Gibraltar Airsprings leverages the specialised expertise and long years of field experience to meet the dynamic market trends and needs.
The company proudly claims to have introduced air springs for the Indian market and also putting up the first manufacturing plant for the same in 2013. The plant was developed with world-class designing, manufacturing, testing and R&D facilities and produces 100 per cent indigenised air springs. Many State transport authorities, several private fleet owners, almost all of the automotive distributors, dealers & retailers and several automotive original equipment manufacturers across the nation along with the Indian Railways (for EMU, DMU & metro coaches) are the present customers of Gibraltar.
Mr. Arpan Basu, Director (Marketing & Product Development), shares his observations on the focus topic.
Excerpts:
Mandatory and other safety requirements in products
Gibraltar follows a standard practice of 100 per cent testing of the products prior to dispatch, in order to ensure better safety and reliability. Each product is having a unique identification number clearly visible for future reference. Gibraltar air springs are made with special ply and reinforcement which provides far superior burst resistance and increases holding strength. Since we produce our air springs with safety as our key focus, we look into the same right from the design stage, by making our air springs go through various rigorous destructive tests like endurance tests that help us determine an indicative life of our air springs. Armed with this information we are in a position to guide our customers as to when they need to change their air springs in order to avoid any unforeseen condition while the vehicle is on its run.
Technology impact on safety in the times ahead
Application of air springs in vehicles enables very stable, safe and vibration free ride. Suspensions with air springs ensure not only rider comfort but they are also very critical in elongating the lives of the vehicles, with proper use. Air spring fitted vehicles also ensure that the height of the vehicle is not compromised due to additional or abnormal load and is maintained at a constant. Since the height is maintained constantly, the centre of gravity of the vehicle is balanced and the vehicle is not as prone to tipping over as is a similar vehicle without air springs. Robust construction of air springs made by Gibraltar, allow even vehicles plying in extreme conditions to enjoy safe and hassle-free travels.
Light-weighting necessity and trend
Air springs are remarkably lighter than the conventional leaf-springs. Hence, these days OEMs prefer to go for vehicles fitted with air springs to optimize costs and also reduce the carbon footprint of their respective firms. Gibraltar provides balanced air springs which helps in optimum vibration isolation to the vehicle engine reducing fuel consumption and frequent wear and tear. Hence, more widespread use of air springs helps ensure a reduction in fuel consumption and also in noise pollution (with the substantial reduction in wear and tear of the vehicle components)
Role of advanced materials in light-weighting
As we are experiencing in our interactions with a customers from a number of countries in the western world, usage of MS pistons and top plates (end closures) for air springs are not as popular any more. These are now being replaced by improvised form of plastics. We feel that the use of the same will grow exponentially in the future across the world.