The Hindu Business Line : GKN Driveline to ramp up capacity

THE Indian subsidiary of GKN Driveline, one of the largest global driveline components and systems manufacturers, plans to ramp up production capacities to meet increasing demand for sideshafts and components from domestic manufacturers. The company, which already supplies all the nine major passenger car manufacturers, targets sales of one million vehicle sets in 2006, up from about 7.8 lakh units in 2005.

The company is the primary manufacturer of sideshafts, a key component that enables the transfer of power from the engine to the wheels in all front-wheel driven passenger vehicles. Speaking at a conference here, Mr Sankaran Ravindran, Managing Director of GKN Driveline India said the rapid growth of the automobile market in India had enabled the company to grow from volume sales of about three lakh vehicle sets to about a million vehicle sets in four years.

Employing 450 people, the company manufactures sideshafts at its three facilities in Faridabad and Dharuhera, near Delhi and in Gummidipoondi near Chennai.

The company, which is participating at the Auto Expo here, is unveiling a new product that will be globally available for supply to original equipment (OE) manufacturers from this year. The new products have been developed by GKN Driveline's global R&D and involve new flexible sealing and protection `boots' for constant velocity joints that are said to significantly improve component durability and life. Constant velocity joints are driveline components prone to high temperatures and wear due to their inherent function.

Mr Ravindran said that the new system made from thermo-plastic elastomers (TPE) would ensure that the sealing system of the driveline can handle high operating temperatures of up to 140 degrees Celsius. They are also more resistant to high-velocity impacts from objects such as stones (due to their location at the car's underside). The new sealing system is also said to offer higher resistance to inner pressure changes, in addition to superior crack resistance. They are also more recyclable compared to the conventional rubber boots and sealing systems currently available, said Mr Ravindran.

Cars and light-truck drivelines are typically equipped with two to six driveshafts that include several constant velocity joints per shaft. GKN Driveline is part of the GKN Group. The company is expected to start talks with domestic vehicle manufacturers for supply of the new systems for future vehicles. GKN Driveline India already supplies components for the export market, specifically to Japan and Iran.