April 17: RSB Transmissions has inaugurated a new manufacturing facility, its 13th unit, in Lucknow, to cater to major client Tata Motors’ requirements in the same location. The plant has a production capacity of 550 sets a day. Autocar Professional had revealed, in its February 1, 2012 issue, that Tata Motors has mandated RSB to supply the rear 'banjo' axle beam for some of the new Ultra LCVs (pictured) unveiled at the Auto Expo in January.
The new plant located at Khandak village, on the outskirts of Lucknow and adjacent to Tata Motors’ facility, was declared open by S B Borwankar, senior VP Manufacturing Operations (CVBU), Tata Motors, along with Alok Saxena, plant head, Tata Motors, Lucknow in the presence of R K Behera and S K Behera, chairman and vice-chairman and MD respectively of RSB Transmissions (pictured).
Inaugurating the plant, Borwankar felicitated and complimented RSB for setting up the plant in Lucknow, demonstrating its commitment as a leading vendor to Tata Motors. He also lauded RSB for its top-notch quality system, housekeeping and operating systems as also for implementing TQM at its plants.
Speaking on the occasion, chairman R K Behera said the Lucknow plant is a dedicated facility for Tata Motors, Lucknow, and will supply propeller shafts and axle beams on a JIT (Just in Time) basis. Initially, some of the existing products currently being supplied to the Tata unit from other RSB locations will be migrated to this plant and subsequently it will take up manufacture of new products. He added that setting up the plant in Lucknow, besides supporting Tata Motors, is also RSB’s way of bringing about inclusive growth in locations starved of industry. The new facility will facilitate local employment by providing and supporting educational initiatives in the neighbourhood to train them for technical work. RSB also plans to take up CSR activities like providing primary health care and extending scholarships to deserving students to pursue higher studies.
The Lucknow plant is RSB’s 13th unit worldwide. The global engineering organisation, which has business interests ranging from design to manufacturing of aggregates and systems related to CVs, passenger cars, and construction, farm and off-highway equipment, has 12 other state-of-the-art manufacturing plants spread over seven locations in India and one each in the USA (Homer, Michigan), Belgium (Tessenderlo) and Silao (Mexico).
In FY12, RSB expects to post a top line of about Rs 1,500 crore, which will constitute 28 percent year-on-year growth. The company expects to maintain the momentum and grow at a CAGR of about 20 to 25 percent for the next few years.