Advertisment

That's 'IN'gineering

author-image
CIOL Bureau
Updated On
New Update

Engineering seems to be taken over by the IN flavour. IN for India, Innovation and In-vogue. Be it new-age diesel engines roaring out in Indian R&D centers, after-treatment technologies being churned up for latest emission norms or the automotives of tomorrow finding their cradles in Indian engineering centers, engineering in India, has for sure, arrived in a new avatar.

Advertisment

Eaton Corporation, a diversified industrial manufacturer, is witnessing a lot of horsepower in its Indian stables. The $12.4 billion company that operates across a wide gamut of systems and components for power; fluid power systems; industrial, mobile and aircraft equipment; intelligent truck drive train systems; automotive engine air management systems, power train solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety is buzzing with some interesting action.

Pratima Harigunani of CyberMedia News chats with Ramanath I Ramakrishnan, GM and head of Eaton India Engineering Center, as he gives a glimpse of all the things that are keeping him and the center busy.

CMN: So, what's buzzing at Eaton India?

Advertisment

Ramanath Ramakrishnan: We started this center four years back as a branch for fluid power systems because we already had the associated manufacturing capabilities here. Gradually we injected more design and R&D work here and grew from five to 50 and now 500 people. In the last 15 to 18 months we have become core to our international team and other three divisions i.e. electrical, truck and automotive. The center is almost a microcosm for the whole group and CTO. We have impressive growth plans ahead here. We have begun construction of a medium- and heavy-duty truck transmission and component plant in Ranjangaon, India that will have 60,000 square feet of production space and the completion of which is scheduled for the end of 2007. The new plant will house machining, heat-treating and assembly operations, and production will be sold domestically in India and will also serve Eaton's global truck customers. Eaton's India operations will be the first truly independent commercial vehicle (CV) transmission supplier in the India market. As for the India engineering center, it has emerged as one major strategic piece for Eaton R&D engineering worldwide.

CMN: How does the work happening here split between the cradle phase and the grave?

RR: We have specific areas distributed to each phase. In product and service development, we do sustenance engineering for all product lines. Also, we have a new products division, that is active in fluid power, electrical products, some next-generation transmission products in trucks, hydraulics, hybrid electric technologies and HLA (Hydraulic Launch Assist Systems). We are also leveraging technologies like computer simulation for developing virtual prototypes, fine element and stress analysis would be a big growth capability in this area.

Advertisment

 

CMN: How does India fare in comparison to other international centers in R&D?

Advertisment

RR: India has tremendous strengths when it comes to analysis. The talent here is great and that's why we are here. Also, capabilities like embedded software and software engineering make it stand out. We are using embedded technologies as the brain behind many things like automated transmission, a UPS system, calculation, on ex-gear design etc. We are increasing our thrust on green and reliable products. Green is a big theme for our corporation.

CMN: Anything big and exciting happening in development here?

RR: We are doing interesting transmission work for trucks complying with regulations on emissions. As 2010 is going to be a big year for requisites from EPA (Environmental Protective Agency). We are also developing after-treatment system to reduce the NOX factor of pollution and next generation of pumps for tractors. India is the only center of Eaton that is handling CFA analysis to design this product. Besides, a global gear pump project is also happening here, which is a very strategic piece for Eaton.

Advertisment

CMN: Currently, there's a lot of buzz around the next generation of engines? Your take on the evolution of engines per se?

RR: Basically, the world wants green as a focus with less fuel consumption and a greener burn. Hence, hydraulics and after-treatment genres are the areas that are hot and where we are working towards a greener goal. Second important dimension on new-breed of engines is less fuel but more power that is already palpable in Europe. For more horsepower in a compact CC, we have come up with innovative ways of charging up and hence superchargers are in hot limelight.

CMN: What will hot up areas like defence and aircraft engines next?

Advertisment

RR: As we move ahead, we will see increased spotlight on lighter engines that have more thrust, more emphasis on fuel economy, quieter systems and of course reliability. We have been doing a lot of work in this space and dream liners like the Boeing 707 and Airbus A380 are just some examples. Our hydraulic systems attack the weight reduction need here.

CMN: What is the IP output, if any, out of this center?

RR: In 2006, we had a disclosure that turned into a patent. In the last 12 months, we have increased our number of disclosures. Not every disclosure, however, turns to a patent but we have an Asia dedicated patent manager and so a culture of innovation and invention is always a top priority. Besides patents, we have another area that symbolizes our IP strengths – the crown jewels that are appreciated by our customers but can't be shared due to Trade Secrets. In terms of disclosures, we are first targeting quantity and will then attack quality.

Advertisment

CMN: How does India stand today when it comes to progress on emission norms and compatible products?

RR: We develop global products and hence not for a specific market. Hydraulic and after-treatment are predominantly for North America, and after-treatment would be ready by 2010. Interestingly, Bharat IV and Euro IV norms would sync with EPA by 2010.

CMN: Eaton's legacy hints an inclination towards the inorganic route to a better portfolio. Any imminent acquisitions in the offing?

RR: Our composition is both organic and inorganic and we do keep looking all over the world for the inorganic side. But on the organic side, we have substantial growth too. On the whole, we have specific targets like a 10 per cent growth YoY. We have a rigorous planning cycle.

tech-news