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 Choosing to stay close to its customers by putting up an exhibit adjoining the hall that contained major CV players like Ashok Leyland, Mahindra and Volvo, transmission major Eaton chose to display its expertise in commercial vehicle transmissions, superchargers and hydraulic solutions. An interesting part of these was the automated manual transmissions and clutches, which Eaton is targeting at the Indian market. Upbeat about the prospects of Eaton's commercial vehicle business while speaking to Automotive Products Finder at the Auto Expo, Curt Hutchins, President – Asia Pacific at Eaton Corporation, said his company's business in India has expanded significantly. Adding that the Indian operations have become an infrastructural hub, Hutchins explained that the global on goings are driving Eaton to integrate the CV business. “Customers are demanding that we seek synergies and integrate our services.”
Stressing upon a strategy to localise, Curt averred that his company would continue to expand and make investments. From a manufacturing facility at Ranjangaon near Pune, Eaton currently supplies 6-speed and 9-speed manual transmission to a number of commercial vehicle manufacturers. Planning to start the manufacture of 10-speed and 13-speed manual transmission for CVs at the same plant, all the while aggressively promoting the automated manual transmissions for applications like city buses, Eaton, according to Curt would ramp up on demand. Well positioned to handle smaller scales and happy about the progress made in India, according to Kurt, Eaton is today having a fair presence in the CC sector with its transmissions seen on trucks from Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and others. Stating that Eaton is focused on its commitment to customers, and to optimise costs, Curt Hutchins added, “We will continue to optimise our products, and above the heavy investments we have made.”
 Drawing attention to hybrid technology, Curt announced that more hybrids would be seen in addition to more automated manual transmissions being applied in India, and prominently in bus applications. Having sold over a 1000 hybrid solutions in Asia Pacific, Eaton has a clutch manufacturing capability in China, Brazil, North America and Europe. Responding to a query on cushioned ceramic clutches and the other types made by Eaton, Curt said his company would be localising clutches. “Our clutches are competitive with the best in the business,” he added. Touching upon the valve business acquired at Nashik and Ahmednagar in Maharashtra from Kirloskar Oil Engines, Curt remarked that they understand them well and would continue to innovate. “We are deploying the Eaton Business System to the acquisition, and the facilities we have acquired are doing well”.
World leaders in production hybrid system for buses, Eaton will offer an optimised solution as per customer demand. Optimising solutions and further increasing the efficiency of hybrids, Eaton is also looking at better battery technology to evolve. According to Shyam P Kambeyanda, managing director of Eaton in India, Eaton sees a huge potential in the bus business, and the hybrid bus business especially. Stating that Eaton hybrid solutions include series hybrids, parallel hybrids and diesel hybrids, Shyam added that Eaton could offer an optimal solution to its customers. “We think hybrids will propel green technology. Even the supercharger that we produce – Audi has come back to supercharging with us,” concluded Curt Hutchins.
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