German auto giant Mercedes-Benz is contemplating a possibility to set up a plant to manufacture engines, gear boxes and other components in India at a whopping investment of Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 crore. While the company is yet to finalise the plans, the lower cost of manufacturing in India has made the company give a serious thought to it.
Mercedes-Benz bus business head Harald Landman said this after launching company's intercity luxury bus in Pune. Assembled at Sutlej Motors in Jalandhar, the Rs 80 lakh bus will compete with its swiss-counterpart Volvo in the fast growing Indian luxury bus segment.
Speaking to reporters after the launch, Landman said, "We are yet to figure out, when the entire bus building operation, including development of engine and gear boxes, will happen in India. However, we are looking at a possibility to set up a manufacturing unit over next three to five years." While Landman did not disclose the location to set up this unit, officials close to the development hinted at Pune.
"As Mercedes is setting up its new facility at Chakan near Pune, the manufacturing plant has to come up in the same region. Since Pune has a strong automobile component industry, the unit has to come up in this region," an official stated. Once the company darws a concrete plan for this Rs 2,500 crore project, then it will approach government of Maharashtra for approvals. "We might explore other states to set up this manufacturing unit, provided, things do not work out in Maharashtra," he added.
Elaborating the business plan for the newly launched bus, Landman said, "Mercedes-Benz enjoys a 17 per cent market share in global luxury bus market. We have built the new bus on our versatile O500 R/RF chassis being developed at Pune plant. While most of the components are being imported Brazil unit, the body building will happen in Jalandhar through an agreement with Sutlej Motors."
When asked about Indian luxury bus market, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director Dr Wilfried Aulbur said, "The luxury bus market is growing in India. Volvo, so far the only significant player in India has sold some 350 buses last year. Our plan is to earn a significant market share within the first year."
Top Gear (Economics)
You've probably heard of it, a television lad's magazine fronted by Jeremy Clarkson talking testosterone fuelled nonsense about cars. If you are unfortunate enough to watch it you'll think the motor industry only consists of top marques, and as an aside some rather pedestrian econo-boxes for the poor.
Well the numbers for August are out, and car sales are at their lowest since 1966 (the year we won the World Cup) but the real meat and potatoes is in the actual numbers of cars sold within these shores of some 60 million people, many of whom are extremely affluent.
Aston Martin, sold a whopping 19 cars... Jaguar and Land Rover a measly 422 cars each...
The good news doesn't end there, the stock markets are tumbling again, and this graph from the two biggest UK house mortgage companies tells its own story.
While many people have complained / observed that if the media consistently talk up a recession, then sooner or later it is going to happen, it is a very long stretch from admitting that the media has an influence, to admitting that what we are seeing here are actually signs of a shift in the economy.
The thing is that this isn't just happening to luxury items or big ticket items like cars and houses, the speciality cheap supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl are also showing a 20% increase in turnover, while sales of "organic" premium foods are already down some 20 million pounds sterling.
In America Bill Gross, chief investment officer of the world's biggest bond fund, Pimco, said the US was confronted by "systematic debt liquidation". He added: "Unchecked, it can turn a campfire into a forest fire, a mild asset bear market into a destructive financial tsunami."
Back here at home one of my own little barometers is watching the prices of Juke-boxes on eBay, and the fact is that right now anyone trying to sell Juke-boxes to people to put in their homes is certainly going to be looking at Aston Martin's pathetic sales numbers with envy.
40" TFT televisions that accept PC input so they are monitors really are now available for not around 700 UK pounds, and that is brand new in the box big names like Samsung. Everyone is cutting margins so even the stuff that is selling isn't generating the revenue it once was.
I have been saying for a year that Marsh Barton trading estate just down the road from me, which is the biggest by far nexus of car sales in the south west, has been nothing but empty (of customers) showrooms and bored staff.
Even the massaged and everything useful excluded from the index food inflation figures show food inflation at nearly 9%, and as for electricity and gas bills, UK Pounds 1,000 a year is the "average" now and it is going up, with widespread talk about fuel poverty, not just for the elderly living on pensions.
Well the numbers for August are out, and car sales are at their lowest since 1966 (the year we won the World Cup) but the real meat and potatoes is in the actual numbers of cars sold within these shores of some 60 million people, many of whom are extremely affluent.
Aston Martin, sold a whopping 19 cars... Jaguar and Land Rover a measly 422 cars each...
The good news doesn't end there, the stock markets are tumbling again, and this graph from the two biggest UK house mortgage companies tells its own story.
While many people have complained / observed that if the media consistently talk up a recession, then sooner or later it is going to happen, it is a very long stretch from admitting that the media has an influence, to admitting that what we are seeing here are actually signs of a shift in the economy.
The thing is that this isn't just happening to luxury items or big ticket items like cars and houses, the speciality cheap supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl are also showing a 20% increase in turnover, while sales of "organic" premium foods are already down some 20 million pounds sterling.
In America Bill Gross, chief investment officer of the world's biggest bond fund, Pimco, said the US was confronted by "systematic debt liquidation". He added: "Unchecked, it can turn a campfire into a forest fire, a mild asset bear market into a destructive financial tsunami."
Back here at home one of my own little barometers is watching the prices of Juke-boxes on eBay, and the fact is that right now anyone trying to sell Juke-boxes to people to put in their homes is certainly going to be looking at Aston Martin's pathetic sales numbers with envy.
40" TFT televisions that accept PC input so they are monitors really are now available for not around 700 UK pounds, and that is brand new in the box big names like Samsung. Everyone is cutting margins so even the stuff that is selling isn't generating the revenue it once was.
I have been saying for a year that Marsh Barton trading estate just down the road from me, which is the biggest by far nexus of car sales in the south west, has been nothing but empty (of customers) showrooms and bored staff.
Even the massaged and everything useful excluded from the index food inflation figures show food inflation at nearly 9%, and as for electricity and gas bills, UK Pounds 1,000 a year is the "average" now and it is going up, with widespread talk about fuel poverty, not just for the elderly living on pensions.
Two Workshop Owners Charged With Submitting False Claims
Two workshop owners pleaded not guilty in separate sessions courts here today to submitting false claims regarding the supply of gear boxes for Proton Perdana V6 Executive cars belonging to the Terengganu government.
The accused were Tor Kok Siong, 52, who runs a workshop in Bukit Kecil and Choong Yuen Sang, 48, of Chendering.
Tor who was represented by lawyer Osman Bakar, was alleged to have submitted four claims between Nov 2006 and June this year regarding the supply of gear boxes worth RM18,057.68 each for the cars bearing plate numbers TAG 8778, TAG 7979, TT 3 and TT 7 at the Terengganu State Secretary Office when no such items had been supplied.
The father of two was charged under Section 11(c) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 and if convicted, he would be liable to imprisonment of between 14 days and 20 years and fine of not less than five times the sum.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Sophian Zakaria from the Anti-Corruption
Agency asked the court to impose a RM20,000 bail on Tor on each count on the ground that the accused had deceived the state government.
Osman, however, objected to Sophian's recommendation, saying that the court should not impose such an amount to penalise his client but ensure that justice would prevail.
In his case, he said, Tor would not run away because he had been staying in Terengganu for a long time and had a business and family here.
Judge M. Bakri Abd Majid allowed Tor bail of RM5,000 on each count and fixed Dec 23 and 24 for trial.
In another court, Choong was charged with committing a similar offence on Aug 2 last year at the same place for supply of a gear box worth RM19,119.91 for the car with registration number TAK 415.
He was represented by lawyer Siti Saleha Mohd Tahir while the prosecution was conducted by Sophian.
Judge Mohammad Khalid Abd Karim allowed Choong bail of RM7,000 and fixed Dec 14 for trial.
The accused were Tor Kok Siong, 52, who runs a workshop in Bukit Kecil and Choong Yuen Sang, 48, of Chendering.
Tor who was represented by lawyer Osman Bakar, was alleged to have submitted four claims between Nov 2006 and June this year regarding the supply of gear boxes worth RM18,057.68 each for the cars bearing plate numbers TAG 8778, TAG 7979, TT 3 and TT 7 at the Terengganu State Secretary Office when no such items had been supplied.
The father of two was charged under Section 11(c) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 and if convicted, he would be liable to imprisonment of between 14 days and 20 years and fine of not less than five times the sum.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Sophian Zakaria from the Anti-Corruption
Agency asked the court to impose a RM20,000 bail on Tor on each count on the ground that the accused had deceived the state government.
Osman, however, objected to Sophian's recommendation, saying that the court should not impose such an amount to penalise his client but ensure that justice would prevail.
In his case, he said, Tor would not run away because he had been staying in Terengganu for a long time and had a business and family here.
Judge M. Bakri Abd Majid allowed Tor bail of RM5,000 on each count and fixed Dec 23 and 24 for trial.
In another court, Choong was charged with committing a similar offence on Aug 2 last year at the same place for supply of a gear box worth RM19,119.91 for the car with registration number TAK 415.
He was represented by lawyer Siti Saleha Mohd Tahir while the prosecution was conducted by Sophian.
Judge Mohammad Khalid Abd Karim allowed Choong bail of RM7,000 and fixed Dec 14 for trial.
Bonfiglioli Transmission’s industrial gearboxes used for the refurbishment of Sydney Harbour Bridge
Synchronised sets of Bonfiglioli Transmission industrial gearboxes are being used on Sydney’s Harbour Bridge to drive two 60-tonne workmen’s gantries. The compact and versatile A series bevel helical gearboxes, basically used in manufacturing, mining, materials handling and primary processing applications, are used in sets of eight on each mobile platform to drive them along rails beneath the length of the 503m long main arch of the bridge.
The compact drives feature stainless steel brake components that have been fitted to the brake motors to ensure reliability of operation in marine environments. The drives are designed to ensure longevity of service on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel arch bridge with its top portion standing 134 metres above the harbour and has a total length of 2.3kms. This bridge carries eight road traffic lanes and two rail lines.
The Bonfiglioli A series drives feature FEA (Finite Element Analysis) procedures in the design and construction. These allow for lightweight construction, while maintaining strength and durability from case-hardened nickel chrome steel gears. Major features of the A series include high torque, high efficiency and low noise.
The A series covers an enormous range of small-to-medium-sized applications within industries such as construction and quarrying, cement, civil engineering, electricity generation, food processing, glass and bottle manufacture, general manufacture, bulk materials handling, metal production and water and sewage treatment. The A series drives can be used in conveyors, cranes, elevators, mixers, pumps, valves, winches and special purpose equipment.
The compact drives feature stainless steel brake components that have been fitted to the brake motors to ensure reliability of operation in marine environments. The drives are designed to ensure longevity of service on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel arch bridge with its top portion standing 134 metres above the harbour and has a total length of 2.3kms. This bridge carries eight road traffic lanes and two rail lines.
The Bonfiglioli A series drives feature FEA (Finite Element Analysis) procedures in the design and construction. These allow for lightweight construction, while maintaining strength and durability from case-hardened nickel chrome steel gears. Major features of the A series include high torque, high efficiency and low noise.
The A series covers an enormous range of small-to-medium-sized applications within industries such as construction and quarrying, cement, civil engineering, electricity generation, food processing, glass and bottle manufacture, general manufacture, bulk materials handling, metal production and water and sewage treatment. The A series drives can be used in conveyors, cranes, elevators, mixers, pumps, valves, winches and special purpose equipment.
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