ZF Steering plans to make power steering for tractors
ZF Steering is planning to make hydraulic power steering system for tractors. The new product samples have already been developed and are given to the customers for validation and for other standard procedures. Once that process is completed, ZF will produce the steering at its Pune plant where the company is manufacturing hydraulic power steering for commercial vehicles. No major additional investment would be needed as the machinery is the same. However, some new tools for gauging and quality check might be required.
Good monsoon has created good demand for tractors. The OEMs are trying to attract the new buyers with more convenient features like power steering. The market sentiment is not fully open to new technologies. However, there is potential for the auto component makers to start planning and working on it.
“The market is now opening up a little but not much I’d say. The buyers who would prefer these new technologies in tractors are those who have experienced them in cars or other vehicles. They are now very much comfortable to buy the tractors with modern features as available in European countries,” Jitendra Munot, Joint Managing Director, ZF Steering India said.
ZF Steering, originally based in Germany started its operation in India in 1981 as a 50:50 joint venture as ZF Steering Gear India. The company is one of the prominent hydraulic steering suppliers to the commercial vehicle makers like Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors, DICV, and others. The tractor market is now opening up for technologies like power steering as the international manufacturers namely John Derre, Massey Ferguson and others have forayed into the market with new products.
With ZF already providing hydraulic power steering to commercial vehicle makers, it won’t be much hard for it to develop hydraulic power steering for tractors as the base technology is the same. The reason behind this shift in trend is the entry of international tractors in India and buyer’s interest in them. The Indian OEMs also are now asking suppliers to come up with sustainable solutions. Quality is a major factor in the international markets. In India price is important and hence local suppliers are preferred, Munot said.
ZF Steering procures all the components from the local market and one of their prominent suppliers is Varsha Forgings. It provides the machined components with quality as power steering gear is one of the critical components.
On the other product development front, the company is focusing on V-rod, torque rod and sealed ball joint for commercial vehicles, apart from hydraulic power steering gear. It has tied up with a Korean company which has the technology of sealed ball joint. It needs no greasing in its life time as it is lubricated with a high quality special grease. “These sealed ball joints fit our portfolio and when we had talks with our customers, they were happy about it. The product is ready, samples are sent and production would start shortly,” he said.
Talking about sustainability of Indian made power steering gears and the competition from international manufacturers, ZF Steering is confident as the products are developed for the Indian terrain conditions, unlike the international parts. OEMs prefer getting components from Indian suppliers as it is a more viable option in terms of both economy and fast delivery. “If you are looking to manufacture a product in India for Indian customers, then there is no point in procuring components from outside,”
Munot said.