Rockwell Automation, to help customers maximise their automation investments and use manufacturing data to fuel innovation, will host the 11th annual RSTechED, an international meeting of end users, system integrators, partners and original equipment manufacturers, June 1 to 6, 2008, in Orlando, Florida. For more information about the event, visit http://www.rsteched.com or e-mail RSTechED@ra.rockwell.com.

Greaves Cotton has announced that it would start making diesel engines for four-wheeler goods carriers to cash in on the growing potential of this segment. “The three-wheeler goods carrying segment suffers setbacks because of high interest rates, inflation and lack of credit,” P Sachdev, managing director and CEO of GCL, told reporters. “To ensure growth, we have to enter other segments like the four-wheeler goods carriers,” he said. “Compared to last year when 80 per cent of our turnover was from diesel engines, today the business mix has changed. The contribution of diesel engines has come down to 72 per cent and the balance is from infrastructure equipments,” Sachdev added. 

GCL has commissioned its Rs 220 million new plant - the sixth one in Tamil Nadu to make road rollers, soil compactors - and a training centre at the Sipcot Industrial Estate, Gummudipoondi, 50 km from Chennai. “The new plant would double our compactor capacity to 100 per month and also increase the ready mix concrete (RMC) batching plant output. We are planning to export concreting equipments,” Sachdev added. 

The company has also signed technical collaboration agreement with Germany's Bomag GmbH to roll out 19 tonne vibratory soil compactors used in road, dam, airport runway and irrigation projects. Sachdev added that the company would set up a new unit in Gummudipoondi to make petrol engines to power specialised vehicles at an outlay of Rs 100 million.

The Electronica Automotive Conference 2008 is scheduled on November 10-11, 2008 at the International Congress Centre in Munich (ICM). The event is for the entire automobile electronics value-creation chain. Leading experts from system suppliers and automobile manufacturers will discuss current issues in automotive electronics and their solutions. 

With an expected global market share of 123 billion euros in 2011 and average annual growth of 6.1% between 2006 and 2011, automotive electronics remains one of the most important markets in the electronics industry (source: Décision, 2007). For microelectronics, the expected growth rate for this period is 11.9% per year, the global market will grow from 19.1 billion US dollars in 2006 to 33.5 billion US dollars in 2011 (source: ZVEI). Advances in security and convenience, or monitoring of the emission of harmful substances are only possible for automobile manufacturers through the use of electronics. 

The need to further improve environmental protection, sustainability or energy efficiency will also result in many innovations in automobile manufacturing in the future. The leading experts from system suppliers and automobile manufacturers will discuss current issues in automotive electronics and their solutions. 

Lennart Lundh, Director of Strategy and Concept Design, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Volvo Car Corporation will show the development of architecture in the environment of various brands in his presentation "Architecture solution vs. company business eco-system". 

Gerhard Mertes, Managing Director, Delphi Electrical/Electronic Distribution Systems, Europe will cover the topic "Wiring Harness"and will highlight the trends and challenges faced by the cable industry. In addition, he will present strategies to reconcile regional cost structures and customer requirements. 

In his presentation "LCD Displays – Nowadays and in the Future – Commercial and Technical Challenges for Users and Manufacturers" Maximilian Huber, President, Sharp Microelectronics Europe will show the economic and technical challenges from the point of view of a leading global display manufacturer. 

This is an event with the most international focus and its motto is "electronics meets automotive". The topics for the first day mainly address experts from upper management of the automobile industry, its suppliers, and system suppliers. The program for the second day focuses on the needs of experts from technical management. The language of the conference on both days will be English. The event is organised by Munich Trade Fair with support from German Central Association of Electrical Engineering and the Electronics Industry, ZVEI e.V.

Chrysler LLC and Nissan Motor Co have announced two new agreements for the supply of products between both companies. While Nissan had agreed, in January this year, to supply Chrysler with a new car based on the Nissan Versa sedan for limited distribution in South America on an Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) basis in 2009, the new OEM exchange benefits both companies through range extension and the utilization of global manufacturing capacity. 

Under the new agreement, Nissan will manufacture an all-new, fuel-efficient small car based on a unique Chrysler concept and design. This new segment entry for Chrysler will be sold in North America, Europe and other global markets in 2010, and manufactured at Nissan’s Oppama Plant in Japan. Subsequently, Chrysler will manufacture a full-size pickup for Nissan. Based on a Nissan unique design, this truck will be manufactured at Chrysler’s Saltillo (Mexico) Assembly Plant. 

In order to accommodate this product, Chrysler will shift volume from Mexico to its U.S.-based assembly plants that produce pickup trucks. Sales of the pickup in North America will start in 2011. This latest OEM supply agreement extends a long standing product exchange relationship between the two corporations, with Nissan affiliate JATCO already supplying Chrysler with transmissions since 2004..

Dr Wilfried Aulbur with the 20,000th Mercedes

Roughly a year ago, Daimler announced the setting up of a greenfield plant at Chakan near Pune at an approximate investment of Rs 250 crores, and spread over 100 acres. Other than the C-Class, E-Clas and S-Class, the company sources said that the Actros range of trucks would be manufactured here. While the first car expected to roll out in early next year, the company recently rolled out the 20,000th Mercedes car out of its current facility at Chikhali on the outskirts of Pune and adjoining the Tata Motors' Passenger Car Business Unit. 

Speaking at the rollout, Dr Wilfried Aulbur announced: “This, ladies and gentlemen, is the 20,000th Indian Mercedes to roll out of our factory and the badge that this car proudly bears is an announcement of this achievement. It is also the 10,000th E-Class to be sold in India”. 

The sale of 20,000 Mercedes cars in India is regarded as a big achievement for the luxury car maker, which set up shop in India in the year 2005 and sold 574 units in January-March 2008, a 154 per cent growth in sales compared to the corresponding year in 2007. Daimler started operations in 2005 in collaboration with Tata Motors – a company with which it had once built Tata Mercedes trucks in the early 50s – and commenced the manufacture of W124 E-Class. 

The current range of models offered by Daimler in India has come to include a plethora of CBUs and the Actros in addition to the three model lines mentioned above.

JK Tyre & Industries has acquired the Tornel tyre company of Mexico. The acquisition for 100 per cent shareholding in the company is being made through Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) route. The transaction would involve an amount of approximately Rs 2700 million and the deal is expected to close by the end of May 2008, subject to applicable regulatory approvals. 

With this acquisition, JK Tyre & Industries has substantially increased its global foot print. Tornel has three operating tyre plants with aggregate capacity of 6.6 million tyres per annum. Situated in Azcapotzalco, Tultitlan and Hidalgo, the 3 plants of Tornel employ 2000 people and turn out a range of bias and radials for high-speed passenger cars, trucks, LCVs, farm and industrial equipment. Tornel’s three plants together have a production capacity of 290 tons per day while JK Tyre at its four plants in India have a combined capacity of 650 tonnes per day. The combined capacity of two would thus be 940 tonnes per day making it India’s largest four wheeler tyre company. 

The turnover of Tornel is US$ 202 million, which together with JK Tyre’s turnover of Rs 30.2 billion is expected to make JK Tyre a leading tyre company of India, with combined turnover exceeding US$ 1 billion. With this acquisition, JK Tyre would be ranked 14 th globally.

ElringKlinger Group, a German leading development partner to the automobile industry and original equipment supplier of cylinder-head- and specialty gaskets, inaugurated its first manufacturing facility in India, located at Ranjangaon off Pune. With presence in 21 locations across the globe and a turnover of 607.8 million Euro, ElringKlinger Group has strengthened its position as a direct supplier to customers in India. The plant has been set up at an investment of 5.0 million Euro and will have a capacity to produce several million gaskets. The plant will manufacture gaskets for powertrain applications such as engines and transmissions especially focused on newly developed low emission gasoline as well as diesel engines. 

Speaking at the occasion, Dr, Stefan Wolf, Chairman of the Management Board, ElringKlinger, said, "We are happy to announce the launch of our first manufacturing facility in India, when India is witnessing a major growth in the auto sector. India is a key market for ElringKlinger and the Group will soon look at additional investments in this high potential market." 

ElringKlinger Group is a worldwide development partner and original equipment supplier of cylinder-head and specialty gaskets, cover modules and shielding parts for the powertrain and the exhaust system. As the only globally-active independent gasket manufacturer, ElringKlinger supplies to nearly all car manufacturers in Europe, North and South America as well as numerous Asian vehicle manufacturers. The Company's success in the spare parts sector is based upon the technical leadership and expertise for original automotive equipment: In over 140 countries, gaskets, gasket sets and accessories are renowned for their state-of-the-art technology and reliability. 

Commenting on the new manufacturing facility in India, Juergen Weingaertner, MD (India), ElringKlinger Group explained, "We have closely assessed the Indian auto sector over the last few years and are now set with a plant of our own to make our presence felt. We look to bringing our global expertise and best practices along with world class products to the India consumer. With this plant in India, we will further strengthen our offerings in the global market." 

The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility has been set up on an area of 60,000 sq. mts. and has a built up area of 5,600 sq. mts. The plant will cater to the needs of Maruti Suzuki, Ford, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ashok Leyland, Fiat – Tata, Piaggio, MAN- Force and all automotive manufacturers and other automotive suppliers. Highlighting ElringKlinger Group's promise to give back to the community, the company has constructed a zero-emission and completely environmentally friendly plant. 

Reiterating ElringKlinger Group's commitment to the Indian Market, Dr. Stefan Wolf, Chairman – ElringKlinger Group said, "Sighting the thriving potential lying within the Indian auto sector, ElringKlinger Group ventured into India, which as we foresee, is the next big market in Asia Pacific. Factors like the economic boom, and the surge in the auto sector will aid this growth. With a prominent presence in the automotive and manufacturing segment globally, this is a significant step for the ElringKlinger Group, keeping in line with our ambitious growth plans."