Sigma Freudenberg NOK (SFN), an Indo-German-Japanese joint venture for manufacturing oil seals and sealing products for the domestic and global markets at Basma, near Rajpura in Punjab, is all set to etch a new chapter in its India operations. It will open a state-of-the-art plant on February 4, involving an investment of Rs 185 crore. Spread across 40 acres with 250,000 square feet of covered area, it is SFN’s second plant in Basma. The plant will be inaugurated by Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal.

An earlier oil seal producing unit of the SFN joint venture has been functioning at Mohali since 2001. “The second unit will meet the growing demand of oil seals in various sectors including automotive, agriculture, construction, mining, power and steel industry,” said JD Singh, chairman, Sigma Group.

“Our German partner Freudenberg and Japanese partner NOK cooperate globally in the oil seal business and the alliance commands 70 percent of the global market. In India, SFN commands a dominant position in the domestic market. The various types of oil seals, which are a major critical component of any automotive or engineering industry that seals lubricants and prevents the leakage of lubricants, water or chemicals, additionally prevent the ingress of dust and dirt into any equipment thereby substantially increasing their useful life,” said Singh.

The SFN Basma unit will produce oil seals including radial shaft seals for engine, shock absorber seals, valve and steering seals and rubber boots and O-rings  for various Indian and global automotive companies including Maruti Suzuki, Honda Cars India, Tata Motors, Toyota, Ford, Ashok Leyland, Lucas TVS, Toyota, Eicher, Escorts, Hyundai, Volkswagen and Mercedes. It will also produce and export hydraulic, pneumatic  oil seals, packaging and diaphragms for the engineering industry including Tata Steel, Jindal steel, ABB, BHEL, ONGC, JCB, BEML, Bosch Rexorth, and tractor units.

“With a view to providing zero-defect quality to customers, SFN products undergo extensive simulated in-house and field-tests, which duplicate product application and customer specifications. The in-house comprehensive, computer-aided test laboratory comprises in excess of 240 performance test stations and measurement equipment. At SFN, full care is taken about product quality, its safety, reliability and durability and SFN now has all the relevant global quality certifications. The objective of obtaining these certifications is to provide SFN with global recognition and the strength to focus on reducing process variation, rework and waste in the supply chain and naturally final cost,” added Singh.

The eco-friendly  SFN Basma unit will generate employment for more than 2,000 skilled and semi-skilled workers with about 50 percent being women mostly from nearby towns and villages including Banur, Rajpura, Mohali and Ambala.