The Messe Essen organised Reifen 2008 fair is scheduled to be held between 20–23 May 2008 at Essen, Germany. The fair, which received 473 suppliers from 42 countries and over 17000 visitors from over 80 countries in 2006, will include tyre manufacturers and more. 

While the fair's participant profile is expected to include manufacturers of tyre, casings and tubes, plant, equipment and tools for tyre production, retreading and vulcanization, tyre accessories, chassis systems/tuning, diversification/additional services, equipment for repair workshops and working places/working material, repair material, waste disposal, industrial safety, equipment for works, storage rooms and sales rooms, IT hardware and software, franchise systems workshop concepts, marking of tyres, associations, institutions and publications, etc., the profile of visitors is expected to include CEOs and decision makers from the various trades of the auto industry. For further information contact: P. Rodrigues at Indo-German Chamber of Commerce. Tel: 91-22-66652140, E-mail: phyllis@indo-german.com. 

Aiming to increase its focus on the rapidly growing Indian market, ZF Friedrichshafen is planning to set up a wholly owned subsidiary in Pune at an investment of Euro 20 million to localise production of 9-speed commercial vehicle transmission for heavy trucks and transmissions and axles for Backhoe Loader segment. 

Operating through its newly formed 100 per cent subsidiary ZF India, the plant is expected to go on stream in the second half of 2009. The decision is said to have been derived from ZF deciding to localise a few of the driveline and chassis components in India and also to source a large amount of components from India with the support of the International Procurement Office located in Pune. 

Currently catering to the Indian automotive, construction equipment and material handling industry, which have shown significant growth over the past few years, ZF has a presence in India through its manufacturing facilities for steering components, chassis and suspension parts. 

ZF facilities in Indian include ZF Steering Gear India near Pune, Bharat Gears at Mumbra near Mumbai and Sona Semic Lemford Components at Gurgaon near Delhi. While ZF Steering Gear manufactures commercial vehicle steering, Bharat Gears manufactures ring gears and pinions, transmission gears and shafts, differential gears and heat treatment furnaces. Sona Semic Lemforder manufactures chassis components for passenger cars like ball joints and tie-rods. 

Catering to clients like Telcon, JCB India, Beml, Schwing Stetter, Greaves Cotton, Ashok Leyland, AMW and Force MAN, according to the sources at ZF the company will focus on building a strong after-sales network through appointing service dealers in key locations in the country. ZF is also contemplating to set up a research and development centre in the country. 

UMW Corporation Sdn Bhd, subsidiary of UMW Holdings Bhd, has announced that it is in the process of acquiring two automotive component manufacturers in India for a total of RM74.71 million. A statement released by the company states that UMWC has signed two separate share sale agreements with the vendor Datuk Muthukumar Ayarpadde for the acquisition of 51per cent of MK Autocomponents Ltd (MKAL) for US$22.52 million (RM71.62 million) and 50 per cent of MK Automotive Industries Ltd (MKD) for US$ 970,993 (RM3.09 million). 

MKAL owns Sathya Auto Private Ltd (SAPL) and Castwel Autoparts Private Ltd (CAPL). SAPL makes mechanical jacks, radiator caps and sheet metal components, while CAPL produces aluminium gravity die castings, aluminium alloys, water pump body, cover and brackets. According to UMW sources, MKD owns 50 per cent of Dongshin Motech Private Ltd (DMPL), which is the major original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for stamped automotive body parts for Korean car manufacturers. 

Pune-based Kalyani Group has entered into a joint venture with Tele Atlas, a leading global provider of digital maps and dynamic content for navigation and location based solutions. The two companies have signed a definitive agreement and under the agreement Tele Atlas will acquire substantial equity position in Kalyani Net Ventures Limited. 

While the closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain usual and customary closing conditions, the move is expected to significantly strengthen Tele Atlas’ operations in India and its direct interaction with customers and other partners in the region. Kalyani Net Ventures Limited is a leading map provider in India serving the consumer application, business-to-business and business-to-government market segments. 

Pune-based Auto Cluster Development and Research Institute Limited is holding the Automotive Engineering Show at Auto Cluster Exhibition Centre at Chinchwad, Pune, from May 14-17, 2008. 

As the Indian auto manufacturers go global, their production facilities are undergoing a massive transformation. Earlier systems and processes are being replaced by state-of-the-art robotic technology and automation. Factories are getting larger, more efficient and working conditions are greatly improving, paving the way for increased production. 

For auto companies to compete globally, more and more local content – component as well as technology – needs to get into vehicles. Technology is the catalyst that would make this possible. 

Automakers are seeking a common platform for meeting and identifying these technology vendors and alternates. 

On May 14th, 2008, the plush new Auto Cluster Exhibition Centre at Chinchwad, Pune will open its doors to vehicle and auto component manufacturers from the surrounding rich automotive region. They will be visiting the Automotive Engineering Show, a unique new concept in the automobile industry. 

Held in the very heart of the automotive district, the Automotive Engineering Show aims to connect buyers of automotive manufacturing technologies with the sellers. On display would be high-end technologies as robotics, automation, engineering services, painting and welding solutions and machine tools for the automotive industry. With some of the biggest names in the industry showcasing their systems and processes, one can be assured of a delightfully beneficial experience for the automotive manufacturer. Some prominent participating companies displaying their technologies are Larsen & Toubro, Siemens, ABB Robotics, Jyoti CNC, Gudel, Motoman Robotics, Kuka Robotics, Rockwell Automation, Honeywell, B&R Automation, Electronica, Messung Systems, PMT Machines amongst several others. 

There is an added attraction for vehicle and component manufacturers in the form of Technology based seminars and presentations. With topics such as Integrated Architecture, MES, Clinching Technology, Compliance to EU Directive, Global Safety norms and “Putting the Indian Automobile Manufacturer on the Global Map”, the event is expected to become an interesting visit for the auto professional. 

Seminar subjects are being presented by technology vendors such as Shimadzu (Japan), Fraunhofer Institutes (Germany), CETIM (France) amongst others. There are also talks being presented by very senior personnel from end users like Tata Motors and Bharat Forge. 

The event’s Principal Sponsors are Larsen & Toubro while Siemens, Gudel, Jyoti CNC, Rockwell Automation and Messung Systems are the event’s Associate Sponsors. 

The principal invitees are OEM, third-party manufacturers, and component manufacturers from Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 manufacturers. Managers from planning, quality, design dept., production, capital purchase, procurement, new projects heads, maintenance, R&D department heads, engineers from the assembly line, technology managers, etc., form the core visitor or buyer community to the show. 

The event will be an interesting experience for Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 component and system manufacturing companies such as Tata Autocomp, Bosch, Valeo, Arvin Meritor, Visteon, TRW, Dana India, etc. Makers of Engine Parts, Electrical Parts, Drive Transmission & Steering Parts, Suspension & Braking Parts, Fuel tanks, Alternate fuel such as CNG and others will find it very useful to attend the exhibition and seminars, as would Forge companies like Bharat Forge. 

The event is hosted by Auto Cluster Development and Research Institute Limited, a body formed under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India; and supported by the Automation Industry Association. The show is conceptualised, marketed and executed by Mumbai based Focussed Events. 

For Seminar details and Pre-registration, please visit www.autoengineeringshow.com 

(Focussed Events, Mumbai. Tel: 0-22-32019137. Fax: 91-22-28479601. E-mail: s.khedkar@focussedevents.com)

FEV and Mahindra & Mahindra have come together to develop the hybrid Scorpio. The announcement was made jointly by Mahindra’s Dr. Arun Jaura, Chief Technology officer, Mahindra Group, and Gary Rogers, president and CEO of FEV, Inc. FEV, a leading developer of advanced powertrain and vehicle technologies, contributed its expertise in hybrid powertrain systems development and integration, as well as software development to support Mahindra in the hybridization of the vehicle, the first of its kind to be marketed in the Asian market. 

“The Scorpio vehicle is a clear indicator of the enormous implications of globalization on the changing paradigm in vehicle development,” said Rogers. “A rapid advancement of technology is occurring on a global scale, and our OEM customers are increasingly leveraging FEV’s global presence to ensure around-the-clock development of new powertrain and vehicle concepts. 

The FEV Group has successfully expanded its capabilities and international reach to accomplish shorter development times and to support these types of global initiatives for its OEM partners.” The Mahindra Scorpio hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) features diesel-electric parallel hybrid vehicle with major functions like start-stop, electric launch, torque augmentation, regenerative braking, seamless but enhanced driving experience, 2.2-litre second generation diesel common rail engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, 30kW (peak) motor with max torque of 270 Nm (peak) and a max speed 8500rpm, 288V, 8.4 Ah NiMH battery and quick cold start with e-motor assist.