SALALAH -- Dunes Oman, manufacturer of iron castings predominantly used for automobile applications, doubled its production capacity to 36,000 tonnes from initial capacity plan of 18000 tonnes in 2008. The company also has ambitious expansion plans in near future. Established in 2007 in the Salalah Free Zone (SFZ), Dunes Oman started manufacturing operations in 2008 and wrote a success story both for the company as also for the newly established Salalah Free Zone.
In an interview with Oman Observer, G Srinivas, Vice-President Operations of Dunes Oman, gave full marks to SFZ management for amazing performance of the company and said: "Thanks to the excellent support received from Salalah Free Zone, the company could double the production tonnage within 3 years of starting the operations." The company is engaged in the manufacture of iron castings predominantly used for automobile applications.
"These components are being fitted in various passenger cars produced by Audi, Volkswagon, Ford, Daimler, BMW, Nissan, Hyundai, Suzuki and heavy commercial vehicles such as Volvo and MAN," said Srinivas Commenting on the success story of the company, Srinivasan said: "The commissioning of the manufacturing plant was completed in 2008 and the commercial production was started in April 2008. The castings are being exported to various countries viz Germany, UK, France, Czech Republic, Italy, Belarus, China, USA, Mexico, Malaysia and India."
The company has a strong customer base and increasing demand for the castings manufactured. Dunes Oman entered into the US market under its second expansion plan and it has some more expansion plans in near future. Set up by Brakes India Limited, an offshoot of the Indian conglomerate TVS Group, Dunes Oman's quality management systems were accredited to ISO/TS16949 standards in 2009 and its environmental management systems to ISO 14001 standards in 2010.
Established in 1962, Brakes India Limited is a joint venture between the TVS Group and Lucas Industries UK. The company caters to more than 60 per cent of Indian domestic market. With a total employee strength of 250, Dunes Oman has no competitor in Oman and its 100 per cent products are exported to automobile manufacturing countries like Germany, UK, France, Czech Republic, Italy, Belarus, China, USA, Mexico, Malaysia and India.
Commenting on market trend in automobile castings sector, Srinivas said: "The demand for automobile castings is increasing from both European and North American markets and the growth of Dunes Oman is linked to is linked to the global automotive sector growth." "Except for few countries, the growth opportunities for automotive castings in Middle East are limited as the automobile manufacturing in this region is yet to take off," he said.
© Oman Daily Observer 2012
