Brakes India on innovation track

Brakes India on innovation track

TVS Group company, Brakes India (BIL), has developed a world-class test track with a two km straight stretch to test brakes. The track, constructed about 100 km from Chennai, has been developed over a period of two years, in consultation with BIL’s joint venture partner TRW and UK-headquartered independent product engineering, testing and consultancy agency, MIRA.

The track will test and validate performance of regular brakes at high speeds as well as a new ABS anti-lock braking system that prevents vehicles from skidding on a smooth surface, Managing Director, BIL, S Viji told Auto Monitor. The ABS system, at present, is predominantly prevalent in vehicles in developed countries and China.

‘At present, only 10-15 percent of the Indian vehicles are fitted with ABS system and the equipment is imported. Till recently, its usage in cars was limited to luxury models. However, today many compact cars also offer an ABS option. Among the light utility vehicles, the Mahindra Scorpio is equipped with our ABS system,’ Executive Director – Marketing, BIL, Badri Vijayaraghavan said.

The conventional brake system works on fixed assumptions of tyre-to-road adhesion during vehicle braking. Since this has a potential to create a wheel-lock situation, the need for the anti-lock braking systems evolved. ABS units augment conventional braking systems to achieve the performance of avoiding a wheel-lock.

Currently, BIL is importing ABS systems from TRW, but as sales volumes ramp up, the company plans to localise and produce the product indigenously.

Innovating New Products

Plans are also afoot at BIL’s brake division to add a new range of innovative products to the current portfolio in addition to licensing technology from TRW and alliance partners — for instance, friction manufacturers of automotive brakes, ArvinMeritor, for technical support for heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs) and Hitachi Automotive Products and Nisshinbo of Japan for passenger cars.

TRW provides 30 percent of the company’s product stream at present.

BIL is also conducting R&D in applied research and patentable innovations jointly with OE customers for developing foundation brakes for passenger cars and light utility vehicles. A pin-in-pin disc brake calliper for car and utility vehicles is under research and the product is expected to become commercially viable next March. This is an improvisation of conventional sliding callipers, which is expected to provide low levels of drag and hence can improve the fuel efficiency of an engine. According to the company, due to simplified design, the weight of the pin-in-pin disc brake calliper will be lower than conventional sliding callipers.
Another standard product of BIL that has been adapted for Indian usage is a high-performance drum brake. An innovative feature influencing brake geometry of conventional drum brake shoes has resulted in this high-performance drum brake. BIL is working with OE customers on this application in cars and utility vehicles with its launch expected by April-May, 2010.

Another product that the company has recently launched is the actuation booster with a mechanical brake assist and fixed seal master cylinder. The booster technology provides brake assistance and enables higher braking when brakes are suddenly jammed. There are regulatory requirements, which demand higher levels of boost assist in panic brake applications. This booster works under normal boost ratio during gradual brake application. This is a common feature in ABS installed vehicles in Europe and in India it is steadily gaining in popularity.

The fixed seal master cylinder addresses the twin requirements of compact installation under the bonnet and compatibility with the ABS system in a vehicle.

According to Fiji, ‘LCVs in India