EnPro to set up plants for bearings and seals

EnPro Industries, which is headquartered in the USA, plans to set up its own manufacturing plants in India after almost four years of having a limited marketing and sales presence in the country.

The company, which has a turnover of US$ 1 billion (Rs 4000 crore), will establish two plants in Pune to make bearings and sealing products. While GGB, which is a division of EnPro Industries, will make automotive bearings, another subsidiary Garlock Sealing Technologies will make sealing products for industrial applications.

According to general manager – sales, Jasvinder Singh Bhatia, the plants would commence production from mid-2008 and manufacture metal polymer bearings, solid polymer bearings, fibre-reinforced plastic composite bearings, mono and bimetallic materials, assemblies, housings and bushing blocks. These will cater to the automotive, agricultural equipment, and construction equipment sectors.

Bhatia says the company grew by 70 percent in 2007, as compared to the previous year. EnPro’s business can be categorised into engineered products, sealing products and engine products and service. In the first category are companies like GGB and Quincy Compressor, in the second are Garlock Sealing Technologies, Garlock Klozure Dynamic Seals, Garlock Helicoflex, Pikotek, Stemco, Plastomer Technologies and Garlock Rubber Technologies. Fairbanks Morse Engine falls into the third category.

OE business

“The sealing plant will cater to the industrial, hydraulic, steel, nuclear and power plant applications while GGB will cater mainly to the automotive industry to start with and later we will increase the size and type of bearings to cater to other segments. We are primarily focusing on the OE segment. As we increase our share, we will also make inroads into the aftermarket segment,” says Bhatia.

OE customers for GGB include Tata Motors (for CVs), Mahindra & Mahindra (for the Scorpio and LCVs), Ford and General Motors. The company’s bearings are also supplied to Tier 1 manufacturers for heating systems, shock absorber and struts. “We started in 2004 in India and today we have a dedicated regional team. We are going to have dedicated application engineering support based out of our factory,” reveals Bhatia.

According to him, the machinery for the new plant would be in place by April 2008 and production is expected to start shortly thereafter. “This is the first time EnPro has two divisions operating together. We have operations in China, the US, Europe, South America and have seen a gradual and sustained growth in the last few years,” adds Bhatia.

EnPro Industries manufactures and markets industrial sealing products, seals for heavy-duty trucking, metal polymer and filament-wound bearings, air compressors, and diesel and natural gas-fired engines.

The company operates 33 manufacturing facilities in North and South America, Europe and Asia and employs about 4,700 people worldwide. Its products are sold to more than 50,000 customers in over 100 countries across the globe.