The 5th edition of Automotive Engineering Show, an international exhibition on technologies for automotive manufacturing is set to begin on April 26. This one of its kind event at Auto Cluster, Chinchwad between April 26 and 28, 2012 is dedicated to automotive plant processes and systems, or 'manufacturing enablers'. The show will also host the 2nd edition of the 'Excellence Awards for Innovation and Creative Automation'.

The automotive industry, globally, as well in India, is one of the key sectors of the economy. Due to its deep forward and backward linkages with several key segments of the economy, automotive industry has a strong multiplier effect and acts as one of the drivers of economic growth.

'Automotive sector output to contribute more than 10% of India's GDP, Pune to be big contributor' - The Automotive Mission Plan (AMP)

According to the Automotive Mission Plan (AMP) by government of India which has documented inputs for ten year mission plan for development of the Indian Automotive Industry into a Global Hub, the Indian Automotive Industry after de-licensing in July, 1991 has grown at a spectacular rate of 17% on an average for last few years. The industry has now attained a turnover of Rs 1,65,000 crores (34 billion USD) and an investment of Rs 50,000 crores.

The plan also states that the sector is also seen as a multiplier of industrial growth. It helps in attaining two critical goals of the common minimum programme, that of increasing manufacturing output and of providing employment. The Automotive Mission Plan (AMP) aims at doubling the contribution of automotive sector to more than 10% of GDP by taking the turnover to 145 USD in 2016 with special emphasis on export of small cars, MUVs, two wheelers and auto components. The AMP intends to make India the manufacturing hub for small cars of the world.

The Automotive Engineering Show is perhaps the only tradeshow in the world that sharply focusses on the automotive plant processes and systems, or 'manufacturing enablers' in the factory, i.e. manufacturing of auto-components and vehicle systems. With an objective to help vehicle and auto-component companies deploy appropriate technology and connect to providers of systems and processes to optimise efficiency, quality and costs, the show would appeal to vehicle manufacturers (OEM) and component makers (Tier I, II) as an important industry occasion or a 'community event'.

Sameer Khedkar, Exhibition Director and Managing Director, Focussed Event Management (P) Ltd, says, "Pune is home to some of the largest manufacturers of light, medium, and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, two-wheelers and stationary engines. It has more than 53 large companies with a collective turnover of over US$ 1,400 million and exports worth over US$ 235 million. Not stopping at that, Pune is also the destination of a host of supporting industries. The fact that an estimated 7000 ancillary units (tier suppliers) are at Pune is an effective indicator to the scale of the auto industry that is alive and thriving here. Considering this, there could be no better location than Pune to hold an automotive engineering show."

The Automotive Engineering Show will host the 2nd edition of the 'Excellence Awards for Innovation and Creative Automation' on April 27th, a joint presentation along with the Automation Industry Association. Here, seasoned automobile middle-level managers will present their experiences of how they creatively used automation in true-life situations or overcame specific challenges with technical creativity thus enhancing plant performance and efficiency. The awards being presented are: Ingersoll Rand Energy Efficiency Award, Kennametal Environment Protection Award, Sandvik Coromant Productivity Award, Demag Safety Award and the Emergys Value Improvement Award.

Technology seminars are also lined on the 1st 2 days of the event, covering a broad range of subjects such as metrology, vision systems and new technologies.

The previous (4th) International Exhibition on Automotive Technologies - Automotive Engineering Show was held last year in June at the Chennai Trade Centre, Nandanbakkam, Chennai and the organizers are now expanding to the latest horizon - Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where there is a flurry of activity in greenfield projects - Tata, Maruti, Ford, Peugeot setting up their plants and their respective tier vendors following suit!