Asbestos free disc brake from next year

Rane Brake Lining plans fourth plant in Tiruchy

Rane Brake Lining (RBL), a flagship company of Rs 1400 crore Rane Group is setting up its fourth plant in Tiruchy with an investment of Rs 60 crore, to manufacture two million disc pads and by 2011-12.

The company already has three such plants in Chennai, Hyderabad and Pondicherry.

This new facility is dedicated for the passenger car segment. The new facility for asbestos free disc brake will start production next year. Initially this facility will produce two million disc pads but will be increased to 10 million units as demand picks up.

L Ganesh, chairman of RBL said, "We have set up this facility only in the passenger car segments which is growing by 15 per cent every year. This plant is being set up to address the demand created by cars that will be made in India in the future."

The Trichy facility will cater to only domestic car makers and replacement market segment. Maruti Suzuki will be the major customer which will buy 50 per cent from the new plant followed by the Tata Motors and Toyota Kirloskar Motors for its proposed small car to be made in India.

The Trichy facility will be built over 16 acres and expected to employ only 25 people in the initial phase and is likely to be increased to 200 people by 2012.

The company will initially import all the critical equipments from their Japanese partner Nissihinbo which have 10 per cent equity share in RBL.

Business Standard
Tiruchy June 13, 2008