Sundaram Brake Linings starts production at modernised Chengalpet plant

Sundaram Brake Linings Ltd (SBL), the maker of friction materials, has finished modernisation work at its plant 4 located in Mahindra World City, Chengalpet, and has commenced production at the plant. “The regular production at the plant has been resumed from August 01, 2016,” said SBL in a BSE filing on August 2, 2016. The company had stopped production at the plant 4 since February last year to upgrade the facility. 

SBL has five manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu – one plant at Padi (Chennai) and two each at Mahindra World City (Chengalpet) and Mustakurichi (Virudhunagar district).

As per the company’s 2015-16 annual report, SBL has been giving special focus on commercial vehicle disc pad development in view of the emerging trends in the world market, from drum brake linings to disc brakes for commercial vehicles.

The entry of new friction material manufacturers in organised sector and competitors continuing to offer low priced asbestos and non-asbestos linings for medium & heavy commercial vehicles have affected SBL’s sales growth and margins in the last fiscal.

In order to counter this trend, Sundaram Brake Linings, a pioneer in the manufacture of asbestos-free friction materials in India, has developed suitable products with new generation technology. As part of its medium term strategy, the company is also focusing on the two wheeler segment and domestic aftermarket segment.