Becomes first ARAI-certified trailer maker
Tata DLT, the leaders in tractor trailer industry, inaugurated its fourth manufacturing unit at Nighoje, Chakan, Pune, in the presence of Noel Tata, Arun K. Vora, Chairman, Tata International DLT, Janaki Chaudhry, Head – Strategy and Business Development, and other dignitaries. The new plant is designed especially for trailers like Car Carrier, Chassis Carrier, having a length of 18.75 meters. The plant also boasts of facilities like shot blasting and paint booth.
Speaking to MOTORINDIA, Rajeev Batra, Chief Operating Officer, Tata International DLT, said: “The new plant clearly will prove to be a best facility housing shot blasting and paint booth for car and chassis carrier. It cost us Rs. 4 crores and was built in a record time period of seven months. The monthly capacity of the plant is approximately 120 to 200 units including standard trailers and special trailers like Car Carrier, Chassis Carrier and Tip Trailer.”
First ARAI certified trailer maker
The joy of the inauguration was doubled when Mr. AA Badusha, Senior Deputy Director, ARAI, handed over the certification to Mr. Batra that made TATA International DLT the first trailer company to receive ARAI approval as per AIS 113. “We appreciate the policy of Government to implement AIS 113 approval for trailers. Tata International DLT became the first and only company in India, who is certified by ARAI. It took almost nine months’ time to get this approval. Tata DLT cleared all 26 models of trailers, amongst which are standard side wall, flat bed trailers, tip trailers, running gear for tankers, etc.,” beamed Batra.
AIS 113 approval
There was this compelling and long felt need to upgrade the automotive unorganized trailer industry in order to enhance efficiency, safety and quality of the products. Till recently the terminology of trailers has been drawn from AIS-053 but the Government increasingly felt the need for a permanent agency to expedite the publication of standards and development of test facilities in parallel when the work on the preparation of the standards is going on. This made sense as the development of improved safety and critical parts can be undertaken only after the publication of the standard and commissioning of test facilities.
Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Pune, being the Secretariat of the AIS Committee, would publish this standard for testing and approval of automotive trailers shall be in accordance with AIS:113-2012, as amended from time to time, for the trailers specified therein. ARAI / ICAT / NCAT (VRDE) are testing & approving agency as per AIS 113. As per the standard all critical components are tested for safety like King pin / Landing leg / Electricals / Brakes / Reflective tape / Reflectors / Tyre / Wheels / Electricals / Mudguard & spray suppressor / SUPD / RUPD & also trailer tested for maneuverability and brake efficiency as per AIS 113.
“TILDLT got certified 26 trailer models of double and triple axle and further on the same platform, we can do multiple variants. This covers our major trailer product range like flat bed, side wall, skeleton, tip trailer, running gear for tankers and semi low bed trailer,” explained Batra.
However, Car carrier / Tractor carrier / Truck chassis carrier are excluded in this standard & this shall be as per amended CMVR rules with STA design approval. AIS 113 implementation is all set to come into force from January 1, 2017.