Chennai-based Reed Relays & Electronics India has developed a smaller reed sensor — about 5mm long — targeting automotive and other process industries. As yet, the company’s smallest reed sensor has been a 12mm unit. Product development on the new sensor, which is to be introduced in the market in June, began 18 months ago.

Since the product will compete with those from global majors, Reed Relays has subjected it to stringent endurance tests and checked it out for different applications. Initial volumes will be around 50,000 pieces per month, mainly for exports, says M N Kannan, chairman and managing director. Product samples have been sent to Hyundai in Korea, which plans to shift to digital controls from the existing analog for some of its trucks. Kannan foresees good business as the smaller reed sensors can be manufactured predominantly by manual operations. Since India is a low-cost high-quality manufacturing base, he believes the prospects are brighter. Besides, the reed sensors comply with ROHS (restriction of hazardous substances) and EOL (end of life) regulations that will come into force soon.

Reed Relays makes a wide range of sensors including shock sensors for triggering airbags and antilock braking system, end position sensing for door, window, sunroof, fuel cap, seatbelt lock sensing, gear position sensing, hydraulic movement end position sensing in heavy vehicles, low level sensing in fuel, brake fluid, windscreen wiper fluid and coolant tanks, defective lamp detection, load switching in electronics, radiator and engine temperature sensing, inclination sensors to detect rollover, door locks for cars with electronic keys, accidental airbag deployment prevention and suspension load leveling systems. It has also recently developed a few reed switches — for side-stand indicator, brake light indicator and throttle position indicator — for a large Tier-1 company. The initial volumes will be around 300,000 units per month. Another new product is a flow sensor for a UK-based company that makes flow monitors.

Recently Reed Relays has developed thermal reed sensors for applications like radiators, coolant oil and engine oil temperature gauges. Existing production capacity is 40,000 reed switches per day with over 20 percent destined for the automotive industry. To meet demand, capacity is being ramped up and a new control circuit in the assembly section will help increase production by 25 percent. The company has about 150 employees with about 80 percent women. In addition to good business in the domestic market, it currently exports its products to Australia, New Zealand, China, US, Europe, and some countries in South America and the ASEAN region.