Madras Engineering Industries Ltd. (MEI) has been manufacturing a variety of components for the domestic as well as global automotive industry for more than five decades. MEI began manufacturing manual slack adjusters for air brake systems for light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles in 1982, a move that has enabled it to emerge as the world’s second largest slack adjuster manufacturer.
MEI pioneered the development of Self Setting Automatic Slack Adjusters for Export as well as Domestic markets commencing 2002. When Auto Brake Adjustment was made mandatory in India in 2007, MEI was ready with the product to suit every Indian Commercial Vehicle.
Expansions :
MEI has traditionally invested to build capacity ahead of the market. This has enabled MEI grow 10X in size over the last decade. By June 2019, MEI will have a capacity of over four million automatic slack adjusters annually and are ready to cater to the entire requirement of Indian market.
MEI has also invested in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Chennai – at Ambattur, Maraimalai Nagar, and Mahindra World City. All MEI plants deploy Lean Manufacturing techniques, no-fault-forward assembly lines, apart from inducting supply partners thru Kanban.
MEI had recognised the need for backward integration considering the most significant input for Slack Adjusters being iron castings. To improve flexibility, faster time to market new products and to quickly respond to customer demand changes MEI invested in a captive foundry in 2012. . MEI had also commenced developing castings for many external customers and has grown as a high-quality castings supplier. MEI offers both raw as well as machined castings to all its customers. MEI also exports regularly ready-to-fit machined castings to the US and European markets.
Aggressive investments in R&D and new product development has enabled MEI expand the product range from MSA to SASA, CB, ADB. MEI R&D has full-fledged testing facilities that have been recognised by DSIR apart from recognitions from OEMs in India.
During 2015 MEI launched the in-house developed Air Disc Brake assemblies. These are presently exported to Europe. MEi is also actively engagement with various OEMs in India for development of ADB.
Domestic OEM :
MEI is a preferred partner for development by all Indian OEMs. With the widest product base of over 800 skus in slack adjusters, over 13 variants in Clutch Boosters and over 30 varieties of ADB assemblies MEI offers quick solutions to customer requirements and also ensures faster development time. MEI’s OEM business spans over vehicle manufacturers, trailer manufacturers, and axle manufacturers.
Exports
MEI products are accepted by OE customers and aftermarket distribution partners in leading commercial vehicle markets like North America, Europe, Brazil, Russia, Korea and Japan.
MEI is currently the second largest in the world in slack adjusters and are focusing to become a globally dominant player during the next five years.
After Market
In 2007 MEI commenced aftermarket operations in India. What started as a service focus drove the development of a significant After Market business. Today, MEI is a market leader in the aftermarket space and have one of the widest coverage in the country with a team of more than 30 full-time employees in the field, more than 350 direct buyers and 127 authorised service centres across different parts of the country.
