ZF Rane Inaugurates Inflator Manufacturing and Sled Test Facility at Trichy

ZF Rane Automotive India Pvt ltd., a joint venture of Rane Group with the German ZF Group, inaugurates new Inflator plant and Sled test facility for its occupant safety business at Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), Tamil Nadu.

(L to R) Mr. B. Ayyappan, President – ZF Rane – Occupant Safety Division, Mr. Harish Lakshman, Chairman – Rane Group,Mr. R. Velusamy, President – Automotive Technology & Product Development, M&M, Mr. Vinod Sahay, President – Aerospace & Defence, Trucks, Buses & CE & Chief Purchase Officer – Auto & Farm Sector, M&M, Mr. Rudolf Stark, EVP, ZF LIFETEC, Mr. Akash Passey, President, ZF Group in India,Mr. Michael Ebenhoch, SVP – Steering Wheel Systems, ZF LIFETEC

Commenting on the event, Mr. Harish Lakshman, Chairman, Rane Group & Managing Director, ZF Rane Automotive India Pvt. Ltd., said, “The inauguration of the Inflator and Sled Test Facility at ZF Rane in Trichy marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to enhancing safety in the Indian automotive industry. By boosting local manufacturing capabilities, we are better positioned to meet the growing demands of the market while strengthening our ‘Make in India’ efforts. This state-of-the-art facility reinforces our dedication to delivering global technologies matching the evolving needs of our customers, while maintaining the highest standards of quality.”

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Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rudolf Stark, Executive Vice President, ZF LIFETEC, said, “With this investment, we are well prepared to capitalize on the sustainable growth potential of the passive safety systems market. Longstanding customer relationships, proven technology and system competence as well as quality leadership is what sets us apart from others. Keeping the inflator production inhouse and expanding our testing footprint globally is a vital part of our strategy”.

(L to R) Mr. B. Ayyappan, President – ZF Rane Automotive India – Occupant Safety Division, Mr. Michael Ebenhoch, SVP – Steering Wheel Systems, ZF LIFETEC, Mr. Harish Lakshman, Chairman – Rane Group, Mr. Vinod Sahay, President – Aerospace & Defence, Trucks, Buses & CE & Chief Purchase Officer – Auto & Farm Sector, M&M , Mr. R. Velusamy, President – Automotive Technology & Product Development, M&M,Mr. Rudolf Stark, EVP, ZF LIFETEC, Mr. Akash Passey, President, ZF Group in India, Mr. G. Parthipan, CEO – ZF Rane Automotive India

The plant was inaugurated by Mr. Vinod Sahay, President – Aerospace & Defence, Trucks, Buses & CE & Chief Purchase Officer – Auto & Farm Sector, M&M and Mr. R. Velusamy, President – Automotive Technology & Product Development, M&M and attended by management team of ZF, Rane and supplier partners.

The facility is strategically located in Trichy-Chennai national highway, 40 kms from Trichy and 300 kms from Chennai. The new inflator facility will help enhance local content in Airbags.

The company has invested close to Rs. 100 Crores in setting up the Inflator and Sled Facility. Inflator plant initially will produce the Driver and Passenger versions from the state-of-the-art facility within the ZF Rane Trichy plant. Initial capacity will be around 3 million inflators per annum. The Sled facility enhances our capability in the testing and enables us to offer products at reduced lead-time.

These investments are aligned with the goal to bring best-in-class and cutting-edge technology into the country in line with the government’s “Make in India” Initiative. These investments will also help customers with increased local content and reduction of development lead-time.