SKF explores setting up plant in Uttarakhand

SKF India has forth a proposal to its board in Sweden for setting up a plant in Uttarakhand. “We will look to service our two-wheeler and four-wheeler customers in Uttarakhand. It will take a year for a typical plant to be set up,” managing director, SKF India, Rakesh Makhija told Autocar Professional.

A decision is likely to be taken at the company’s board meeting in April. One approved, this plant will make deep groove bearings and possibly taper roller bearings as well. The company is yet to hold any talks with the Uttarakhand government for land acquisition, as the plan is still very much in the “study phase” at the moment.

Almost all the big names in the business are moving to Uttarakhand, a list that includes Bajaj Auto, Hero Honda, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors etc. SKF India, which has plants in Pune and Bangalore, is increasing bearings capacity from 100 million a year to 110 million bearings while that of seals is going up from 18 million units to 22 million annually. “Typically we have been spending Rs 100 crore in an 18-month cycle to increase capacities in our facilities,” Makhija added.

The company supplies its bearings to Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors who are both looking at Indonesia in a big way, as well as Tata Motors which is set to produce its world pickup in Thailand. SKF has facilities in Indonesia and Malaysia to cater to customers in Southeast Asia. It also has a registered office in Thailand.

AMMAR MASTER