SIAT '13 is an auto tech tour de force

The big names came to ARAI’s biennial summit in Pune with most products targeted at a cleaner and greener world.

The 13th edition of the Symposium on International Automotive Technology (SIAT) got underway in Pune last week with a battery of eminent persons from the auto sector delivering a range of keynote speeches on fuel economy, the challenge of road transport and electric vehicles.

Inaugurating the four-day event, Supriya Sule, MP, Pune, highlighted the need for the auto sector to focus on road safety and suggested that the Tamil Nadu road safety policy should be replicated across the country. She urged the auto industry to come together to establish a national road safety policy thus setting the tone for the theme – ‘Towards safer, cleaner and quieter’ world.

Earlier, Anand Talaulicar, head of Cummins India, said the SIAT has been able to bring 190 papers for presentation at the four-day event as well as keynote addresses. He said ARAI wants to establish itself as a global R&D organisation and wishes to expand its research and testing capabilities. “ARAI wants to be seen as a knowledge engineering and R&D institution,” he said. Murali Iyer, head of SAE India, which has a two-decade-long association with ARAI, said SAE has expertise in aeronautical engineering research and has helped set standards for the sector. He said these could help the automotive sector as well.

Some of the big names taking part in the biennial event included Bosch, Applus IDIADA, BorgWarner, AVL and Horiba, to mention but a few. The event also had a pavilion of UK-based businesses that deal with the auto sector including CAepro that has a 50:50 joint venture with MIRA. Other players included small and medium outfits such as Emitec Emissions, Continental Automotive (which participated for the first time), MathWorks, Sushma Industries and Etas Automotive, among others.

In the first of many keynote speeches, Gunter Fraidl, senior vice-president, AVL, spoke about how fuel economy continues to be the main driver in the auto sector. He said that while electrification of the vehicle will come, the timeframe has now been further extended. The way that fuel and powertrain issues are headed, he said, are not uniform. While the North American market will see a significant increase in use of ethanol-blended fuel, E85, in south America, pure ethanol will dominate. He said that while there will be a 50:50 split between petrol and diesel in Europe and even the likelihood of full hybrid, India would see an increase in diesel and CNG. As far as China goes, the rise in diesel usage is predicated on higher SUV sales and the only pure hybrid markets will be Japan and Korea.

Fraidl also spoke about how globally factors like infrastructure, customer demand and production matter. Europe is still inclined towards manual transmissions as well as north America but this is decreasing in China. So this technology will also play a part in the overall fuel economy dynamics. As far as the future goes, Fraidl predicted that common engine families will be the future and made three important points: EV incentives will be a key issue as well as consumer willingness to pay for a vehicle that is perceived to be green.

Perhaps the most wide-ranging speech was delivered by CV Raman, executive director, Maruti Suzuki research, who said that going forward, public transport must balance out between urban and rural requirements. He said that the numbers of cars in India are expected to go up to 500 million by 2020. This will have enormous implications for the future. The country will have to import 4-5 times more fuel for transport needs. This will also have implications for emissions. India is now the highest emitter with 138 million tonnes of pollutants emitted and this will only rise.

In order to buttress his arguments for an integrated approach, he outlined what all the stakeholders need to do. As far as OEs go, the need is better fuel and transmission efficiency, initiatives in lightweighting and lowering tyre resistance. Speaking about Maruti’s own initiatives, he said the company has been able to increase fuel efficiency by two percent by increasing compression ratios. Moreover, there is a need to improve thermal efficiency, reducing mechanical friction.

Looking into the future, Raman said the use of aluminium would certainly increase. As a strategy, he reiterated that OEs would be challenged to balance their efforts with costs. Technology acquisition costs will become increasingly important.

Here are some snapshots of what some of the key players at SIAT are doing.

AVL displays DCT, launches testing workflow management software



AVL List GmbH has developed a dual-clutch transmission (DCT) technology for application in trucks and farm equipment. The DCT enables automatic gear-change without any reduction in the torque and power delivery. Designed and developed by a team of six, (3-design, 1-analysis, 2-simulation), the technology is also an enabler of fuel consumption reduction.

Franz Konig, product manager, heavy duty transmissions, Tech CenterSteyr, says that “the DCT is a combination of a functionality of an automatic transmission and efficiency of a manual transmission. The company is currently talking to the global OEMs, after which it will conduct feasibility studies on the project.”

AVL also launched the Test Factory Management suite (TFM). Andreas Leiner, product manager, test information management, business unit powertrain test systems, AVL List GmbH, explained that “the TFM contributes by standardising and automating the core processes within the test facilities and enables a higher utilisation of the testbeds; typically an increase by 20 percent.”

Among other noteworthy exhibits, AVL had its fuel meter compact that is designed to meet the needs of basic R&D, endurance and quality and has been designed for alternate fuel capabilities. AVL had also displayed this product at the Automotive Testing event in Chennai last March but that was designed for just petrol and diesel.

KPIT Cummins to launch Revolo solution in 3-6 months



The Pune-based company expects to launch its hybrid solution ‘Revolo’ in another three to six months. To be used as an aftermarket fitment on passenger cars and LCVs, the launch of Revolo has been delayed as the relevant norms are still being decided upon.

Shrikant Marathe, director, ARAI, said that work is in progress and he hopes that the regulations will be finalised soon. Meanwhile, the company will focus on the alternate powertrain systems and connectivity solutions in 2013.

Bosch focuses on CR injection systems for small diesel engines; low-cost ABS



The Bosch stall had on display locally-developed common-rail injection systems (Common Rail System which includes fuel control unit, injectors, injection pump, distributor block, rail and ECU) for small (up to 1.5 litres, single/two-cylinder) diesel engines. The company began developing these in 2010 and is now supplying them to major OEMs.

Bosch also plans to localise the high pressure injection pumps (CP4-18) which go into 2-4-litre diesel engines (cars, MUVs, LCVs, tractors) and are currently developed in Germany. The company also plans to localise low-cost ABS (Generation 9) at its Pune facility. The company also displayed the eco-start-stop system which can be tuned for 150,000-330,000 starts as per OEM requirements. These systems enable fuel savings of around 8-11 percent in city conditions.

MTS reveals all-new steering test systems



US-based MTS Systems Corporation launched its all-new steering test systems in India. These systems examine the angle, torque, durability, fatigue and performance of steering systems in four-wheelers. It already supplies material test systems such as universal testing machines, damper test systems, fatigue test systems and others through its Indian partner TII Technotesting to ARAI, NATRiP, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki India, Ashok Leyland, John Deere, Bajaj Auto, TVS, Honda and others. JLR, Toyota, Polaris, Piaggio, Nissan, and ZF are some of the company’s global clients.

According to Steven Haeg, principal staff design engineer, ground vehicles group, MTS Systems Corporation, the company’s current turnover from supplying the R&D equipment in India stands at $ 8 million while the annual market size is $ 32 million.

The officials said the company is also in talks with Hero MotoCorp for supplying R&D material test systems.

Horiba launches Mexa-One and new fuel flow meter



Horiba launched an all-new motor exhaust gas analyser system (application in chassis, engine dynamometers in R&D facilities) which could reduce the analyser response time by upto 50 percent and calibration waiting times by upto 30 percent besides offering multiple other benefits. It also launched a new fuel flow meter (FQ-2200CR) which examines fuel consumption measurements.

Horiba claims to have a market share of 60 percent globally and supplies the equipment to Tata Motors, ARAI, Maruti, Bosch, Cummins, Bajaj Auto, Greaves Cotton, Force Motors and others.

IWIS plans India plant



Supplier of powertrain timing drive chain systems, the Germany-based Iwis plans to set up a new production plant in India in 2014. It already manufactures the rails, sprockets and tensioner housings locally and now plans to produce the timing drive chain sets as well. The company supplies to Maruti, GM, Fiat, Honda, Force Motors and other OEMs.

According to Rajendra Narkhede, general manager, Iwis Engine Systems India has a 55 percent market share in diesel engine timing drive chain parts globally. India contributes Euro 5 million per year and this is expected to increase to Euro 12-15 million per year by 2016-17. Iwis will also supply parts for Honda’s diesel engines, some for the upcoming Amaze midsizer.

Emitec aims to launch aftertreatment system for off-road vehicles



Emitec’s highlights were the made-in-Germany compact SCRi system and the made-in-France Gen 3, in-tank SCR dozing unit. The aftertreatment SCRi system is meant for off-road vehicles and it helps cut down on the NOx emissions as well as the particulate matter in the exhaust smoke. The company plans to soon launch the system in India. Meanwhile, it is also looking to supply the Gen 3, Emitec in-tank SCR dozing unit when the BS IV emission norms are implemented widely.

Continental promotes Eco Pumps for emission reduction



Continental displayed a new electronic demand regulated pump (also called eco-pumps) which enables reduction in CO2 emissions and energy consumption. While no Indian OEM uses them at present, Continental provides these eco-pumps to Volkswagen AG in Germany. As for regular fuel supply units, the company supplies to VW India, M&M, Tata Motors, Suzuki and others. NOx sensor, drum brake assembly, petrol and diesel fuel injectors and many others components were displayed as well.

National Instruments eyes higher R&D spend



National Instruments displayed SB Rio –a deployable and embedded electronic device supplied to ARAI, KPIT Cummins, Tata Motors, M&M, Maruti and others and Pokayoke – a device used for end-of-line testing for visual inspection. NI provides the latter to VW, Mercedes-Benz, GM and Tata Motors for applications in R&D facilities.

Its products are widely used in crash test facilities. The automotive segment contributes upto 16 percent of total revenues. Company officials told Autocar Professional that there is likely to be more action in the auto R&D space with increased spending for 2013-14.

Meanwhile, the focus will remain on hardware in-loop systems (HIL) which enables the simulation of a passenger car even before its production.

ETAS eyes two-wheeler potential in India by 2015-16



Displaying a Bajaj KTM 200 Duke motorcycle (which deploys Bosch ECUs), ETAS highlighted the INCA-based ES720 drive recorder which records all the ECU performances of the motorcycle when it is ridden. Data can be accessed on any screen by the engineers.

INCA is a measurement, calibration software developed by the company. With more motorcycles adopting fuel injection technology in India, company officials believe that the two-wheeler segment would project a big opportunity by 2015-16.

Expansion on the cards for IAV in India



Germany-based engineering services provider IAV is aiming for expansion in India. Having a presence in India since three years, IAV now has a team of 40-50 engineers who specialise in vehicle engineering, powertrain development, on-board diagnostics and emissions and calibrations. IAV has developed the 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder diesel engine used in the VW Polo and the 1.6-litre engine for the Mini Cooper S.

Mark Vallon, project manager, powertrain development, DP-P2, IAV Germany, believes that to find a correct balance between the cost of ownership and class leading performance in the Indian conditions is a big challenge.

AIMIL to market environment chambers

Delhi-based AIMIL has teamed up with the US-based CSZ to market the environment chambers in India from January 2013. The company is a local marketer of material testing systems including NVH testing chambers and anechoic chambers.

AIMIL is a supplier to ARAI, Tata Motors, Maruti , Fiat India, M&M, Cummins and Bajaj Auto among others.

BorgWarner to open Manesar plant soon



After exiting its JV with the Vikas Group, BorgWarner Emissions has now shifted its EGR cooler production from Faridabad to a new 8,000 square metre facility at Manesar slated to be inaugurated by the end of January 2013. At Manesar, it will produce EGR tubes, EGR valves besides EGR coolers. Sudhir Kumar Chawla, chief operating officer, BorgWarner Emissions Systems India, says the testing facility for designing, production and validation will also be part of the planned facility. He predicts a CAGR of 35 percent for the coming years, based on implementation of BS IV and V norms beyond the 13 cities in the country where it currently is in force.

AMIT PANDAY & BRIAN DE SOUZA