Vedanta launches aluminium cylinder head alloy at ACMA 2021

Vedanta, one of India’s foremost producer of metals and oil and gas has announced the formal launch of its newest product, the aluminium Cylinder Head Alloy, a critical raw material for manufacturing cylinder heads and other automotive components.

The company says it is its latest value-added offering in its aluminium product line and caters to various raw material requirements of the automotive industry. The Cylinder Head Alloy leverages material design to help automakers increase the efficiency of internal combustion engines (ICE) for improved performance on emission control, in line with BS-VI and CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency / Economy) norms. The company says currently, this alloy is entirely being imported into India from other countries.

Vedanta unveiled the product for the domestic industry at the 2nd Automotive Raw Material Localisation Conclave and Exhibition today, hosted by the Automotive Components Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA).

The company says it has invested in creating this cylinder head alloy capacity of 10,000 tonnes using world-class technology of Befesa (Spain) and Properzi (Italy). This initiative is in alignment with the government’s thrust on self-reliance to cater to the domestic requirement of automotive companies and original equipment manufacturers to rely on indigenously procured material. The localisation of the domestic raw material supply chain will surely help the Indian automotive industry.

At the event, Vedanta also showcased its diverse portfolio of products for the automotive industry in aluminium (Primary Foundry Alloy or PFA, Billets, Rolled Products and Slabs), Zinc (Hindustan Zinc Die-Cast Alloy and Special High Grade Zinc), Lead Ingot and Alloy, Silver Bars, Copper Rods, and Steel Wire Rods, as well as capabilities for high-end value-additions, technology leadership and logistics to support the auto industry. Looking at the growing sustainability consciousness and faster rate of adoption of electric vehicles and hybrids globally, Vedanta has also created a centre of excellence for R&D and innovation and is well placed to cater to the emerging needs of the automotive industry.

Ajay Kapur, CEO – Aluminium & Power, and MD – Commercial, Vedanta said, “For India to become a $5 trillion economy by 2025 and an economic powerhouse, the entire manufacturing sector has a crucial role to play. India’s auto component sector is among the fastest-growing but lags in contribution to manufacturing turnover. The Indian auto component industry’s aspirations of having a significant share of the global trade calls for a renewed focus on localization on every business front, particularly with respect to sourcing raw materials. As India’s leading producer of a vast array of globally acclaimed metals and value-added products, Vedanta aims to partner with various industry sectors, especially automotive and auto ancillary industry, across their entire value chain, from large players to MSMEs, for the nation’s growth.”

Ruchika Jha, CEO – HZL Silver Business, and chief marketing officer – Vedanta said, “There is immense opportunity for India to leverage domestic capabilities and potentially substitute automotive parts imports of nearly $12 billion. Vedanta is a natural partner for the automotive industry, well-resourced to create long-term value for automotive component manufacturers. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, engineering prowess, global technology partnerships and R&D capability to develop product solutions perfectly tailored for downstream industries, Vedanta is keen to partner with the Indian automotive and auto-ancillary players and together with them, build the future of mobility.”

Vedanta was also the first to supply Aluminium Primary Foundry Alloy (PFA) for manufacturing wheels to the Indian automotive industry, prior to which the alloy was only being imported to the country.

Also read: Vedanta Aluminium’s Ajay Kapur: ‘Indian OEMs have a huge opportunity to scale up their use of aluminium, which comes with its ‘green’ benefits.’