The Hindu Business Line : Elantas gets UL certification to test auto insulation systems

Pune, Jan 22 Raw material price volatility, appreciation of Yuan, protection of intellectual property, intense competition, quality performance shortfalls despite certification, lack of infrastructure… goes the list of challenges that the auto suppliers in China are facing. But China is the second largest auto market after the US and is growing fast.

According to Dr. K. Murugan, Director, Management System Registration Services, Emerging Markets, Underwriters Laboratories India (UL) and Dr Y. Chen, General Director of Asia Pacific Affairs and Chief Representative in China, AIAG, there are nine emerging markets which would account for 60 per cent of the growth, including Mexico, Poland, Brazil, Thailand, China and India.

UL has also announced that it has qualified and accredited the in-house laboratory of Elantas Beck, the Indian affiliate of the Atlanta Group of Germany. The laboratory has been set up at Pune-Pimpri plant and is the first lab in India to test Magnet Wires and Insulation Systems.

Based on this accreditation, Elantas Beck will now be able to test their products for electrical insulation systems to globally accepted UL standards.

Elantas Beck develops, produces and sells products such as impregnation resins, sealing compounds and casting resins which are used in electric motors, transformers, generators, capacitors, sensors and electric modules. These electrical and electronic devises can be found in household appliances, automotive applications, television sets, generators and lighting.

Mr Chen said Chinese auto sales were likely to hit or surpass 10 million units in 2008. In 2006, China had sales of about 7.2 million units of four-wheelers and in 2007, it is estimated to touch 8.7 milllion units, 22.02 per cent more than the previous year, surpassing the eight million prediction made at the beginning of 2007.

The aggregate auto sales volume stood at 8.79 million, up 21.84 per cent year on year. And the forecast is by 2015, China would exceed the sales of the US.

The reason for this sales growth is increasing market demand, and a recent survey by the State Information Centre of China, whcih has shown that more than 10 million Chinese households wanted to buy cars soon. This was boosted by rising incomes and falling car prices.

More Stories on : Automobile Components | Standards & Benchmarks | Maharashtra

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page