Smart, safe & sustainable mobility solutions showcased
The year-long Golden Jubilee celebration of the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), culminated in a grand finale with the Symposium on International Automotive Technology (SIAT) 2017 in December. On the side lines of SIAT was the SIAT Expo under the theme of ‘Smart, Safe and Sustainable Mobility’. The expo showcased products, technologies by automotive and allied manufacturers worldwide in the areas such as BS-VI, vehicle safety, electric mobility, vehicle telematics, advanced testing and validation equipment, NVH, simulation, modelling, etc. Organized by ARAI in association with SAEINDIA, NATRiP and SAE International, the expo attracted 180 exhibitors from around the world, making the biennial event a memorable one.
On a high
Well begun is half done, and SIAT 2017 that was inaugurated by Mr. Sanjay Mitra, Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, ended on a high note too. Apart from Mr. Rajan Wadhera, ARAI President and Mrs. Rashmi Urdhwareshe, ARAI Director, the function was graced by the august presence of Dr. R.K. Malhotra, President, SAE India, Mr. Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, CEO, NATRIP, Mr. T. Mookiah, Associate Director (R&D), VSSC, and Mr. Murli Iyer, Executive Advisor – Global, SAE International. The function also included the release of the SIAT 2017 proceedings and a booklet on India Emission Regulation, ARAI Golden Jubilee Award and prize distribution for Road Safety Awareness – Short Film Making Contest, the release of a book on Road Safety that had a collection of cartoons by Mr. Mangesh Tendulkar and the unveiling of a pilot demonstration of an electric vehicle powered by an indigenously-developed Lithium Ion Battery.
Besides the SIAT Expo, the program had four plenary sessions on Smart, Safe, Sustainable and Future mobility. A student poster presentation competition was also organized to motivate young brains, making the whole event a one-of-its-kind tech fair.
While the plenary sessions were held in the main stage area, over 200 technical papers, including 40 keynotes papers, were presented on subjects like passive safety, advanced power train technologies, alternative fuels, evaluation techniques, intelligent transportation, etc. Besides, if one takes a detailed look at the expo, it was nothing short of a technology tour. Exhibitors not only showcased automotive products and equipment but also execution technology and services.
Tech galore
Amongst the wide variety of solutions offered, companies like Horiba, FEV, ACTech and Schaeffler demonstrated technologies that play an important role in engine testing, manufacturing development. Giving us the cue of their work Mr. Thomas Karunakaran, Director Operations India, ACTech GmbH Liason Office, said: “We work on fine tuning the engines, transmission as well as turbo chargers. We work with OEMs from the design face to develop prototypes and cast in all standard metals and alloys. We keep monitoring all processes to ensure that the quality standards are met, just as they would be for batch production. Thus, we provide value by being the best on time and in quality and are well prepared to deliver a fully installation-ready prototype.”
The Austria-based AVL has completed 35 years in India, partnering OEMs in powertrain development and collaborative work on instrument testing devices. With the company’s biggest market being Europe and Japan, it has all the necessary testing devices for BS-VI ready since the last five years.
On offering solutions to OEMs in India, Dr. Martin Pflüger, Director Sales India, Powertrain Engineering, AVL List GmbH, stated: “We are the world’s largest independent company for the development of powertrain systems with internal combustion engines as well as instrumentation and test systems. We work with OEMs and suppliers in development of the parts and do not make parts. This makes us independent in selecting suppliers for our equipment. Having said that, we are also open to working with different OEMs as well as suppliers as we have proven our mettle with over 100 OEMs and suppliers worldwide. With the upcoming emission regulations, the local suppliers in India will need our engineering advice to upgrade themselves and be in sync with BS-VI norms.”
Horiba, a leading supplier in the field of engine test systems, driveline test systems, brake test systems, wind tunnel balances and emissions test systems, displayed its Mexa One analyzer which can be used for analyzing emission levels. “In this one system, we have provided different analyser like Nox, CO2 chemical measurement, ammonia measurement etc. The advantage of this Mexa one is that you don’t need different analyser, this one Mexa one can serve all the purpose. OEMs as well as testing institutes procure these machines,” said Mr. Kunal Yadav, Advanced Technology Team, Automotive Measurement R&D Dept., Horiba.
The Horiba Mexa one platform also boasts of a graphical user interface which made the platform intuitive for both new and experienced users. More than just the world’s leading supplier of emissions testing systems, HORIBA ATS is able to provide total solutions to its customers, with full turnkey capability.
Schaeffler showcased three products in the technology pavilion, the T2 Hybrid body with a 48 volt hybrid system, e-clutch and sensorised gear shifters. At its booth, Mr. Anirban Mukherji, Head – Key Account Management, Automotive, Schaeffler India, said: “As far as commercial vehicles are concerned what we have here is the FAG smart set in which we have a unitized taper roller bearing, the outer ring and the inner cone together with a pre-greased seal, which makes it very easy for assembly. It is two separate taper rollers bearings which are put together in its individual unitized bearing and hence called smart sets.”
Another technology on display from Schaeffler was the Fiat Fire Engine, a gasoline 4-cylinder version with multi air system or UniAir system. It is a continuously variable valve system, usually such mechanism has opposition-based controller or a timing based controller. Here it is a combination of opposition and timing both. UniAir is the first electro-hydraulic system for fully variable control of intake valves per cylinder, which, per requirements can be configured for gasoline or diesel engines.
FEV India has carried the legacy of FEV globally and can easily provide solutions for BS-VI right from engine design up to validation. “FEV India is competent to deliver Euro VI equivalent solutions to Indian OEMS. From innovations in advanced engine architectures, novel emission management concepts and innovative control functionalities to assist the entire development chain with the expansion of dedicated engineering services including advanced application and calibration tools FEV’s expertise ranges from high volume mass production installations to dedicated calibration,” beamed Dr. Peter Heuser, Group Vice President – Commercial Engines, FEV Group Holding GmbH.
Oerlikon highlighted the carbon light coating that increases the life of the product (transmissions) “We are targeting ring providers as well as the R&D team of OEMs, as they will understand why the friction rings in the transmission should be coated. If it is addressed at the design level then it is beneficial for both the OEMs as well as us,” explained Mr. S.K. Nagarajan, Manager – Business Development, Oerlikon Friction Systems (India) Ltd.
Home-grown companies make it big
Another home-grown firm, IASYS assists companies for BS-VI evaluation and certification. “We help them evaluate test conditions, what kind of facility is required, what kind of cycles are required and what calculations are required. We have built reputation for the last 17-18 years and ARAI is our customer for the last 15 years. Many of the certifications that you see in India today right from 2-wheeler up to commercial vehicles done in ARAI are performed using our machines,” said Mr. Puran Parekh, CEO & Managing Director, IASYS.
To sum up, on one side the SIAT expo had companies displaying various tools and equipment and on the other we had a string of firms demonstrating capabilities on the software & electronics side and how they could support customers with evaluation, validation and certification. With a plethora of products, services and solutions on display, the real challenge for the industry will be as to how companies can effectively integrate the hardware and software tools in order to meet the advancing regulations and satisfy the ever-changing needs of customers. The challenge ahead brings with it a bundle of opportunities, as seen from the SIAT Expo.
By Rajesh Rajgor & N. Balasubramanian