Metafab Engineers to expand its network

The Faridabad-based Metafab Engineers plans to aggressively focus on the garage equipment manufacturing business as part of an ambitious target turnover of Rs 100 crore by 2013-14. Its turnover in the last fiscal was Rs 20 crore.

The company is to shortly embark upon a brand promotion which involves the setting up of Metafab Shoppes. According to C N Chopra, managing director, it will appoint 200 dealers in 2010-11 to sell its new range of products including two-wheeler garage equipment, battery management system and special tools. Like all brand outlets, the Shoppes will have uniform interiors and branding.

Metafab began manufacturing a battery management system last year and, following the equipment being validated by Honda of Japan, has begun supplying the device to Hero Honda service centres. It is also supporting the requirements of a couple of two-wheeler manufacturers. Earlier, the company supplied equipment only to OEMs but will soon introduce its range in the aftermarket also. The branded shop will help it promote the battery management system in the aftermarket, he said.

Metafab also hopes to introduce the ’Jump Starter’, which helps crank the engine when the captive battery fails, and the ‘Load Tester’ for high-end car OEMs. These products will also mark the company’s entry into the four-wheeler OEM business. It is also working on developing special battery chargers for electric two-wheelers, says Chopra.

To grow brand visibility, the company plans to organise a free service camp for service centres and workshops in 28 cities across the country. As a pilot project, it recently completed 26 workshops in Nagpur and 13 in Jaipur. Under this project Metafab engineers will service all the equipment of the workshop within a day. “This helps us to support service centres and workshops to enhance their productivity besides making them aware of genuine products,” says Amit Chopra, director.

Metafab is currently developing two-post lifts for cars and utility vehicles. The prototype is ready and series production will commence in a couple of months. The company sources the major modules including the hydraulic powerpack and chains locally and assembles them with the structure manufactured in-house. “With this we hope to be competitive in this segment, which is currently dominated by imports from China,” he says. At present the market size of two-post lifts is estimated at around 80,000 units annually. Metafab is also developing a scissors lift and two-post lifts that can share a hydraulic powerpack, which will help customers optimise their cost while enhancing productivity.

The company has also developed engine de-carbonising equipment for two-wheelers, which de-carbonise an engine without dismantling it and helping save considerable time at the service centre. Chopra says the equipment is to be sent to ARAI since it relates to compliance with emission regulations. Following ARAI approval, Metafab will promote the product to OEMs for installation at their authorised service centres.

About six months ago, Metafab developed an automatic motorcycle washer targeted at service centres. Usually the average washing time for each bike is estimated at 15 minutes and consumes about 200 litres of water. Metafab’s bike washer is claimed to take less than four minutes and consumes less than 100 litres of water, which is also recyclable. The operation is carried out by a cluster of 48 swinging jets that spray water, soap and air, guided by a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The effluent treatment plant that comes with the unit separates the sludge while the skimmer extracts saleable waste oil. The cost of the unit is between Rs 8-10 lakh and Metafab believes that the investment can be amortised in less than two years.

Metafab has also developed a ‘Vehicle Service Status Board’ for two-wheeler service centres. This device helps track the movement of vehicles being serviced on a real-time basis. It is designed to be compatible with vehicle manufacturers’ spare parts distribution arms, enabling automatic indenting for replenishments. A couple of units have already been installed at Hero Honda service centres in Faridabad and the company is developing a similar module for TVS Motor Company, reveals Chopra.

Metafab is also increasing its focus on exports, which contribute 15 percent to its turnover. The company will be exploring a few underdeveloped markets including CIS and Africa, concludes Chopra.