DLW poised to achieve target for 2007-08

Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), Varanasi, manufacturer of Diesel Electric Locomotives, has set ambitious targets for the current fiscal.

"We are confident enough to achieve production target of 200 engines for the year 2007-08. The company is working on cost effectiveness and technology upgrade, which are the key to retain global competitiveness by putting price-value-technology equation right," Pradeep Kumar Mishra-PRO, DLW told Business Standard.

DLW was set up in 1961 as a greenfield project in technical collaboration with American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of the US to manufacture Diesel Electric Locomotives. With a capacity of building more than 150 locos per year, it is today one of the world's largest diesel locomotive manufacturer outside North America.

"The production, which began with only 2 per cent indigenous components, now nearly has all components indigenous. For the financial year 2006-07, the company surpassed its set target of 182 rail engines by four marks and produced 186, which is the maximum output of the unit till date," Mishra said.

Of the decided production, DLW has to manufacture 62 high horsepower AC/AC, microprocessor-controlled locomotives with fault diagnostic system, and capable of pulling 58 Box N Wagon freight train at 100 kmph even on one in 200 gradient.

Its passenger version has a speed potential of 160 kmph and can haul a 24-coach passenger train at 120 kmph speed. Being fuel efficient locomotive, it consumes about 10 per cent less fuel as compared to conventional ALCO locomotives. It is understood that the induction of these locomotives will enable the railways to increase throughout and fetch a huge amount of revenue compared to any other type of locomotive.

"We have recently handed four engines to Senegal and Mali. For the current as well as coming years, we have got export orders for about 54 engines worth Rs 336 crore, which again is the highest in DLW's history," said Mishra.

DLW client's list includes the Indian Railways, steel plants, port trusts or other national railways along with foreign countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Tanzania.

With the transfer of technology from M/S General Motors of USA in 1995, DLW has become the only manufacturing facility outside M/S General Motors with exclusive rights for the manufacture of locomotives of their designs.