Text & Photo: Bhargav TS
The third edition of Auto Ancillary Show 2014, which recently concluded at the Auto Cluster Exhibition Complex, Pune, drew more attraction from the auto industry, both from vehicle and component manufacturers. The show focused on the theme ‘Lightweighting,’ to highlight to the auto industry the importance of polymers, composites and other advanced materials in reducing the weight of automobiles thereby enhancing fuel efficiency. This year, along with India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), the show jointly organised by Auto Components Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and Auto Cluster Development and Research Institute (ACDRI), Pune.
As the industry is looking to achieve weight reduction, advanced materials such as polymers and composites are being strongly considered as suitable alternatives to heavy metals used in the production of vehicles.
The 4-day event witnessed participants from composites, polymers and plastic component manufacturers. The expo was spread across 2,000 sqmt with nearly 70 exhibitors displaying different technologies with an elaborate spectrum of products under one roof. The show also served as an innovative platform for OEMs, Tier-1 and Tier-2 vendors.
A range of products were showcased including gears, gearbox assemblies, pinions, transmission and propeller shafts, automatic transmission parts, housings and castings, crankshafts, cylinder heads, camshafts, sheet metal assembly, cold formed/CNC machined parts, stampings, wire forms, timing and motorcycle chains, fine blanking, machined components, suspension/anti vibration components, dashboard instruments, displays, sensors, cables, switches, auto lamps, infrared heaters and heat controllers, control cables and commercial vehicle components.
The show was held with concurrent seminars – ‘Auto Components Design and Role of Polymer Composites’, ‘Innovative Thermoplastic Materials and Applications for Automotive Safety & Sustainability’ and ‘Economical Way of Lightweighting Technologies for Auto Ancillaries for Enhanced Efficiency.’
After inaugurating the show, Malay Shrivastava, IAS, Executive Director, ITPO said, “The Auto Ancillary Show series has been conceptualised to facilitate interaction between the auto component industry and the OEMs. The show is a priority for ITPO and the co-organisers that have taken upon themselves the responsibility to fulfill the needs of the automobile industry in India.”
Vinnie Mehta, Director General – ACMA said, “The Indian composite industry is pegged at Rs 15,000 crore and is expected to grow at 15% per annum over the next 4 years. Given its array of applications, polymers and composites are increasingly being explored for newer applications to make vehicles lighter and fuel efficient. Today, lightweighting materials have become an integral and a critical part of automotive design. To improve fuel efficiency and reduce vehicular emissions, it has become necessary for the auto industry to adopt such technologies. With this thought in mind we have joined hands with ITPO to harness the Auto Ancillary Show as a platform to introduce the industry to various new materials, processes and ideas for promoting the use of lightweighting materials.”
The show is supported by the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Ministry of Commerce & Industries, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Government of India as well as the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Pune.
