Automotive driveline systems player GKN Driveline has opened a precision forging facility at Oragadam near Chennai in Tamil Nadu at an investment of Rs 48 crore.
The 5,000-square-metre facility will supply precision forgings to GKN Driveline's Oragadam constant velocity joint (CVJ) systems manufacturing plant which annually produces 1.2 million sideshafts for automotive manufacturers in South India. The CVJ Systems plant was opened in 2008 to meet the rapidly growing automotive market in the country.
The new facility will initially employ 60 people.
Mr Marc Vuarchex, Managing Director, GKN Driveline Asia-Pacific, said, “Since the early 1980s, we have viewed India as an extremely important market for us. We now employ over 800 people in the country.”
Mr Ravindra Ojha, Managing Director of GKN Driveline in India, said, “Our business in India continues to grow at an annual rate of 15 per cent, and this investment helps ensure that we will continue to meet our customers growth throughout the region.”
GKN Driveline's product segments are CVJ systems, all-wheel drive systems, trans axle solutions and eDrive Systems.