Powering ahead Bosch India

PoWering aheaD

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology products and services for a broad range of manufacturing industries. Bosch India is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bosch Group of Germany and is the leading driver of innovative technology throughout the Asia region. Philip Yorke reports on a company that continues to invest heavily in new plant and research facilities and is setting new standards in mobility solutions, consumer goods and energy and building technologies.

Since the outset of manufacturing operations in India in 1953, the number of manufacturing sites has grown to 14 along with 7 research, development and application centres that employ over 30,000 people. India is also home to the largest Bosch development centre outside Germany. Recently, in the Indian state of Karnataka, the company completed the construction of a new state-of-the-art fuel injection system plant, which is now playing a major role in the delivery of highly efficient electronic fuel injection systems for a wide range of vehicles.

Driving solar power initiatives

The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) solar project commissioned in late 2017 has resulted in Bosch India providing solar power systems that are equivalent to powering 5000 urban households at the port. At the same time, the new initiative is estimated to help reduce CO2 emissions by more than 4100 tonnes per annum. Bosch told Industry Europe that it is keen to expand its green footprint in India with a clear focus on the country’s seaports.

The new 4MW solar project is being executed by the Bosch Energy and Building Solutions (BEBS) team in India. This is a groundmounted installation sited on a land area that extends close to 18 acres. It will deliver up to 20,000 units per day of the port’s total energy consumption needs.

The specialised Bosch team in India has leveraged its strong design and engineering expertise in innovating solutions for the PV (Photovoltaic) Plant, along with NMPT and the solar energy corporation of India, in order to realise this major solar project. The solar plant will also act as the energy gateway for NMPT, as the main metering centre from the electricity grid located at the solar plant itself.

launching heavy-duty technology

Recently Bosch India launched its latest range of ‘Heavy-Duty’ Professional Power Tools designed to deliver unmatched reliability and performance. The new range of Heavy-Duty Power Tools has been engineered to outlast customer expectations and offer them unrivalled power, performance and robustness.

Commenting on the launch, Panish PK, regional sales director and business head, India said, “We have noted feedback from our users regarding the performance they want from their tools to match their specific needs. This resulted in an urge to develop a product portfolio that can really fulfil their demands and more.”

He further added, “The construction industry is highly demanding and needs sophisticated tools to cope with the heavy load. Bosch Power Tools Heavy Duty Range offers them exceptional solutions to

complete the job on time and with quality.” Today the Bosch HeavyDuty Power Tools range is the toughest and most reliable on the market and comes with an industry-leading one-year warranty.

Driving electromobility forward

Bosch India plans to move into first series production of its electromobility solutions in the Indian market during the first quarter of 2018. The company’s new products will provide end-to-end electrified solutions adapted to the Indian market. Over 40 Indian cities are home to more than one million residents. With growing mobility requirements being greatest in urban sprawls, Bosch foresees electrification as the key to its future growth in India.

“Small vehicle segments will drive the transition to mass electrification, as urban dwellers seek a simple and affordable alternative to conventional standards,” said Mr Peter Tyroller, member of the board of management of the Bosch Group responsible for the Asia Pacific region. The company’s latest range of electrified solutions aims to address India’s individual mobility requirements.

However, despite the focus on electromobility as a long-term alternative, internal combustion engines will continue to play a major role in the near future, with the powertrain of the future being a mix of electromobility and combustion engines.

The Central Indian Government’s initiative has set a target to have an all-electric fleet in India by 2030 as well as faster adoption and manufacturing of both hybrid and electric vehicles. This directive offers Bosch a clear competitive edge. Bosch India provides customised solutions that are designed to meet the government’s impending targets. Bosch has already developed integrated electrification systems including motors, control units, battery chargers and displays, as well as developing an app that can power two-, three- and four-wheeled electric vehicles.

“There are a lot of vehicles in the Indian automotive market right now that have the scope to be electrified. This makes India a great incubator for an electric future,” said Tyroller. The electrification systems from Bosch India can easily be integrated with any light vehicle. The solution has been made scalable across all performance classes between 0.2520kW. This electrified solution delivers high performance for manufacturers even under the most challenging circumstances. n

For further details of Bosch India’s latest innovative products and services visit: www.boschindia.com