EFL To Make New Tech Castings

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Chennai, Sept 13: Ennore Foundries Ltd (EFL), a Hinduja group company, is planning to widen its product range with the manufacture of high-pressure aluminium castings. The plan is at the drawing board stage and a decision on this would be taken in a few months, V Mahadevan, managing director, EFL, told FE.

With the implementation of Euro norms for automobiles, there is an increased need for the engine head castings to be light and thin valved. Such intricate castings are believed to help in reduction of fuel consumption. “We feel that the passenger car industry would move towards the installation of high density aluminium castings to adhere to the Euro norms. Hence it is necessary for EFL to have a presence in the segment,” said Mr Mahadevan.

Also the company has been receiving enquiries for the export of such castings.

EFL also has plans to optimise the production in its facility at Ennore in view of the increasing demand for castings both in the domestic and export markers. “We are optimistic about raising the production level in our facility by 10% to 15%, by the end of September,” he claimed.

EFL has an installed capacity of 51,000 tonne per year of which 48,000 tonne is for grey iron castings and 3,000 for aluminium castings. EFL’s gross production for the first quarter of this year was 10,522 tonne.

The company has had a very negligible presence in the export segment. With the huge export potential for castings from India, the company is planning to cash in on the demand.

“We have got a few enquiries from the US for the export of ‘Off highway’ castings and we have started sample production. But the export revenue this year would be less than Rs 10 crore as exports have not begun in a full fledged manner,” Mr Mahadevan said.

EFL also aims to reduce its dependency on Ashok Leyland for the supply of castings. At present 65% of EFL’s production is supplied to Ashok Leyland.The company plans to bring it to less than 50%.