Cooper Corp launches Euro IV-compliant 6-cyl engine, targets CVs and off-highway vehicles

Cooper Corp launches Euro IV-compliant 6-cyl engine, targets CVs and off-highway vehicles Chennai, April 17, 2013: Diesel engine manufacturer Cooper Corporation launched a new range of 6- cylinder engines for use in gensets. The engine, developed together with Ricardo of the UK, can be used for construction, off-highway and commercial vehicle operations too. At present, some domestic commercial vehicle manufacturers are, according to Gordon D’Souza, general manager (marketing), “conducting various tests on the engine at their facilities.”

The CRDi engine will be manufactured wholly in-house at Cooper Corp’s manufacturing facility in Satara, with the common-rail sourced from Delphi-TVS. The company also makes a CNG variant of the engine which, D’Souza says, is likely to find a market overseas.

Dsouza says that the brief to Ricardo was simple: “We told them that we’re looking to develop a series of engines that is low on emissions, based on future norms.” The company had earlier tied up with the British manufacturer in the 1960s to produce flat-head diesel engines. To complement the new family of engines, Cooper had, three months ago, doubled its capacity to 48,000 engines per annum at its Satara plant t an investment of Rs 130 crore. Suppliers for the new engine include Delphi-TVS, Sundaram Fasteners, Turbo Energy and Federal-Mogul. The water-cooled, 6-cylinder engine develops 280hp in its diesel variant and 230hp in its CNG variant. The Euro IV- compliant engine has a bore and stroke dimension of 107x126mm. Tipping the scales at 680kg, the 6.8-litre engine develops maximum torque of 960 Nm at 1400-1800rpm in its diesel avatar and 800 Nm at 1400-1600rpm in its CNG version.

Apart from the new 6-cylinder engine, Cooper manufactures twin, 3- and 4-cylinder engines for use in off-highway vehicles and gensets. The company plays a bigger role in the components industry, manufacturing cylinder heads, cylinder liners, and crankshafts for use in two-wheelers, four-wheelers and CVs. Around 60-65 percent of the company’s Rs 600 crore turnover last year came from the components business and D’Souza is confident that this number can grow further. “We supply liners to Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Renault, Kawasaki and Chrysler in Europe, Japan and North America. In the domestic market, we supply to Maruti Suzuki, Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors (for the Nano), Cummins, Yamaha, and Harley-Davidson,” says Dsouza.

The company has around 70 service points in the country, with 30 more expected by the end of the year.

KARTHIK H