Cyronics, which deals in automotive diagnostic equipments and related technologies, is pursuing growth in the auto sector

Cyronics recently shifted its office from Shivajinagar to Kothrud in Pune. The new, swanky office belies the fact that Cyronics specialises in automotive diagnostic equipment and related technologies and medical equipment. These sound like two different extremities and yet make perfect business sense for a company. Surprising as it may sound, the fact is that Cyronics is on a growth curve and in both, automotive diagnostics and medical equipment.

To start with, in the auto side of the business, Cyronics represents world renowned diagnostics equipment brands like Bosch, Actron, SPX-OTC, Chauvin Arnoux, Tektronix and Vector. Ask Nitin Bhonge, CEO, Cyronics Instruments, and he is quick to explain: "We bring in leading edge technologies from the best in the world." Indeed, names like Bosch, Tektronix and Vector are some of the best and most-acknowledged names in the diagnostics and testing equipment sphere.

"Our auto sector business could be divided into three departments primarily - OEM, aftermarket and embedded," explains Bhonge. For OEM applications, Cyronics is into development of tools and application of development tools. For aftermarket, it is about garage diagnostic equipment and for embedded, it is about writing software. According to Bhonge, the OEM business can be roughly connected with Tektronix (hardware) and Vector (software); aftermarket with OTC, Actron (basic diagnostics), Bosch (advanced diagnostics) equipment and Chauvin Arnoux with test and measuring instruments (non-auto). The Bosch range of equipment, states Bhonge, includes oscilloscopes, (Tech 2) scanners and NVH analyzers. With Actron it is basic scanners. With Techtronix, it is about hardware and OEM stuff like CAN-Bus and LIN. With Vector, it is again OEM but software that relates to ECU.

Touching upon the auto OEM and aftermarket spread, Bhonge explains that his company has supplied Tektronix equipment to a sports utility vehicle manufacturer in India for the new common-rail diesel engine it has developed. "Cyronics," adds Bhonge, "has also supplied CAN-Bus analysers to a number of OEMs and tier suppliers. We supplied logic analysers to a German lighting equipment major, which has set up its global design centre in Pune."

Working as an active link between the brands it represents in India and the customers, Cyronics is very strong in Tektronix sales. Pointing at the arrival of new high-tech automobiles in India, Bhonge remarks that it is the diagnostic equipments that will empower the workshops of today and help them thrive in the future. "To service sophisticated automobiles, the need of the hour is to invest in modern equipment including diagnostic equipment. As more and more businesses acknowledge these needs, inquiries are pouring in for aftermarket applications," explains Bhonge. Not surprising, then, that 50 per cent of Cyronics' business comes from the auto sector, and with the aftermarket playing an increasingly interesting role.

Auto dealers are increasingly investing in modern equipments and OEMs are investing in modern equipment to cater to their growing development and research needs in areas like alternate propulsion technologies. Cyronics, which has supplied equipment to ARAI, VRDE and the Auto Cluster, according to Bhonge, is also strong in testing equipment of power products. "For electric vehicles, we are working on a hybrid with a Tier 1 supplier. We are working with Renesas to develop their application centre in India," elaborates Bhonge, even as he adds that his company has provided the entire test setup to a Pune-based two-wheeler manufacturer for electric vehicles. "Cyronics helps with application development and has an 8 people team, which writes software," he adds.

Speaking about the future plans of Cyronics, Bhonge proudly announces that competition is fierce but they already enjoy a good ranking in the auto testing equipment arena of the auto markets. "As I said earlier," concludes Bhonge, "we bring in leading edge technologies from the best in the world."