WABCO Holdings Inc. has announced the inauguration of two manufacturing facilities located in India and extension of an existing software design center owned by WABCO-TVS (India) Ltd., an affiliate of WABCO and its joint venture partner from the TVS Group.
Currently manufacturing crankshafts, crankcases and vacuum pumps, one of the new facilities is located in Mahindra World City (MWC), on the outskirts of Chennai. Recently, the foundation for the second phase extension of the Mahindra manufacturing facility was laid by Mr. Jacques Esculier, WABCO Chief Executive Officer, at a ceremony attended by Mr. H. Lakshmanan, Executive Director, Sundaram-Clayton Ltd., and other senior executives of WABCO and WABCO-TVS (India) Ltd. This extension will help double capacity at the Mahindra facility, which is dedicated to exporting products and serving WABCO customers worldwide.
Another new facility, located in Jamshedpur, supplies production lines for Tata Motors by manufacturing brake chambers, spring brake actuators and other braking aggregate parts. The new WABCO-TVS factories presently employ approximately 150 people.
Situated at Tidel Park in Chennai, India’s largest information technology park, the WABCO Software Design Center has completed its expansion program, doubling its capacity and upgrading its technology platform. This expansion will support the center’s expected innovation and growth of engineering capabilities. Currently, approximately 85 engineers develop embedded software for automotive applications in electronic braking, stability, transmission and climate control.
Recently, the WABCO-TVS-owned, brake-manufacturing facility in Ambattur in Chennai received the prestigious Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) Excellence Award from the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance. Combining operations and maintenance, the TPM approach creates a production environment that performs at world-beating levels of efficiency and quality.
“Innovation and manufacturing excellence will continue to contribute strongly to our business growth in India and across Asia,” said Mr. Jacques Esculier. “By expanding engineering and production capabilities in India, we can continually improve the supply chain and better serve customers locally as well as globally. We expect our newest factories in India to join the same world-class TPM excellence league as our brakes factory in Ambattur.”WABCO Vehicle Control Systems is one of the world's leading providers of electronic braking, stability, suspension and transmission automation systems for heavy duty commercial vehicles. Customers include the world’s leading commercial truck, trailer and bus manufacturers.
Founded in the US in 1869 as Westinghouse Air Brake Company, WABCO was acquired by American Standard in 1968 and spun off in 2007. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, WABCO employs more than 7,700 people in 31 countries worldwide. In 2007, its total sales were $2.4 billion.
Big boost to WABCO growth in China
WABCO Holdings Inc. has announced that the Beijing Public Transport Corporation (BPTC) has awarded the company a new contract to provide braking products and aftermarket services for BPTC’s fleet of more than 20,000 buses before and during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in August and the Beijing Paralympics Games in September, the sport movement for disabled persons.
As operator of the world’s largest municipal bus service, BPTC has chosen WABCO to supply a range of braking products, including customized solutions for foot brake valves, air dryers and cartridges, and multi-functional air processing units as well as electronically controlled air suspension products. In addition, WABCO will support BPTC to improve its service and maintenance capabilities through technical training and advanced diagnostic systems. Details of the new contract are not disclosed.
“The superlative size of our public bus network and the higher demand on its service associated with the upcoming Olympic activities in Beijing further reinforce our commitment to safety, reliability, efficiency and comfort,” said Mr. Zhong Qianghua, Deputy Technical Director of BPTC. “WABCO understands our aftermarket needs, contributes technical knowhow and offers expert teamwork. We expect WABCO to partner with us to achieve our Olympic objectives and, furthermore, help increase vehicle service life while reducing downtime and driving down operating costs.”
Previously, WABCO reported that its sales in China in the first quarter of 2008 increased by 87 per cent versus a year ago while the market grew by three per cent in the same period year on year. WABCO has been expanding its distribution channels for aftermarket products and services from Europe to other regions, resulting in 2007 in a compound annual growth rate of 10 per cent for its aftermarket sales over the past three years.
“Connecting with customers and understanding their challenges will continue to contribute strongly to our aftermarket growth in China and internationally,” said Mr. Jean-Francois Barth, WABCO Vice President, Aftermarket. “By enriching our product offering and adding new services such as training and diagnostic capabilities, we can continually anticipate and meet each customer’s expectations. We are delighted to partner with BPTC and passionate about delivering outstanding results for their world-class fleet before, during and well after the 2008 Olympic events.”
