Chennai-based Rane Madras Ltd (RML), a key player in steering systems for commercial vehicles, and Madras Engineering Industries (MEI) Pvt Ltd, known for manufacturing and exporting automatic slack adjusters for air brake systems, have secured a position among Volvo Group Trucks’ top-tier suppliers for fossil-free automotive parts.
These fossil-free ferrous castings from Rane Madras and MEI are set to be integrated into Volvo vehicles starting from the first quarter of 2025. Volvo Group is striving to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 and aims for half of its trucks in Europe to run on non-fossil fuels, mainly electric, by 2030.
Focus on Sustainability
As part of its commitment to reducing emissions, Volvo Group in India has begun sourcing components made with renewable energy throughout its supply chain. This initiative involves eliminating toxic chemicals, minimizing resource usage, and incorporating fossil-free steel and electric vehicles for material transport, ensuring a sustainable production process.
The fossil-free castings, which undergo stringent stress and fatigue tests, will be produced using 100% renewable energy and recycled metallic scrap, without relying on virgin materials like pig iron. The entire manufacturing process is landfill-free and free from toxic elements, resulting in fully recyclable products.
Mark Bamber, Head of Circularity & Remanufacturing at Volvo Group, stated, “We have a dedicated team focused on fossil-free materials and are supporting our vendors in managing risks.” Volvo Trucks sources approximately $450 million worth of ferrous castings annually, including both regular and fossil-free types.
Rane Madras Green Castings
In June 2022, Brakes India became the first supplier to provide green castings to the Volvo Group. Now, Rane Madras and MEI, along with Brakes India, have joined the exclusive group of Chennai-based companies supplying fossil-free castings to Volvo Trucks. Volvo Group has about 150 suppliers in India, with around 25 located in Tamil Nadu.
The fossil-free castings supplied by Rane Madras and MEI are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 13,000 tonnes annually. “Over the past two years, the green castings supplied by Brakes India for Volvo Group engines have led to a reduction of over 100,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions,” noted Rajul Khajure, Lead Supplier Quality Engineer, Volvo Group Truck Purchasing, Volvo Group India.
These products, manufactured in India, have received GreenCO and GreenPro certifications from the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Green Products & Services Council, confirming their alignment with global sustainability standards and adherence to local policies.
