by Good News Lab | Feb 11, 2020 | Industry 4.0, Jendamark Junction
With the Indian government offering attractive incentives to electric vehicle (EV) buyers, Jendamark India is rapidly becoming a trailblazing player in the country’s quest for cleaner energy.
India’s proposed EV incentive scheme is set to offer significant tax breaks for consumers on the road to achieving a targeted 30% share of all new vehicle sales by 2030.
“Our government is really pushing this issue,” says Jendamark India’s CEO, Himanshu Jadhav. “To achieve this, the government is planning to reduce general sales tax on EVs from 12% to 5%. A few months ago, it was reduced to 12% from 18%.”
Another proposal already implemented is that those buying electric vehicles will receive an additional income tax deduction of Rs 1,50,000 on the interest paid on loans taken to buy electric vehicles.
As a result, he says, buyers are warming to the idea of this new vehicle technology.
“According to a recent survey, 50% of car buyers in India are ready to switch to EVs if the infrastructure is available.”
GOING GREEN
But, incentives aside, the global population in general has a growing awareness of the need to go green.
“Awareness and sensitivity towards climate change and pollution issues is a hidden force for the surge in EV market. Every individual globally wants to reduce his or her carbon footprint,” says Jadhav.
This burgeoning market has seen original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in India venturing into and ramping up their EV production, which has had a knockon effect for suppliers forced to embrace these new technologies.
Jendamark India has been at the leading edge of these industry developments, designing and building the first battery pack and power electronics assembly line in the country for Mahindra Electric Mobility Ltd.
Power electronics consist of a charger, variable frequency drive and all electrical signal processors which power the vehicle, whereas a power pack is a cluster of batteries put together as a pack which powers the vehicle.
“Battery pack assembly is new technology in India and local equipment manufacturers are not available for EV manufacturers in India, so we have had to depend on European and Chinese equipment suppliers,” Jadhav explains.
“However, Jendamark has invested strongly in the research and development, design and manufacturing of such equipment in India. Our Industry 4.0-enabled assembly lines are helpful in increasing production and lowering the manufacturing cost of battery packs that fit in EVs.”
In fact, battery costs are expected to be cut by half while performance is expected to double over the next decade.
BUILDING BATTERIES
Jendamark’s global head office in South Africa has played an integral role in the design process for Jendamark India’s first EV power pack assembly lines, providing the benefits of its three decades of automotive expertise where needed.
“Following the design phase, we recently built and supplied two assembly lines, both manufactured in India, and are in the process of executing an expansion project for the addition of new variants on the existing lines,” says Shashikant Chaudhari, who was Jendamark India’s management representative on this project.
The human component has also not been overlooked when it comes to technological development.
“Batteries being assembled carry charge. Human safety is very important when you handle charged batteries. Using Jendamark’s own digital manufacturing software, Odin, we monitor and instruct operators in following right assembly sequence to ensure their safety.“
While venturing into new territory has had its challenges, Chaudhari says it has been an exciting journey so far.
“Jendamark is an expert in powertrain solutions for internal combustion vehicles, while EVs have a completely different powertrain. But EVs have brought us tremendous new learning opportunities.”
FACT BOX: CLEARING THE FOG
At the heart of India’s push towards EVs is the government’s all-important clean energy policy aimed at reducing toxic pollution levels.
- Severe traffic congestion in India’s major cities can result in average trip speeds of less than 20 kilometres per hour.
- At such speeds, vehicles emit four to eight times more than they would under less congested conditions.
- Vehicles also consume more fuel per trip and produce a higher carbon footprint due to congestion.
- According to the website India Today, on Diwali night 2019, many areas of Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index of 999 – 16 times higher than the prescribed limit.
by NewsAdmin | Dec 4, 2019 | Jendamark Junction, Jendamark News
Determined to create a more conducive environment for learning, Jendamark India recently partnered with the new Zilla Parishade (District Council) School in Velu to fund the building of a classroom.
This newly built, government-run school serves 300 pupils, whose families hail from a mainly rural, agricultural community.
Jendamark India’s Pranjali Valavade says before its establishment, there were no district schools in the area.
“Education is essential for development and we really wanted to give something back to the community in which we are operating our business,” says Valavade, adding that one of these children could be the next tech leader.
“It is very important to have clean and spacious infrastructure for learning. We are so proud that we were able to give some small help in building a bright future for these children.”
by NewsAdmin | Dec 4, 2019 | Jendamark Junction
With the BS-VI (Euro 6) emission standards deadline of April 2020 looming, Jendamark India has been hard at work, rolling out its first adaptive canning lines for customers.
SHARDA MOTOR INDUSTRIES
Sharda Motors was the first customer, ordering two identical canning lines for its facilities in Pune and Nashik, to cater to the varying needs of vehicle manufacturers Tata, Mahindra and Force Motors.
To accommodate each of Sharda’s end customers’ different requirements, 140 quick-changeover toolings were included in the design of the line.
After receiving the order in July 2018, Jendamark India set about the massively challenging task of designing, manufacturing and executing the country’s first adaptive canning line.
Counterpart Jendamark South Africa has been providing canning lines for over 10 years to several companies across the globe.
As Jendamark India’s key account manager Sayali Mahajan explains:
“This vast experience has allowed Jendamark India to use this expertise and to fine tune the machines to develop unique Indian solutions.”
With support from South Africa throughout this year-long project, Jendamark India developed standard machines and the two lines according to the customer’s specifications.
“In the end, we were proud to deliver a product that achieves the output volume, quality and cycle time requirements,” says Mahajan.
“Because adaptive canning is a relatively new concept, Jendamark also supported Sharda Motors in giving the customer a detailed understanding of adaptive canning in addition to product design recommendations.”
In-depth training on operating the line, preventative maintenance and quality product building was also provided in the initial phase, with future plans to integrate Jendamark’s own Industry 4.0-powered Odin tool management system into the line.
FAURECIA
In another first for the company, Jendamark India was asked to deliver its first fully automated adaptive canning line for Faurecia.
The most challenging aspect of this project was that two lines were ordered – one of which was built in India and the other in South Africa.
“But the customer’s condition was that they had to be absolutely identical,” says Jendamark India’s CEO Himanshu Jadhav.
Naturally, Jendamark’s two manufacturing facilities strove to reach the high bar that was set – and achieved success.
Jadhav says key to this success was sending members of Jendamark India’s design, assembly, controls and production management teams to South Africa, which was where Line 1 was built.
“The team gained hands-on experience and were able to transfer skills and knowledge on their return to India for building Line 2. Now we have developed our own resource pool of experts, who can successfully execute future projects.”
This project took nine months to complete and both lines were installed in the Faurecia facility in Chakan, where they will build products for end customer Cummins.
“More than meeting Faurecia’s request, this project also proved that Jendamark can deliver to a consistent global standard – wherever the line is manufactured,” says Jadhav.
“It was a steep learning curve working with our South African colleagues, with great cultural and knowledge exchanges between our teams.”
by Good News Lab | Aug 6, 2019 | Jendamark Junction
Part and parcel of Jendamark India’s programme to help the automotive industry achieve the desired Bharat Stage 6 emission norms are canning lines for Tier 1 suppliers like Sharda Motors, Faurecia, Cummins and Tenneco.
Essentially, the lines assemble the canning section of the catalytic converter, which is an emission reduction device incorporated into the exhaust system of a vehicle.It is made up of a coated monolith and intumescent mat inside a stainless steel can. The mat acts like a spring and, when compressed, exerts pressure to hold the monolith inside the can.
“In its simplest form, the device converts hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides into water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Using catalysts like platinum, palladium and rhodium, it takes in harmful gases and puts out less harmful ones,” explains Jendamark India CEO Himanshu Jadhav.
Assembling the canning section of the converter requires a great deal of accuracy, which is why most of Jendamark’s canning lines are semi- to fully automated, incorporating a wide variety of robotic, electronic and mechanical components to reduce the risk of human error, says Jadhav.
CHANGING NORMS
“As anti-pollution efforts ramp up worldwide, the catalytic industry is now worth billions of dollars and growing at a rapid rate, with new technologies continuously being implemented.”
Naturally, he says, keeping up with the burgeoning industry presents a number of challenges. “Because of varying global emission norms, catalytic convertors have become larger and there are more irregular and non-round shapes than before,” Jadhav says.
“At the same time, the canning lines are required to turn out larger volumes, with shorter cycle times.”
MEETING CHALLENGES
To deal with the ever-present challenges, Jendamark developed standard machines that accommodate at least 90% of the odd-shaped parts, while the small margin that do not fall within the standard part range are handled by custom-designed machines.
“We design the lines according to the customer’s specifications and deliver a product that outputs the volumes and cycle times required,” Jadhav says. Another innovation born of necessity is the hybrid line, capable of producing pre-and post-sizing parts using common equipment.
“We have created a prototype division that is helping Tier 1 suppliers and original equipment manufacturers with part and process development, as well as manufacturing prototype parts for use in test vehicles.”
ADDING ADBLUE
In addition to the standard canning lines, Jendamark also produces complete catalytic converter assembly systems with AdBlue technology. As Jadhav explains, AdBlue is a reagent, comprised of a synthetic urea solution, that is injected into the exhaust gases of modern diesel-powered vehicles, which emit more smog-causing nitrogen oxides than petrol engines.
“With the assistance of the catalytic converter, AdBlue changes toxic exhaust gas into harmless nitrogen and steam for cleaner emissions. It’s an essential element in modern vehicles fitted with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, which helps to meet the levels required under the Bharat Stage Six and Euro Six norms.”
by Good News Lab | Nov 14, 2018 | Industry 4.0, Jendamark Junction
Jendamark’s virtual reality room allows designers and customers to explore the possibilities of a new production line in three-dimensional reality via an interactive, computergenerated experience.
The introduction of virtual reality (VR) has had tangible, real world benefits for Jendamark customers by enhancing the design review process.
First, the design team makes the complete production line in VR and a member dons the glasses for a walkthrough of the line. This simple step often highlights potential flaws that would not be apparent during a normal design review.
“It’s about seeing the design with fresh eyes,” says Yanesh Naidoo.
“For example, from a maintenance perspective, can the motor be easily replaced or is it stuck underneath in an unreachable back corner? And, as the operator, can one easily reach all the components, and does it really take the time predicted?”
Naidoo says VR is ideal for ironing out any kinks before the design is handed over to manufacturing and for clients to get a better understanding of its workings before sign-off.
“While the line is in production, VR could also be used to train teams of operators on the virtual version, so that they are ready to hit the ground running when commissioning is complete.”
by Good News Lab | Nov 13, 2018 | Industry 4.0, Jendamark Junction
The Internet of Things (IoT) describes a network of machines, devices and other items that have built-in connectivity, electronics, software or sensors that allow them to share data and improve efficiency for humans interacting with them.
While the idea of a “smart home” or “smart business” may seem far in the future, current estimates suggest that there could be around 30 billion connected devices worldwide by 2020.
For Jendamark, the first application of IoT principles will soon be demonstrated with the addition of a documentation app* to its Odin software platform.
According to Yanesh Naidoo, it is standard practice for the company to deliver all the printed manuals and necessary documentation for a new machine or line as part of the handover process to a customer. Unfortunately, those documents are often misplaced over the years and remain unread until something goes wrong, he says.
“Our solution is to place a 2D matrix or QR code on the main sub-assembly of every machine we make. Then, instead of trying to find the manual, the maintenance technician simply scans the code using the app, which will take him to a link with the correct documentation for that particular sub-assembly.”
Taking this one step further, the IoT could be used to collect data such as the part numbers on a customer’s machine as well as the replacement parts available in his or her storeroom. This information would be available at a glance via the app, thus reducing machine downtime while fixing the problem.
* Currently in development. Available soon for Android devices from the Google Play store.
