Delphi Commits to Indian Production Joint-Venture

Delphi Product & Service Solutions has established a joint venture with Roulunds Braking Systems SAS, a leading European supplier of OE and aftermarket automotive friction components. The new company, called Alliance Friction Technologies, has already developed a purpose-built manufacturing facility near New Delhi (India), dedicated to supplying Delphi with OE equivalent quality brake pads for sale throughout Europe and to other countries supplied by Delphi’s European operations.

“This is an important step that considerably strengthens our braking business,” said Lucia Moretti, managing director Delphi Product & Service Solutions Europe, Middle East & Africa. “With manufacturing systems dedicated to Delphi, we have complete control over quality, technology and supply.”

Both companies already have a significant manufacturing presence in India, producing world-class technologies for global markets. The facility will soon be accredited to OE quality standard QS9000 and plans to achieve accreditation to automotive quality management system TS16949 later this year.

The JV has approximately 150 employees who will manufacture more than 1.1 million brake pad sets a year once production reaches planned volumes later in 2006. With a potential capacity of 2 million sets in 2007, it provides a strong platform for future growth.

“The new joint venture will help provide even greater strength in Delphi’s OES and all-makes aftermarket ranges,” said Ian Voce, Delphi Product and Service Solutions business line director for chassis, thermal and vehicle electronics. “It is evidence of our substantial commitment to building our aftermarket business worldwide.”

Roulunds Braking group manufactures and distributes a comprehensive range of OE, OES and aftermarket friction products for automotive markets worldwide. An R&D focus coupled with 80 years of friction know-how have made Roulunds Braking a preferred manufacturer of OE and OES PV brake pads and shoes with OE customers that include Vauxhall/Opel, Saab, Daewoo, Ford, Volvo, Land Rover and Renault. In 1981 Roulunds Braking became the first manufacturer of asbestos-free pieces and in 1995 it was the first manufacturer to receive European R90 homologations. Roulunds Braking friction products also conform to the 2000/53/CE Directive concerning ABC free material (heavy metals). The latest development is a range of ceramic pads for the US market, providing best-in-class braking performance, including better initial effectiveness and high resistance to fade. Aftermarket. Roulunds Braking has production facilities in Denmark, France, India and China.