Bharat Forge in Daimler AG's Top 10 global suppliers for 2016

India's leading automotive component exporter Bharat Forge has been adjudged as one of Daimler AG's top 10 global suppliers for the year 2016. It is to be noted that Chennai-based Sundaram-Clayton also featured among the nominees for the awards. 

Bharat Forge's relationship with Daimler began over 10 years ago. The Pune-based component manufacturer supplies to Daimler's operations in Europe, North America, Japan and India.  

Speaking to Autocar Professional today, Baba Kalyani, chairman and managing director of Bharat Forge, said: "It is a great honour to get an award as a supplier to Daimler. It is a recognition of our capability as a high-performance supplier." 

The 10 component suppliers have been recognised for their excellence in the past business year in the categories of quality, partnership, and innovation.

Once a year, the German vehicle manufacturer presents the Daimler Supplier Award for above-average performance and partnership collaboration with its suppliers. Performance is measured in terms of quality, costs, delivery reliability and innovation power. Furthermore, co-operative and moral behaviour is also evaluated. This is based on trust and open communication, the company says.

Members of the Daimler Board of Management and Heads of Procurement presented the awards in front of 450 high-ranking guests from the supply industry at an event held on February 23 in the Mercedes-Benz Center Stuttgart. The event's motto was ‘Focus on excellence’.

Recognising the top performances of suppliers during the 2016 business year, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management Daimler AG, Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, interim Head of Daimler Trucks and Buses, said: "Whether it is connectivity, autonomous driving, sharing or electromobility – we recognise the changes confronting our industry for what they are: great opportunities. Together with our suppliers we will use them!"

Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler for Group Development and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, drove onto the stage in the EQ Concept Car. He presented the ‘Special Award for Innovation’ to the Chinese company Tencent Technology, provider of WeChat MyCar: "The fast integration of innovative connectivity services contributes decisively to the attractiveness of our vehicles. This is especially important in markets like the Chinese one. Here, with Tencent we have a strong partner."

Wilfried Porth, Member of the Board of Management, Human Resources and Director of Labor Relations, IT & Mercedes-Benz Vans, highlighted the importance of a good partnership with suppliers in view of the increasing pace: "Partnership, Quality and Innovation are crucial ingredients for success. We have shown this in the past and together with our suppliers, we will prove it again with the reinvention of the automobile."

Daimler Supplier Award 2016 ceremony (back row, left to right): Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler for Group Development and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development; Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management Daimler AG, Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, interim Head of Daimler Trucks and Buses; Dr. Klaus Zehender, EVP, Mercedes-Benz Cars Procurement and Supplier Quality; Dr. Rolf Breidenbach, president & CEO Automotive Electronics, Purchasing and Quality, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.; Ian McKerlich, president and CEO, Zonar Systems Inc.; Dr. Marcus Schoenenberg, VP (Procurement) Daimler Trucks and Buses; Dr. Sabine Lutz, VP (International Procurement Services); Wilfried Porth, Member of the Board of Management, Human Resources and Director of Labour Relations, IT & Mercedes-Benz Vans.

Front row, left to right: Dr. Peter Leibinger, vice-chairman of the Managing Board of Trumpf GmbH + Co; Julian Ma, VP, Tencent Holdings; Saeed Amidi, founder and CEO, Plug and Play Tech Center; Jacques Esculier, chairman and CEO, WABCO Holdings Inc; Dr. Baba Kalyani, chairman and managing director, Bharat Forge; Parag Shah, president & CEO; Dr. Schneider Unternehmensgruppe; Klemens Rethmann, chairman of the Management Board Rhenus SE & Co. KG; and Pasi Rannus, senior VP (Manufacturing) Valmet Automotive Inc. 

WINNERS & NOMINEES FOR THE Daimler Supplier Award 2016 

Mercedes-Benz Cars Purchasing & Supplier Quality

Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. (Category: Quality): Awarded for high-quality series production and professional quality performance during the ramp-up phase of the innovative multibeam LED headlamp technology of the new E-Class.

Nominees: JTEKT Europe S.A.S; Wagon Automotive Nagold GmbH 

Valmet Automotive Inc. (category: Partnership): Awarded as a flexible and reliable contract manufacturer who contributes to the Mercedes-Benz Cars production strategy by offering state of-the-art technology.
Nominees: Schmidt Automotive GmbH; Brembo S.p.A. 

Dr. Schneider Unternehmensgruppe (category: Innovation): Awarded for high innovation standard in air vents.
Nominees: LG Chem Ltd; Marquardt GmbH 

GLOBAL PROCUREMENT (TRUCKS & BUSES)

Bharat Forge (category: Quality): Awarded for the international supply of best quality crankshafts and front axle beams.

Nominees: Bridgestone Europe NV, Sundaram-Clayton Ltd

WABCO Holdings Inc. (category: Partnership): Awarded for outstanding commitment in a global system partnership with Daimler Trucks in terms of electronic brake systems, safety features, and powertrain components.

Nominees: NEUE HALBERG-GUSS GmbH, HEMA ENDÜSTRİ A.Ş. 

Zonar Systems Inc. (category: Innovation): Awarded for generating significant time and monetary savings for Daimler customers by contributing to the innovative telematic solution ‘Detroit Connect’.

Nominees: FKM Sintertechnik GmbH, Vibracoustic GmbH 

INTERNATIONAL PROCUREMENT SERVICES

Rhenus SE & Co. KG (category: Quality): Awarded as an experienced and flexible partner in the complex field of logistics, who provides Mercedes-Benz plants in Germany with reliable services.

Nominees: Kiener Maschinenbau GmbH, MAPAL Fabrik für Präzisionswerkzeuge Dr. Kress KG 

TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik GmbH (category: Partnership): Awarded as a global high-tech company and specialist for focus laser light technology.

Nominees: JSL S/A; Geico S.p.A. 

Plug & Play Germany GmbH (category: Innovation): Awarded for driving digital transformation through the successful launch of a research and co-working campus together with Daimler.

Nominees: Söhner Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Microsoft Corporation

SPECIAL AWARD FOR INNOVATION

Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Co: Awarded for providing great engineering support to launch 'WeChat MyCar' as an innovative connectivity product in the Chinese market.