide range of new products under development
TACO Hendrickson Suspensions Private Ltd. (THSPL), a 50: 50 joint venture between Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd. (TACO) and Hendrickson, has been manufacturing lift axle air suspension systems for trucks and bogie suspension systems for tandem drive axles for the Indian commercial vehicle industry since 2007. The JV company offers tailor-made products for leading vehicle manufacturers and has grown rapidly in a short span of time. With the commercial vehicle industry going through a slowdown, THSPL is showing no signs of waiting for the industry to pick up, as it continues to work on new products development and enhancements to cater to its existing customers as well as newly added ones. Mr. Sanjay Sinha, CEO, THSPL tells Motorindia how his company remains unaffected by the industry trend and continues to grow at a healthy pace.
Ever since being formed, TACO Hendrickson has been focusing on understanding the requirements of customers in the Indian market and providing suitable customized solutions. The company has gradually increased its product range over the years and is currently working on four new products that would be supplied to two renowned vehicle OEMs in the country.
Though the number of commercial vehicle manufacturers in the country is only around a dozen, THSPL is widening its product portfolio by developing different suspensions and axle systems to suit the wide range of trucks and buses manufactured in the country and also matching the variety of terrains and applications that these products are used. Working with OEMs on such specific developments has driven the company’s growth, while its technical expertise continues to remain the backbone of its progress.
During a period when many companies are striving hard to avoid a drop in sales revenues, THSPL is targeting close to 32 per cent growth in FY14 over its showing in FY13, out of which the new product introductions alone will account for nearly 22 per cent. By the end of FY14, THSPL will have the likes of Tata Motors, Volvo-Eicher, Daimler and AMW as part of its customer base, as it looks to add more global names to the list.
Says Mr. Sanjay Sinha: “Our emphasis is more on developing a diverse range of products, both to support our existing customers and cater to new customers. In India, we have a range of vehicle manufacturers, so we must have the right kind of products to cater to each of their requirements individually.”
Expanding product range
Taco-Hendrickson has delivered over 100,000 lift axle suspensions systems which are running successfully in on Indian roads. Leveraging on its experience of Indian conditions, the company is developing a new series of products for truck and bus applications. For trucks, it offers two series of lift air-bag suspensions for pusher and tag positions; THSL is working on an advanced technology platform which can also be used in the pusher position. It also has a lift-axle suspension combined with axle system which has been specifically developed for an OEM. In the tipper segment,
THSPL currently has three bogie suspension solutions for 19, 27 and 48 ton load range and will introduce two new heavy duty suspensions in the near future.
THSPL is working on three new products slated for launch in FY15 – the HUV-advanced heavy duty rubber suspension for trucks, the HA4 suspension for buses and the HAS 2-bag suspension for trucks. The new products are the results of extensive market study and strong technical expertise; they promise superior ride comfort and better performance than the current suspension solutions available in the market.
The HUV suspension system will unlock a completely new technology platform and is one product THSPL is betting big on. “We are offering a technology leap with the HUV suspension. It’s a fourth generation product, free from wear and tear parts and hardly requires any maintenance. With growing focus on better fuel efficiency, increased payload and enhanced road safety, the new suspension will offer much better efficiency to customers”, states Mr. Sinha.
On the bus suspensions front, THSPL is stepping up its focus with some interesting developments for customers. An ultra-luxury suspension system for a three axle bus has been specially designed and developed for an OEM, while another two-bag suspension is being developed for two other customers. With the second phase of JnNurm awaiting implementation, the company is keen on creating a new sub-segment in the bus suspension side.
The JV company has gone through many product development cycles since entering the Indian market. While TACO is involved in all major operations including market study, sourcing, quality control, product design, development and testing, Hendrickson, globally acclaimed for its product quality and expertise in the field, provides complete support on kit level design validation, making changes to suit the Indian operating conditions and maintenance practices. Hendrickson’s expertise when it comes to suspensions remains unmatched as it continues to pioneer the segment with path-breaking innovations on a global scale.
Once the product prototype is ready, extensive testing is carried out both internally (for kit level validation) and at the customer end (vehicle level validation). Since suspensions are a critical component in a vehicle, thorough validation is done through on-field trials to double-check that the desired features incorporated into design are translated into reality through vehicle performance. The entire cycle of product design, development, testing and validation is done well in advance to the product launch, which explains why the company is currently working on product launches scheduled for FY15 & FY16. The co-operation between Taco and Hendrickson has been extremely successful with both partners working with mutual understanding and involvement in bringing the JV to where it is today.
THSPL currently has a manufacturing facility in Pune which is likely to be relocated to the Chakan Industrial area in Pune where all the TACO group companies are expected to set up base under one roof. Though the company has identified possible new locations for an assembly facility in the near future, Mr. Sinha affirms that Pune will remain as the centre of all its core operations. ”Pune would continue to be our main centre for engineering, design, testing and validation, prototyping and sourcing, which is the core of our business. In the next two years, we may set up satellite assembly plants near to customer locations as volumes pick up and viability is assured”, he adds.
THSPL believes that aftersales support is the most essential element of business and thus focuses on spare parts availability and end customer education before the products are actually launched in the market. The company has included training as an important part of the service modules at all OEM dealer locations across the country. It has a specialized service support team which conducts training for its dealers and for end-users as well.
The Indian commercial vehicle market is tipped to be one of the most potential markets across the globe. There are many segments which remain untapped to a large extent, air-suspensions certainly being one of them. Though the market in general is maturing rapidly by adopting newer technology, the pace of adoption varies between segments. “In terms of technology, air-suspension adoption is happening faster in trucks, taking more time in tippers, and far more time when it comes to tractor-trailers”, opines Mr. Sinha. With the Indian air suspension market still having a long way to go when compared to other developed markets around the world, THSPL seems perfectly poised to tap the huge potential offered by the country’s growing commercial vehicle market.
With the right product range, unprecedented new developments backed by global technical expertise, close association with its customers and other USPs, THSPL certainly has the perfect mix needed to replicate the success of its individual partner companies in the years to come.