Korber Schleifring opens tech centre in Bangalore, sees India as potential market

Bangalore, April 18, 2013: Korber Schleifring, a Switzerland-based manufacturer, which makes grinding machines primarily for the automobile and auto component industry, is setting up shop in India. It is optimistic about its business in the country despite the downturn in the automotive market. Talking to Autocar Professional, Winfried Przybyl, director (India and Russia), Korber Schleifring, said the company sees India as one of its potential markets. Given the growth potential here, the company has set up a technology centre for India in Bangalore.The 7,000 square feet facility in Peenya Industrial Estate, on the outskirts of Bangalore, was inaugurated by Rolf Frei, Consul General of Switzerland.

Przybyl said the company has invested around Rs 25 crore to set up the technology centre and office in Bangalore. Additional investment in India will follow, depending on market conditions. According to S Sreenkanteswar, president (India Sales & Operation), Korber Schleifring India, the company has eight business units and supplyies machines for surface and profile grinding, cylindrical grinding and tool grinding. Primarily, the company supplies machines to grind all types of non-cylindrical and cylindrical components fitted in vehicles.

Although it has had a presence in India through its agents since the past 50 years, he said the company had set up its branch office in 2007 in Bangalore. Till now, the company has sold around 3,000 machines in India, with around 50-60 percent to the automobile and auto component industry.

The new technology centre, said Sreenkanteswar, “will support customers on application development and train them to operate and maintain machines installed at manufacturing facilities.” The company also aims to get into the business of refurbishing old machines in India by 2016. Later, the company has plans to set up its own machinery assembly unit in the country. Currently, machines are being directly supplied to Indian customers from its overseas manufacturing locations.

While Korber Schleifring’s global turnover stood at 450 million euros (Rs 3,175 crore) in 2012, the Indian subsidiary’s revenue fell to Rs 70 core in 2012 from Rs 80 crore in 2011 due to the slowdown in the Indian automotive industry. The company expects to maintain flat revenue growth levels in 2013 but sees 2014 when many automotive and parts makers engaged in large- scale production will show interest in procuring machines from Korber.

According to Sreenkanteswar, following stricter emission norms in India, OEMs are looking to use high-quality precision parts which will translate into new business for Krober since it makes machines for precision components. Some of Korber Schleifring’s key customers in India include Hero MotoCorp, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Renault-Nissan, Bosch, Honeywell Technology, Bonfiglioli, Dynamatic Technologies, Sauer Danfoss and Shivam Autotech are some of their key customers in India.

JAISHANKAR JAYARAMIAH

Photographs: Machines in the Technology Centre; and Winfried Przbyl, director (India and Russia), Korber Schleifring, and S Sreenkanteswar, president (India Sales & Operation), Korber Schleifring India.