Chennai, July 6: Sundram Fasteners Ltd (SFL) will switch completely to making plastic-based radiator caps from metal-based caps within a three-year period. At present, plastic caps constitute 25 per cent of the total radiator cap production. An investment of Rs 6-7 crore would be required for the conversion, said SFL chairman and managing director Suresh Krishna in an informal meeting with the press.The General Motors (GM) "Supplier of the year -1999" award (for the fourth year in succession) was presented by Basil N Drossos, executive director (South east Asia and India), GM, Asia Pacific (Pte) Ltd to Krishna here on Thursday. SFL is one of the 181 companies worldwide and the only Indian company to receive the award. After receiving the honour, Krishna said that it was no small feat or coincidence and compared it to the gold medal in the Olympics. SFL plants are an example to any supplier and GM itself, said Drossos. u He added that GM accounts for nine million of the 57 million cars sold worldwide and if the associates of GM are included, they will account a quarter of the global sales.
The launch of Covisint, a B2B market place for auto manufactures and suppliers created by GM, Ford and Chrysler will spell tremendous opportunity for the Indian auto ancillary suppliers, felt Suresh Krishna. The purchasing would be made impersonal through internet which would be beneficial to Indian suppliers, he added.
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