Leading SMEs of India 2023

22 | Leading SMEs of India 2023 [ EXPERT’S VIEW ] Rohan Rathod Chairman & Managing Director Delux Bearings Private Limited with all major CV players – TATA, Ashok Leyland, Volvo Eicher. I joined the company in 2017, when Surendranagar facility was being modernized. In 2018, we established another technology centre in Mumbai. Between 2018 and 2022 the company grew rapidly at 20-30%Y-o-Y despite the pandemic and lock downs. In 2022, we were the first company in India andprobablyoneof the few companies globally to successfully design, test and industrialize the Smart Pneumatic Clutch Actuator for AMTs. This product helped us get closer to new customers, Fersa Bearings Spain being one of them. This led to a mutually beneficial relat ionship which ul t imately ended up in the joint venture of our two companies by the beginning of 2023. Now we are part of the Fersa Group, a Spanish Multi- national company that specializes in wheel bearings for automotive and also bearings for wind and rail segment as a part of their industrial brand NKE. What are the major USPs and success mantra of Delux Bearings? Our main differentiating factor is flexibility, professional team and strong systems for quick decision making. Our services include product des ign, s imulat ion, optimization, analysis, testing and manufacturing. Our parts are proprietary in nature, and we add value in the form of a high level of customization to suit the customer need. I think one of important things I did when I joined was to get myself a good team and align them to the objectives of the company. What are the major customer segments and product portfolio which Delux Bearings provides products and solutions for? Historically we have been a Clutch Release Bearings company with almost 35-40% of our turnover coming from this product line. The company developed new technologies release bearings – the CSC (Concentric Slave cylinders – which operate hydraulically) and t he Pneuma t i c C l u t ch Actuators (PCA – which operate pneumat ical ly and governed by a sensor). The company is gradually diversifying its supplies for passenger vehicles for the Dual Mass Flywheel bearings – one of the most critical and highly sensitive technologies. We are the only company in India to manufacture this specific product. With the partnership with Fersa we will expand our range to include industrial and automotive wheel and transmission technologies such as Tapered Roller Bearings, Unitized Wheel bearings and Axle box bearings for rail. Delux Bearings, formerly known as Vidyut Motors, was started by Shri Dilipbhai Rathod, first generation entrepreneur as an automotive parts trading company. We interviewed Rohan Rathod about key milestones, success mantra and the major customer segments of the company. De l ux s t a r t ed wi t h a sma l l manufac tur ing workshop in Surendranagar Gujarat. By the 1980`s Delux became synonymous wi th af fordable, high-qual i ty bearings. The first big breakthrough of the company was in 1995 when we were awarded private labelling contract for one of the largest European T1 auto company. Post this company expanded international business. In 2007, company established a new factory in Pune to supply to Commerc i a l Vehi c le and Tractor OEMs. By 2011 Delux was successfully registered as a vendor Dun & Bradstreet