Jamna Auto Industries (JAI), India's leading automotive suspension maker for commercial vehicles, has entered into an agreement with Tinsley Bridge Ltd (TBL) of the UK for exclusive transfer of TBL's Extralite Spring and special steel technologies to JAI. Extralite technology enables the manufacture of high strength, lighter springs with increased life for commercial vehicles.

Announcing the technology transfer, Pradeep Singh Jauhar, MD and CEO, Jamna Auto, said, “Technology is going to be the key differentiator and will allow us to maintain our leadership position in the market. These state-of-the-art technology products would bring in significant improvement in our customer's products.”

With BS VI emission norms set to roll in by April 2020, vehicle manufacturers are looking to both reduce emissions as well as vehicle weight. According to Jamna Auto, TBL’s Extralite Spring and Special Steel Technologies will provide access to lighter and stronger springs that will bring down the weight of the vehicle, thereby increasing the load carrying capacity of the vehicle.

Extralite technology incorporates a unique high strength raw material and special manufacturing processing. It has a proven capability and can be heat-treated to higher strength levels without the reduction in ductility associated with conventional spring steels.

Extralite can achieve increased load and elevated yield capabilities for use in high stress designs of torsion bars, stabiliser bars and anti roll bars. Alternatively, the use of Extralite extends the durability of an existing design by up to 100 percent.

The technology is well proven in both heavy commercial vehicle and specialist defence applications, having passed tests in numerous vehicle sign-off validation programmes and by high volume supply to global OEM vehicle manufacturers. Extralite offers increased performance at a competitive cost and with the flexible lead times required by automotive industry standards.

Rs 600 crore capex infusion
In another major development, JAI envisages capital expenditure to the tune of Rs 600 crore in next 3 to 4 years. It would double its existing parabolic spring capacity, enhance its capacities for lift axles and air suspension and add two new products – stabiliser bars and U-bolts. The said expansion is be funded through internal accruals of the company.

Jamna has nine manufacturing plants across India located near major CV hubs and has announced the setting up of two new plants in Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and Adityapur (Near Jamshedpur).

Jamna Auto Industries is India's largest, and the world’s third largest, manufacturer of tapered leaf springs and parabolic springs for automobiles. The company claims to be the market leader with 64 percent market share in the India OEM segment and produces over 410 modes of springs for OEMs. Its domestic aftermarket operations are handled by subsidiary Jai Suspension Systems.