PCL – Sumo to Form Indian JV

Pneumatics Components Ltd (PCL) is preparing to enter into a joint venture in India. The UK-based manufacturer and supplier of tyre shop, automotive and other transportation products is teaming up with India’s Sumo Hi-Tech Marketing to form PCL-Sumo Air Technology Pvt Ltd, a company that is claimed to be India’s top tyre inflation and pneumatic products provider.

Headquartered in the city of Mumbai, PCL-Sumo will manufacture, sell and distribute a full range of tyre inflation and pneumatic products designed to meet the needs of the Indian market, including both mechanical and electronic tyre inflation products such an adapted Indian market version of PCL’s Accura forecourt inflator. Indian customers will also gain access to the full PCL range, including the Accura 1 electronic handheld inflator: the AirForce, PCL’s brand new generation of mechanical air line gauges: the Hi-Flo MK 3 Air Line Gauge, and the Accura 11, 12 and 13, suitable for tyre shop applications.

PCL believe that the partnership has possesses the winning combination of a globally recognised quality product and access to local training, product support and customer service. Ian McCreadie, managing director of PCL is highly satisfied with the alliance. “PCL needed to fully integrate itself into the Indian marketplace in order to develop it and fully meet customer needs,” he said. “We are pleased to have formed PCL-Sumo with a partner possessing such a great reputation and wealth of management and market experience. We aim to provide a first-class service in India and let customers know that PCL-Sumo is here to stay.”

Sumo Group managing director Moti Kaul added: “We are delighted to be working with such a highly reputable, international market-leader as PCL and have every confidence that we can achieve excellent growth within India for its premium quality, high-tech products.” Similar sentiments were expressed by Kapil Raina, director and CEO of Sumo Hi-Tech, who said “We have been working successfully with PCL for a number of years and this venture allows us to go to the next level with the key petrol forecourt, tyre shop and automotive customers.”

The new joint venture company’s CEO has been named as Shaillesh Gupte, a mechanical engineer and industrial businessman who was headhunted to lead the operation.