Basic HTML Version
46
MOTORINDIA
l
March 2012
The OEMs have responded
positively to Fuwa products,
thanks to the two main at-
tractive characteristics – out-
standing performance and
quality at low cost. Fuwa
drive axles cost at least 10-
15 per cent lower than other
products in the market.
quality, without the need for hub-
greasing for 150,000 km. The com-
pany has supplied its hub-reduction
drive axles, front steer axles and
fifth wheels to leading global ve-
hicle manufacturers. The products
have passed all tests and have been
certified by customers.
The company’s technical know-
how gives them the ability to move
ahead with better quality
products. Fuwa front steer ax-
les are different from the tra-
ditional 14-pin ones. Its axle
pins are one-piece and hollow
and have been patented. An-
other important USP of the
company is its low developing cost.
It uses its experience and expertise
to develop drive axles in quick time
which has proved to be a key factor
for success.
Commenting on how the balance
between cost and quality is kept in-
tact, Mr. Tan said: “The most im-
portant thing is the fact that Fuwa is
a fully-integrated company.
We have three foundries to
produce hub and drum, and
most of the components are
manufactured in-house, in-
cluding the brake-linings,
brake-shoes, cam shafts, axle
pins and machine gears. The
entire manufacturing, includ-
ing heat treatment, is done
in-house. It is easy for us to
control the quality, delivery
and cost. And, if good qual-
ity products are available
at lower cost, OEMs would
definitely consider it.”
Fuwa has a huge production ca-
pacity of 1.4 million trailer axles per
annum. It has warehouses in Sin-
gapore, Australia and the US. Cur-
rently, drive axles are supplied from
China. Mr. Tan is optimistic that
with the rate of growth in the Indian
market, a local manufacturing facil-
ity is quite possible.
Component zone