Another feather in ANAND’s cap; launch of new plant in Lucknow

The new Spicer India plant in Lucknow, will supply Tata ‘Just In Time’ with direct delivery to the line, synchronising with the actual model mix production of the bus and truck lines

Spicer India has today inaugurated its new facility, in Lucknow, its Sixth Plant. Mr M Venkatram, Sr Vice President, Purchasing and Supply Chain, Tata Motors Limited was the Chief Guest for the occasion and lighted the lamp along with other dignitaries including, Mrs Anjali Singh, Chairperson, Anand Supervisory Board, Mr Robert Pyle, President, Asia Pacific, DANA Holding Corporation; Mr Deepak Chopra, Chief Executive Officer, Anand Automotive Limited; and Mr Arul Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, Spicer India.

The new facility will supply propeller shafts to Tata Motors Lucknow and Jamshedpur. The set-up of this dedicated facility is in line with the expansion of Tata Motors Lucknow plant. Spicer India currently supplies drive shafts for buses and trucks, produced by Tata Motors Lucknow and Jamshedpur, from its facility at Satara. As there is a lot of transportation cost and associated increase in inventory in this model, the new plant will help reducing these carrying costs and others logistics involved, which are being passed back to the customer.
“Due to the current recessionary market, Spicer India has limited the capacity of the plant to just half of the intended capacity. Even with this, SIL can service twice the current requirement of both the Lucknow and Jamshedpur Plants of Tata Motors Limited. Further, with a minimal investment, the capacity can be expanded to 180,000 shafts per year (50% more) in a short span of time, still leaving a possibility of further expansion to 250,000 shafts.

Dana and Anand Group firmly believes in partnering with its customers. We would like to be not only where the customers are today, but also be present, where the customers are likely to be tomorrow, in terms of technology, capacity and location”, said Mr Arul Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, Spicer India.

Spicer India will also replace its existing drive shaft models to a more advanced "Compact " models, which will deliver a better torque to weight ratio with also a price advantage to Tata Motors from this plant.

“The new plant set up by Spicer at Lucknow would ensure delivery of our products on ‘Just In Time’ basis to Tata Motors Lucknow plant
and at the same time maintaining high quality levels and incorporating new technology”, said Mrs Anjali Singh, Chairperson, Anand Supervisory Board.

Added Mr Robert Pyle, President, Asia Pacific, DANA Holding Corporation, “The opening of Lucknow plant marks another milestone in our collaboration with Anand Group and will help Spicer India enhance its reputation as a supplier that is committed to investing and growing to support the needs of its customers. I am confident that this plant will become a benchmark for driveshaft manufacturing in India.”