Ashok Leyland employs a host of smart manufacturing techniques.

Amandeep Singh
President – LCV, International Operations, Defense & Power Solutions, Ashok Leyland

What specific goals and priorities are you aiming to achieve during Excon 2023?

Ashok Leyland Engines are well known for its fuel efficiency and reliability.  With ongoing emphasis on stringent emission norms in non – automotive segments and with preference for alternate fuel solutions, we are demonstrating our continued leadership with state-of-the-art product line up that will reiterate our comprehensive offering & packaging across Industrial applications.

Can you provide insights into the range of products/trucks you intend to showcase at Excon 2023?

• We are showcasing our products meeting the latest emission norms in Industrial, Agri and Powergen verticals. We are also launching our Hydrogen powered Engine, first of its kind in Industrial segment in India.
• We are also happy and proud to see our engines powering our customer’s equipment that will be on display. Last Year 33 of our customers displayed their products/machines powered by AL engines, which we expect this time to go up to 40-45 customers, which demonstrates the leap in AL business expansion.
• We are showcasing our CEV5 and CPCB4+ products. With regard to CEV5 products, our extensively validated engines in-house have already crossed several thousand hours in the field under various arduous conditions by our existing and new customers and we are fully geared up for the transition effective Apr 2024.
• Both CEV5 and CPCB4+ technologies has been derived from our  proven, reliable and successful iGen6 engines of automotive BS VI that are running successfully across length & breadth of the country
• We are happy to use this opportunity and launch our Hydrogen ICE. AL was the first to showcase our vehicles powered by Hydrogen ICE in Auto Expo. Hydrogen is a clean and green fuel and will significantly reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We are getting several opportunities from our customers to work on the Hydrogen engine.

How is the company looking at leveraging this opportunity at Excon for business growth?  

EXCON is a global platform to showcase the products & technologies behind that. Not limiting to it & the AL brand reach, AL has always leveraged EXCON in demonstrating the customer specific solutions that has aided significant expansion in various applications & segments with equipment manufacturers.

How do you look at your company’s involvement in smart manufacturing of machines/trucks or your vision for the future in terms of AI, Automation, IoT, Robotics etc?

Ashok Leyland employs a host of smart manufacturing techniques. A gear box assembly for instance would have vision systems for bearings, colour sensors for oil seals and several interlocks to ensure assembly accuracy. SCADA systems are used in many process steps including heat treatment. Axle assembly lines use AI based vision systems and Engine assembly use Industry 4.0 tools. Our efforts towards supply chain digitization are improving traceability across the value chain.’

What do you consider the most critical smart manufacturing technologies for the truck industry, and why?

Smart manufacturing technologies using IoT, cloud computing and AI will drive the future of Automotive Industries. These technologies will transform traditional manufacturing into highly efficient, cost-effective & flexible smart manufacturing system. This includes Intelligent automation, smart energy management in the factory and ability to process advanced materials Higher quality levels, reduced dependence on critical operator skills and higher throughput at lower cost enabled by the above will lead to a more efficient and competitive manufacturing line. Advanced materials will enable light-weighting and new properties as yet unexplored in the commercial vehicle design space.

With the upcoming and ongoing infrastructure and construction opportunities, how do you intend to assess the performance and outcomes of your business for the coming quarters?

A 33% rise in infrastructure investment capital spending amounting to 3.3 per cent of GDP, is unprecedented in India’s economic history and will substantially improve the economy and demand for our products. We have achieved highest revenue in PSB business in the last FY and we are aiming to multiply the growth in upcoming years.

What is your perspective on the anticipated market dynamics in the construction machine/truck sector?

The Central Government has launched Gati Shakti programme with a vision to bring under one umbrella, all the major mobility infrastructure projects of various ministries and state governments, such as Bharatmala (roads & highways), Sagarmala (a string of ports), inland waterways, dry/land ports and Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN). This has and will provide huge opportunities for construction equipment manufacturers / truck sector to improve their volumes & revenue.

Could you elaborate on your company’s initiatives and progress in creating eco-friendly products/trucks?

We have launched H4 CNG Engine in last Excon and planning to launch H6 Hydrogen Engine in this year. Our subsidiary company Switch has already supplied and has a big pipeline of orders in buses. They are also the first to launch EVs in 2 to 3.5T SCVs.

BOX

We will be displaying the following in the Expo

 Display list
AL H4 Engine: Diesel (ALCOB Display)

AL H6 Engine: Diesel – CRS display from H1 Engine R&D

AL H6 Engine: H2 ICE Diesel – CRS display from H1 Engine R&D

AL A6 Engine:Diesel – CRS display from H1 Engine R&D

AL 40 kVA DG Set (CPCB4)

SCR EATS: 4 nos.,
DEF Tank: 1 no.

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