Robert Bosch GmbH and Mahle GmbH have agreed to establish a 50:50 joint venture to develop, manufacture, and market exhaust gas turbochargers. It is planned to commence the joint venture in April 2008. The company, which will be called "Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems," will be headquartered in Stuttgart. The joint venture partners plan to work together to develop and manufacture turbochargers for gasoline and diesel engines, and to market them worldwide. Series production is supposed to start in 2010. The foundation of the joint venture is still subject to approval by the antitrust authorities. 

As part of the downsizing concept for the engines of the future, exhaust gas turbochargers are one of the key technologies for achieving a sustained cut in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The use of exhaust gas turbochargers is already common in modern diesel engines, and they are expected to become more prevalent in gasoline engines as well. This also calls for more widespread use of advanced injection technologies. This is an area in which Bosch already occupies a globally leading position, both with gasoline direct injection and with common-rail technology for diesel engines. 

Mahle has many years of experience in the development and manufacture of high temperature-resistant turbocharger components. In addition, its subsidiary Mahle Powertrain specializes in the development, design, and application of turbocharged engines. Both partners in the new joint venture can therefore draw on extensive engine-systems know-how, as well as competence in large-scale series production of ultra-precision components in and around the engine.

Escorts Construction Equipment Limited (ECEL), the Construction Equipment and Material Handling Equipment manufacturing arm of Escorts has inked a very significant agreement with Singapore Technology Kinetics (STK), to market STK’s 'LeeBoy' brand of equipment for road construction and maintenance purposes. The earmarked territories for marketing of the products by ECEL include some of the high growth geographical areas like India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Singapore Technology Kinetics (STK) is part of the Temasek Group. 

Amongst others, the equipments shall include motor graders, hydrostatic pavers and pothole patchers. These products are expected to complement ECEL's existing range of road compaction equipment and provide the much-needed one–stop shop for Road Construction and Maintenance equipment to the customers. Given the planned growth and focus on infrastructure projects like Roads, this arrangement will provide a big fillip to ECEL's ongoing mega growth plans. ECEL's green-field world-class manufacturing facility in Ballabgarh is expected to be on stream during the first half of 2008. This will help more than double the current manufacturing capacity in the initial phase, and to over 14,000 units annually, at the end of the second round of the planned expansion programme. 

Rajan Nanda, Chairman of Escorts, commented, "ECEL has a highly ambitious growth plan over the next five years, with a slew of new product introductions, making forays into adjacent and familiar verticals. The tie up, much in alignment with our growth plans will complement our offerings and further consolidate our leadership position in the segment." 

Nikhil Nanda, Joint Managing Director of Escorts, said on the tie up, "LeeBoy is one of the most preferred brands in the worldwide road construction industry due to its continued innovation and focus on meeting customer needs, the same ethos as of ECEL. The synergy in business philosophy of both the entities is sure to provide some highly exciting offerings for our customers in our territories, both domestic and overseas, in the coming days".

Organised by All India Association of Industries (AIAI), the Innovative Technologies for Manufacturing 2008 (ITM Expo) Exhibition took off on an eager note with various sections of the industry coming together at the World Trade Centre in Mumbai. Speaking at the inauguration of the expo, Subodh Kant Sahai, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Food Processing, said, “Innovation and development of technology is the need of the hour. More and more investment in the areas of technology upgradation, research and development is being made in the manufacturing sector including Agro and Food Industries”. 

Participating in the expo are companies from sectors like Automation and Engineering, Auto Components and Auto Accessories, Agro & Food Processing, Pharma & Bio technology, Electronics and Electrical Engineering , Energy and Environment, Packaging among others. There are a number of Indian Public and private sector companies participating in this event. The ITM Expo aims at promoting innovative technologies within the Indian manufacturing sector with a view to enhance productivity, upgrade quality, conserve energy, promote cost effectiveness, ensure industrial safety and improve global competitiveness. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Ashok Chavan, Minister for Industries & Mines, Maharashtra Government, said that the government will support the All India Association of Industries to start a Technopark in MIDC Industrial area and give all possible help as this will not only give impetus to promoting Innovative Technology but help the growth of the manufacturing sector. According to AIAI sources, the Technolpark will be situated at Ambarnath in Thane district.

GKN Driveline has inaugurated a state-of-the-art production factory at Oragadam near Chennai. GKN plc chief executive Sir Kevin Smith, speaking at the inauguration said, “GKN is proud to be at the heart of India’s growing automotive industry. We have been doing business here for more than 100 years and have watched with pride as India has taken its place as one of the world’s fastest growing economies.” 

He further noted: “Locating a major facility in the Chennai area will enable us to more efficiently serve our customers in South India.” 

Ravindra Ojha, managing director for GKN Driveline’s operations in India, said the company has invested more than Rs 100 crores (£12 million) in the new facility. “Our business in India has grown at an annual rate of more than 15 percent over the past five years,” Ravindra Ojha noted. “We expect to sustain that exceptional rate of growth over the next few years as well.” 

GKN Driveline is a global enterprise with 21,000 people working at 40 locations in 30 countries. The company recorded sales of INR 15,000 crores (£2 billion, US$4 billion, €2.6 billion) in 2007. Recognised as the auto industry’s leader in the design and production of driveline components, GKN Driveline provides driveline solutions for the smallest ultra low-cost vehicle up to the most sophisticated four-wheel-drive model. The company has a commanding share of the global market for CVJ (constant velocity joint) sideshafts.

The Boeing Company has entered into an agreement with TAL Manufacturing Solutions Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors, for manufacturing structural components for Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner airplane program. Under the agreement, TAL Manufacturing Solutions will build floor beams for the 787 using new technology with advanced titanium and composite materials. These floor beams will be used on the 787 Dreamliner and provide for a best-value solution and significant weight savings. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. 

“Boeing is proud to welcome Tata into its family of world-class aerospace suppliers and we are confident that this partnership will help Boeing and Tata leverage mutual best-value capabilities,” said Carolyn Corvi, Vice President and General Manager of Airplane Programs for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. 

Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the world's first mostly composite commercial airplane, will use 20 percent less fuel per passenger than similarly sized airplanes, produce fewer carbon emissions, and will have quieter takeoffs and landings. To date, the 787 has logged more than 855 orders from more than 55 customers worldwide since program launch in 2004, making the Dreamliner the most successful commercial airplane launch in history.

The 200,000th Porsche Cayenne rolled off the assembly line at Leipzig recently. A red GTS, the SUV will be delivered to a customer in the Middle East and is a distinctly sporting variant of the series with a 298kW (405 PS) V8-Motor and special driving dynamics. 

In yet another event, at this year’s International Film & Video Awards of the New York Festivals, Porsche Leipzig GmbH’s image film “World of Emotions” was awarded the Gold Medal in the category of industrial productions. The advertising agency Klaus E. Küster (KEK), Frankfurt, Germany, which created the screenplay and the film concept, won out against competition from several hundred international agencies. RedOrange Filmproduktion GmbH, Stuttgart, performed the shooting. In the seven-and-a-half minute company film “World of Emotions”, Porsche gives spectators a behind-the-scenes view of its Leipzig plant. As well as fast driving scenes on the plant’s own running in and testing track, the sports car manufacturer shows the production of its sporting all-terrain vehicle Cayenne. The film also presents the Customer Center, which is visited by approximately 50,000 guests every year. The film can be accessed on the internet at www.porsche-leipzig.com. 

Last year “World of Emotions” had already won a gold award at the 43rd Chicago International Film Festival and bronze at the U.S. International Film and Video Festival, Los Angeles. Another gold medal was gained at the New York Festivals International Film & Video Awards by the Porsche product film “Respect Required”, which presents the new 911 GT2 with impressive driving scenes on an airport ground. The New York Film Festival is one of the communication industry’s most prestigious international competitions.

Acheson has announced that it has made a significant investment in the upgrading of its acoustic laboratory to support the global weather strip seal coating market. The investment extends Acheson’s capabilities for serving auto manufacturers who require noise suppression on weather strip seals and customers who make weather strip seals utilizing Acheson’s coatings. The investment covers additional test systems for the objective evaluation of acoustic quality. In addition to the existing MB dynamics instrumentation in the lab, Acheson has added a new Ziegler friction testing system. 

“This combination of capabilities puts Acheson in the lead when it comes to acoustic testing,” said Gino Mariani, Marketing Manager, Acheson. “Other companies have one system or the other, but as far as I know, no other source offers both types of testing. Our customers benefit from seal noise performance documented under precise laboratory conditions and presented in the format that they prefer.” In addition to the investment in equipment, Acheson redesigned its acoustic laboratory to bring the ambient noise level below 30 decibels and added chambers to control environmental conditions on both MB dynamics and Ziegler systems. 

Acheson is approved to run tests for GM and Ford, and also works with automotive OEMs in developing noise test analysis. Using sophisticated equipment, Acheson experts measure noise under varied routines of seal movement, including: noise emanating from rubber vehicle seals (door seals, sunroof seals, glass runs and headers) rubbing against paint, glass, interior plastic trim and itself; vinyl rubbing against ABS, paint and itself; and other combinations. 

In addition, Acheson successfully troubleshoots field or launch problems by combining noise tests with microscopy and abrasion testing. Acheson’s goal is to prevent noise before it happens, solve the problem when it does, detect root causes and provide solutions, according to Mariani. The company’s capabilities include validation of line trial samples for compliance with OEM requirements; noise measurement of all types of seals; evaluation of R&D samples to optimize seal variations; preview of noise of alternative coatings over new seals; formulation of innovative coatings that suppress noise; and accurate coating recommendations, reducing initial trial runs.