Karl Slym and A M Khan exchange documents as Vilasrao Deshmukh looks on

General Motors (GM) has formalised an agreement to build a new engine plant in Talegaon, in Maharashtra. An agreement to this effect was signed between GM India President and Managing Director Karl Slym and A M Khan, Principal Secretary (Industries), Government of Maharashtra, in the presence of Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and host of other dignitaries. 

The initial investment in the new GM powertrain facility will exceed US$ 200 million. This is in addition to more than US$ 300 million already invested in the said facility to manufacture vehicles. The engine plant will have an annual production capacity of 160,000 engines, with the capability of being expanded to 300,000 engines per year. The engine and the car manufacturing plant will employ more than 1400 people in the same facility to begin with and going forward, the employee strength will go up depending upon the requirements. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Deshmukh said, “We are indeed proud and privileged to have General Motors in our state. The presence of GM in our state once again demonstrates the strengths of Maharashtra as a leading investment destination.” Mr Deshmukh said that the state will continue to extend full support to GM and ensure its success. 

In his speech, Mr Slym said “The new engine facility demonstrates GM’s commitment to India. We cannot remain a global industry leader without a strong presence in the high-growth market of India. This will enable us to capture more opportunities in one of the fastest-growing vehicle markets in the world. 

“The Talegaon engine facility is an important component of GM’s global strategy to establish a strong presence in this market. This is just one of a number of investments, totalling more than US$ 1 billion that GM has made over the course of the last few years in emerging markets around the world such as China, Korea, Russia and India. The decision to build the engine facility also in India further demonstrates GM’s confidence in our future and our commitment to growing the business all across the globe,“ said Mr Slym. 

Mr Slym also said, “The new facility will enable us to continue expanding our product line-up in India. We have been scouting for a suitable site to set up an engine facility for the past six months. We chose Maharashtra largely because of its outstanding logistics and the pro-active approach demonstrated by the state leadership and the officials in the course of building our car manufacturing plant at Talegaon which is getting commissioned on Tuesday next. It also offered advantages in terms of its employment base, costs, infrastructure, geographical location, etc. After a detailed due diligence and thoughtful consideration, we felt that Maharashtra was the right fit for the new facility.” 

The engine facility is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2010.

Hyundai Motor India has been adjudged winner of the coveted 'CIO 100' award for the third consecutive year in a row. CIO 100 is the most acclaimed recognition in the enterprise IT space at USA, constituted by IDG Media Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore. The award will be presented on 5th and 6th September 2008, at Jaipur. 

CIO 100 Awards, a twenty-year-old tradition of honoring exceptional work that began in the US, has now become the most prestigious recognition among CIOs Worldwide. Theme of this year's award was 'Bold 100'. Hyundai has been adgudged winner of this award for the innovative ways and new ideas practiced by it at its Business and Industry, setting the bar higher for the competitors. 

While acknowledging the honour, H.W. Park, Executive Director, HMI, said the achievement speaks of the culture that Hyundai has developed in its pursuit to innovate ways with championing ideas to meet challenges.

For those who want to incorporate hydraulic or pneumatic suspension components, a detailed gearbox model, or sophisticated controls in MBS simulation environment, ITI could have the answer. ITI, at the Fisita 2008 will be showcasing its SimulationX3.0 package. 

Claimed to be the world's first fully integrated 1D/3D simulation tool, SimulationX allows the combination of 1D and MBS models into one simulation model. This allows users to choose the degree of detail for each model part independently, according to the necessary task. SimulationX offers various benfits to the users. 

Benefits like sophisticated and validated libraries for automotive power transmission and fluid power applications; versatile MBS and vehicle dynamics libraries; multi-domain modelling within one model avoiding the pitfalls of co-simulation; numerical solvers, tailored for multiphysics systems; straightforward model object development for customer libraries; non-linear frequency domain simulation (steady-state), natural frequency and system analysis and generic model export and import in terms of C code for model exchange with other simulators and real-time environments.

The stamp unit is moved and positioned by a movable bridge (gantry) across the vacuum area.

Specialists for developing vacuum clamping solutions for difficult applications, Witte has successfully developed a complex clamping unit destined as a component of a gantry machine — a large size CNC milling machine with a bridge which moves in X-axis. 

The equipment includes a 2x7 meter large vacuum area, which is divided into 32 automatically monitored, individually switchable sections. A hydraulic stamp is integrated into a bridge type system above the clamping chuck, which presses the aluminum sheets down segment by segment onto the chuck. The vacuum areas are sequentially activated as the stamp progresses along the sheets. The stamp can start at any position and press down sheets up to 16 mm thickness. 

The number of stamp processes depends on the size of the part and is programmed individually. The entire unit including complete electronic cabinet is integrated into a milling machine.

AutoForm Engineering GmbH has opened a new branch office in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong office will enable AutoForm to be even closer to customers in China and provide them with an even higher standard of service. The Asian market is developing rapidly and offers an excellent business environment for growth. AutoForm is expanding its activities in the Asia-Pacific region and has chosen Hong Kong – one of the Four Asian Tigers – as the location for its new office. Hong Kong is one of the world’s leading financial centres and has the greatest concentration of corporate headquarters in the Asia-Pacific region. 

With this new office, AutoForm strengthens its presence on the Asian market. Primarily, it will enable customers across China to work in close collaboration with highly qualified AutoForm specialists and benefit directly from AutoForm’s leading-edge software solutions.

Tata has launched the new Indica, which was first shown at the Auto Expo 2008. Called as Indica Vista, the car is completely new and does not share anything with the earlier generation model. 3.8m long, 1.7m wide and with a wheelbase of 2470mm, the Indica Vista is bigger, mature and dynamic in its looks. The longer wheelbase has the car competing with the likes of Fiesta and Verna in the areas of space. Employing higher strength steel panels and tailor welded blanks, the monocoque of the Indica Vista is stiffer. 

On the inside, the Vista is thus more spacious and comfortable. It is also better built and flaunts better fit and finish standards. A centrally arranged instrument panel and soft touch dashboard dials in an upmarket feel. Top-end models get a two-DIN music system and various other thoughtful touches like the height adjustable driver's seat and tiltable steering. Power comes from a 75bhp 1.3-litre Quadrajet common-rail diesel engine and the 65bhp, 1.2-litre continuously variable cam Safire petrol engine manufactured at the new Fiat-Tata joint venture at Ranjangaon near Pune. There's also the choice of 1.4-litre turbo-diesel (TDi) engine. Transmission is a five speed with improved shifting and feel. 

While the existing Indica continues to be sold with a choice of Tata's 1.2-litre petrol (Xeta) engine and 1.4 Dicor common-rail engine, launched in 7 variants, the Indica Vista (basic) is priced at Rs.3.49 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi for the 1.2-litre petrol Safire. The top end 1.3-litre Quadrajet is praiced at Rs.4.88 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi. The TDi version comes at nearly the same price as the outgoing existing Indica V2 version. The company will launch an ABS, airbags execution in the domestic market at the time of the car's debut in international markets.