MICO to roll out CRD injectors in early 2007

Motor Industries Company (MICO), the Indian subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, a global leader in the automotive and industrial technology, will commence the complete production of common rail diesel injectors (CRDi) in early 2007.

The total project cost from manufacturing of CRD injector components to the production of the complete sets of CRD injectors is Rs 550 crore.

MICO's Nashik facility, spread over 4.05 lakh square metre area with a built-up area of 67,000 sq mt, produces high quality injectors and nozzles for diesel engines of all types and applications.

"In November 2005, MICO signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government for Rs 550-crore common rail injector project. Accordingly, in the first phase, the Nashik facility has started manufacturing CRDi components since the beginning of 2006. The present manufacturing capacity of the Nashik facility is 6,000 injector component sets per day. The facility will start manufacturing complete sets of common rail injectors in the second phase in 2007 and it will be the first facility in India to locally manufacture complete sets of CRD injectors," according to Subbu Hegde, GM (commercial) and Reinhard Floerl, GM (technical), MICO, Nashik.

Fuel injectors are the main components of the common rail diesel system (CRS), a technology which gives engine developers the freedom to reduce exhaust emissions further and cut down engine noise.

To comply with stricter emission norms, new vehicles will need to be equipped with electronically-controlled fuel injection systems like common rail system.

With the implementation of new emission norms in India with effect from April 1, 2005, the market has to meet the Bharat Stage III (BS III) Standards.

BS III is the Indian equivalent of Euro III. To reap the benefits this opportunity opens up, Bosch has introduced 4th generation CRS.

The Nashik facility enjoys the status of 100 per cent Export Oriented Unit (EoU) and the foreign exchange earning from these exports are expected to be Rs 150 crore in 2006. The Nashik unit is also eyeing exports worth Rs 500 crore in the next two-three years.