Oerlikon’s Drive Systems Segment (division) inaugurated its third plant at Sanand in Gujarat yesterday. This is the 10th production facility for the division globally.

“This inauguration marks an important milestone for the further development of Drive Systems Segment in India. With the additional production capacity, we continue our growth in India and further upgrade our capabilities in high-tech driven products,” said Dr Bernd Matthes, CEO of Oerlikon’s Drive Systems Segment.

Oerlikon’s Drive Systems Segment has been present in India since 1999, with production sites of both its brands Oerlikon Graziano and Oerlikon Fairfield at Greater Noida and Belgaum respectively. While the Noida plant specializes in manufacturing high-precision gears and synchronizers under the Oerlikon Graziano brand, the Belgaum plant focuses on assembly drive units for industrial applications under the Oerlikon Fairfield brand.

The Sanand plant will manufacture a range of products including transmission synchronizers, assemblies for full and final transmissions as CVT transmission for agricultural tractors, transaxles for leisure vehicles, and axles for wheeled loaders and other on/off-road applications.

“In less than two years after the ground breaking ceremony, we have commenced production at Sanand. With this new capacity we will continue our journey in India and upgrade our capabilities in high-tech driven products strongly supporting our customers in developing new innovative solutions for the domestic as well as international markets,” said Dr. Bernd Matthes.

Oerlikon’s Drive Systems Segment caters to the domestic and export markets, covering the agricultural, construction equipment, commercial and utility vehicle markets as well as industrial applications.

The new plant is spread across 35 acres and will employ more than 1000 people when in full production. “More than a third of the site has been planned to be ‘green’. We have an energy efficient building resulting in 30% reduction in energy requirements, plus zero discharge of water and 100% rain water harvesting and waste water management. We have built the plant to comply with LEED Gold Standard criteria and will be applying for certification shortly. We aspire to be sustainable in all aspects and emerge as the trendsetter amongst our peers in the region,” said Vivek Prakash, Business Unit Head, India at Oerlikon’s Drive Systems Segment.