Saarthi Greentech Unveils First Factory in Pune to produce Hydrogen Fuel Systems that aim to reduce Fuel Consumption and Carbon Emissions in an Indo- Australian collaboration.

Saarthi GreenTech, an Indo-Australian clean-tech company, has proudly announced the grand inauguration of its state-of-the-art factory in Chakan, Pune. In first phase of its operation the 10,000 sq. ft production unit will manufacture approximately 1,00,000 units annually. The K series Hydrogen Fuel Systems will be available in different variants like K20, K30, K40, K50 corresponding to the engine capacity they support. Their patented electrolyser-based Hydrogen Fuel Systems, a cutting-edge technology, converts diesel-run engines into hydrogen-based hybrids instantly, leading to a remarkable reduction in fuel consumption and harmful emissions.

This factory represents a significant step forward for Saarthi GreenTech, making it India’s first manufacturing & assembly unit for Saarthi GreenTech’s innovative products to be sold in India as well as exported to global markets like Australia, Middle-East, Africa & the USA. Saarthi GreenTech’s current investment of approximately One Million Australian Dollars underscores its commitment to driving sustainable solutions and pioneering advancements in clean energy technologies.

The Indo- Australian innovation was inaugurated by Mr.Paul Murphy, the consulate general of Australia accompanied by Ms.Malini Dutt, A/g Trade and Investment Commissioner – India, Investment NSW, along with leaders of Saarthi GreenTech – Mr. Alok Kumar, Co-Founder, Saarthi GreenTech, Karunjit Kumar Dhir, Co-Founder Saarthi GreenTech and other industry veterans. They were also joined by Mr.Abhishek Goyal of BLR Logistiks, Mr. Balamurugan KGS of TransPra and Mr. Malcolm Dsouza & Mr.Santosh Ingalkar of KSH Distriparks as some of their esteemed guests for this inauguration ceremony.  

Mrs. Nandani Kumar, MD for Saarthi GreenTech in India said, “The entire team at Saarthi GreenTech is passionate about leveraging technological innovations to reduce pollution & overall carbon footprint of the industries that heavily depend on the usage of the fossil-fuel, especially diesel. We are driven by a single focus to make this world a better place for our future generations by giving them a cleaner & greener world.”

Mr. Alok Kumar, Co-Founder of Saarthi GreenTech said, “After having invested years into this technology & project, the inauguration of the factory marks a significant milestone in our journey to reduce fuel consumption and carbon footprint. Our patented technology and strategic investments reflect our dedication to revolutionizing the clean-tech landscape and addressing pressing challenges in the automotive and industrial sectors.”

Mr. Karunjit Kumar Dhir, Co-Founder of Saarthi GreenTech expressed his gratitude to the InvestmentNSW & the government of Australia for being very encouraging & helpful in enabling them to forge this Australia-India collaboration. He also mentioned, “Our world needs practically feasible energy transition solutions today that can accelerate the decarbonization journey for the industries and world economies, thereby reducing our carbon footprint rapidly. We can neither replace the fossil-fuel based vehicles currently running on roads overnight nor wait for years for greener alternatives that are affordable, and therefore Saarthi GreenTech is our little personal endeavor in this direction to solve this challenge today.”

Saarthi GreenTech is India’s first homegrown manufacturing company decarbonizing and solving the challenge of accelerating the transition of commercial automotive industry from diesel to hydrogen-based hybrid.

Saarthi Greentech’s robust research and development infrasucture across India & Australia, coupled with strategic customer outreach initiatives, is revolutionizing the hydrogen economy piece in the overall clean-tech landscape. With it’s India headquarters based in Pune & Australia Head Office in Sydney (NSW), Saarthi Greentech is pioneering in revolutionizing the need for decarbonization in the automotive, mining, construction, marine, power generation, and industrial sectors.

Nalco Water’s Innovative Water Management Solutions Help Reduce Freshwater Usage For The Lindstrom Group In India

Nalco Water, an Ecolab company, a global sustainability leader offering water solutions and services based in Pune, has achieved remarkable success in helping to reduce freshwater usage through its innovative water management solutions for the global leader in textile services, Lindström Group in India. The partnership has resulted in the implementation of the Aquaest water recycling project, marking a significant milestone in sustainable water management.

India, being the largest user of groundwater and one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, requires immediate action to preserve this precious resource. Recognizing this, Nalco Water and Lindstrom Group have significantly progressed in reducing freshwater usage as a result of the Aquaest project. Within just over a year, Lindström has recovered a noteable74% of water at the Chennai plant and reduced its total freshwater usage in the city by 56%.  The impressive results from the Aquaest project translate to potential annual water savings of 330 million litres in our workwear and cleanroom operations. This is equivalent to the drinking water needs of approximately 300,000 people per year.

The collaboration between Nalco Water and Lindström Group is a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and environmental responsibility. By leveraging innovative technologies and fostering a culture of collaboration, the Aquaest project has achieved substantial water savings and helped to improve wash quality, reduce operational costs, and extend the lifecycle of garments. Murli Iyer, Head of Light Business at Nalco Water, India, underscores the mutual commitment and shared values between the two companies: “Lindström’s steadfast dedication to sustainability, innovation, and the circular economy, coupled with their deeply ingrained ‘We Care’ culture, aligns with Ecolab’s overarching mission to help protect the resources vital to life and our robust sustainability strategy focused on advancing the well-being of people, the planet, and businesses globally, thereby supporting our customers’ success.” 

Venkataraj Anantharaman Laguduva, Head of Continuous Service, Asia at Lindström, highlighted the significance of the water recycling initiative, stating, “We already have a system for reusing water at our laundries, but we wanted to take it further to recycle the water so that we could reduce the amount of freshwater we use.” Lindström Group operates 13 laundries across India, washing thousands of kilograms of uniforms and workwear daily for various industries. With 45% of the company’s water consumption in Asia attributed to workwear and cleanroom services, Lindström has long been committed to optimizing water usage and caring for wastewater. “The water recycling project promotes the safe reuse of wastewater and water conservation to create a more sustainable water future for everyone. This project is a green solution for grey water pollution,” commented Sabarinathan Muthukumarasamy, Production Manager, Lindström Chennai, India Unit. 

“Lindström is setting the stage for other companies to do the same and be ahead of the times. The regulations for freshwater consumption in India and around the world are becoming increasingly strict, and companies might find themselves in a position where they suddenly need to lower the amount of water they use,” remarked Gowtham Raj, Area Manager – South at Nalco Water India.

Looking ahead, Lindström Group plans to further enhance its water recycling capabilities by implementing fully automated systems and expanding the Aquaest project to other laundries across India and Asia. Additionally, the company aims to leverage solutions powered by Nalco Water’s AI-driven analytics platform, ECOLAB3D™, to advance performance and achieve even better results in water recycling.

“The wastewater treatment plant, managed by Nalco Water, has effectively recycled the designated percentage of water, thereby significantly decreasing the reliance on freshwater resources. Moreover, the treated water discharged into the environment meets the legal compliance standards of the region, reflecting the commitment to environmental responsibility,” says Nikhil Shirsat, Process Specialist at Lindström, Asia.

As the leader in water management and solutions, Nalco Water, an Ecolab company recognizes the integral role of businesses in shaping a safer, more prosperous future. The company collaborates closely with its clientele to propel the advancement of a more water-secure tomorrow for future generations. Accelerating change through the power of water is core to Ecolab’s purpose to improve the health of people, the planet, and businesses worldwide. Ecolab shares its expertise in smart water use with customers to help them reduce, reuse, and recycle water in their operations. In addition to supporting effective water use, Ecolab’s solutions help customers use energy more efficiently, reduce waste, and cut greenhouse gas emissions to advance a more sustainable future. 

Cummins Group in India to showcase the industry-first fuel-agnostic platform at SIAT 2024

Cummins Group in India (“Cummins”), one of the leading power solutions technology providers in the country, is participating in the Symposium on International Automotive Technology (SIAT) 2024 in Pune. Aligned with its Destination Zero™ decarbonization strategy, Cummins is set to showcase Made in India, industry-first, next-generation fuel-agnostic platform, along with the innovative Single Module™ Aftertreatment system at the event.

Destination Zero™ is Cummins’ strategy to go further and faster in minimizing the greenhouse gas (GHG) and air quality impacts of its products. Anchored in its commitment, Cummins is pursuing a dual-path approach – acting today to reduce emissions from internal combustion engines while simultaneously investing in the development of new, zero-emissions products, to help customers navigate through the energy transition.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Anjali Pandey, Chief Operating Officer, Cummins Group in India further emphasized, “As an industry leader, Cummins recognizes its crucial role in addressing global climate challenges. We understand that transitioning to a decarbonized future is not a light-switch event and will require multiple solutions. Hence, we are continuously investing and innovating to develop technologies that align with our commitment, ensuring our customers’ success today while contributing to a more sustainable tomorrow. Our showcase at SIAT 2024, reflects our versatility and adaptability to meet the evolving needs of the transportation sector.”

The products that will be on display at the symposium (Stall 46 and 47) include:

Next-gen, industry-first fuel-agnostic platform

Cummins will showcase its innovative fuel-agnostic platform at SIAT 2024, demonstrating an effective way to reduce emissions, across various fuels. In the pursuit of decarbonization, it is imperative to bring various powertrain technologies that leverage the available low and zero-carbon fuels. This approach provides end users with options and flexibility to select fuels based on infrastructure availability thus optimizing the economics of transportation operations.

The fuel-agnostic architecture of this platform utilizes a common base engine, with the application of innovative technologies like a Direct Injection Fuel System, two-stage turbocharging, overhead cam, closed crankcase ventilation, and pent-roof cylinder head design. Additionally, it features Cyber Security and Functional Safety Compliant Control Modules tuned for specific fuels such as diesel, natural gas, renewable natural gas, and hydrogen. This platform ensures diesel-like performance across fuels, enabling OEMs to offer multiple fuel types with minimal product modification, and expediting market entry at the most optimum cost.

At the SIAT 2024, Cummins’ fuel-agnostic platform concept will be demonstrated through:

Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine

The Cummins Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine represents a significant stride towards sustainable and cleaner energy solutions in the automotive and industrial sectors. Leveraging the power of hydrogen as a clean fuel source, this innovative internal combustion engine operates with lower emissions. Combined with green hydrogen, it produces zero CO₂ emissions from well-to-wheel. During the event, Cummins will showcase solutions specifically designed for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. These solutions highlight the engine’s ability to support decarbonization across a wide range of duty cycles.

Natural Gas Engine

Natural gas engines present a reliable and effective solution for reducing emissions while maintaining strong performance. With well-established credibility as an alternative power technology, these engines align with India’s vision of increasing the share of natural gas in the energy mix from 6% to 15% by 2030. To achieve this vision, substantial investments are planned for the development of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure. These investments will further enable the adoption of natural gas engines supporting the government’s long-term objectives.

Latest generation diesel

The latest-generation advanced diesel platform, which has a strong foundation of nearly 700,000 Euro VI, low-emission engines will be exhibited. These advanced diesel engines, further optimize fuel efficiency, enabling customers to achieve lower GHG emissions while enhancing power and torque.

Single Module™ Aftertreatment System 

Cummins is also showcasing its ultra-high efficiency aftertreatment system 9-inch (0.229 Meters) Single Module™. This innovative system is up to 70% smaller and 40% lighter compared to systems with similar architectures. It offers improved NOx conversion efficiency that removes over 99% of all particulate matter (PM) by weight and count. The product is optimized with a liquid-only, freeze-robust UL2.2 dosing system, which significantly improves reliability. ‘Made in India’ with over 70% localized components, this product readily adapts to a variety of applications as it is available in catalyst diameters ranging from 5.66 inches (0.144 meters) to 13 inches (0.330 meters).

About Cummins Group in India: 

Cummins Group in India is a leading provider of integrated power solutions for the industrial and automotive sectors. The Cummins Group operates in India through sixteen legal entities. With a wide-ranging portfolio, the group is engaged in designing, manufacturing, distributing, and servicing diesel and natural gas engines and powertrain-related component products, including filtration, after-treatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, transmissions, and electrified power systems. Further, with the acquisition of Meritor, Cummins Group has expanded its portfolio in India to include drivetrain, mobility, braking, aftermarket, and electric powertrain solutions for commercial vehicles, and industrial markets. The Cummins Group has a remarkable presence with 22 manufacturing plants, assembly, and distribution facilities and employs over 10,000 employees in India.

Experts discuss the way ahead for India’s EV Industry at CII NexGen Mobility Expo

Localization of components to reach affordable technology landscape will be key to cr​eate sustainable ecosystem according to experts at a panel discussion on  Electrifying Mobility: Conventional ICE v/s EV Innovation, Adoption and Promotion – Strategies & Initiatives  at CII Next Gen Expo at Deccan College Ground .

The panel included Mr Arvind Goel, Chairman, CII WR Taskforce on Future Mobility & Chairman, Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd., Mr Anand Kulkarni

Chief Product Officer & Head HV Programs, Product Line – Electric Vehicles Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd, Dr Arup Basu Managing Director Greaves Cotton Ltd, Ms Sulajja Firodia Motwani Founder and CEO Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Ltd., Mr Rajnikant Behera, Executive Director RSB Transmissions (I), Mr Nitin Seth Chief Executive Officer – New Mobility and Mr Deepal Shah Country Manager, India  BRUGGeCONNECT AG, Switzerland. 

Swati Khandelwal Executive Editor , Zee Business moderated the session .

Mr Arvind Goel, Chairman, CII WR Taskforce on Future Mobility & Chairman, Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd., said that any disruption in technology takes time. We are on track, but there is a lot of scope to move faster.  It is also how do we localise our components. Each and every part should be localised to serve the purpose of the country.  Export of components for electric vehicles would become far more important business in India. 

Ms Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Founder and CEO Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Ltd said that we have begun well, the government has put a strong EV policy roadmap and Fame 1 and Fame 2 have succeeded in generating demand. The momentum has begun and we need to work to create critical mass of EV adoption something like 20 to 25%, enough scale for companies to be viable. In next phase of policy government should continue with the incentives and industry has been requesting the government for fame 3 which will help customers to buy EVs at affordable price .

Mr Nitin Seth, Chief Executive Officer New Mobility said that there are three aspects which include energy, energy to hardware and solutions. We need to address how we source the energy. The solution today is driven by subsidies which is not sustainable in the long run. OEMs and other stakeholders have to work together and localise. 

Dr Arup Basu, Managing Director Greaves Cotton Ltd, said that inflection point for us is where reach affordable technology landscape. At that point of time we don’t need any external push because the demand for mobility will be well established.  If we have large options available there will be demand.  In the next 3 to 4 years there will be significant shift 

Mr Anand Kulkarni Chief Product Officer & Head HV Programs, Product Line – Electric Vehicles Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd said that we are not too far away when  Electric Vehicle to get to parity with ICE vehicles ( in terms of range of 200km) . There is a high degree of innovation taking place and will drive down the costs and change the value price equation.

Addressing the issue of charging infrastructure Mr Deepal Shah Country Manager, India BRUGGeCONNECT AG, Switzerland said that instead of focussing on number of charging stations, we need to focus on achieving the objective with highest level of safety and reliability and accessible to everybody . We can lower down the numbers with fastDC charging infrastructure. We can be a leader in EV infrastructure.

Mr Rajnikant Behera, Executive Director RSB Transmissions (I), 

said that the total cost of ownership is critical. Currently we are seeing a transition in the commercial vehicles, especially LCV. 

IIMM Pune – 9th Annual Supply Chain Management Awards recognizes best practices in supply chain management.

The Indian Institute of Materials Management (IIMM), Pune Branch organized the 9th Annual Supply Chain Management Awards Ceremony on  at The O Hotel, Koregaon Park. The awards are held every year to recognize the best practices in Supply Chain Management (SCM) in Manufacturing & Logistics sectors, Healthcare institutions & conferred awards.

Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman, Praj Industries Ltd, was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Harish Kumar Sharma, National President, Indian Institute of Materials Management (IIMM), Mr. Surendra Deodhar, National Secretary and Treasurer (NST) IIMM, the team of Pune branch Suhas Gawas, Chairman, Prasad Rao, Vice Chairman, Arjunsingh Rajput, Honorary Secretary, Suhas Gare, Honorary Treasurer, K R Nair National Councilor & VP West, Terrence Fernandes, National Councilor & Program Convenor , Mohan Nair, National Councilor, Amit Borkar, National Councilor & Shripad Kadam, Immediate Past Chairman, IIMM Pune, were present on the occasion along with the executive committee members and a  galaxy of dignitaries & guests.

A souvenir was also released to commemorate the occasion.

The annual awards include recognizing the work of various companies in manufacturing and logistic sectors through a jury selection process and the conferred awards. 

For best SCM practices in the manufacturing sector, Godrej  Boyce Mfg. Ltd. (Godrej Lawkim Motors) received the award in the large enterprise category while Suttatti Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. was given the award in the medium enterprise category.

MRC logistics (India) Pvt. Ltd. received the award for best road service provider, while Om Vijayvargiya of Schaeffler India Ltd was presented the supply chain leadership excellence award . 

ICMR-National Institute of Virology which has been playing pivotal role in research of viruses  was conferred with the best public sector organization.  Bhartiya Sanskriti Darshan Trust which is an integrated cancer research and treatment centre was awarded the best healthcare organization. The unsung hero award was conferred on Ekansh Trust, Founder Anita Iyer, whose main focus is on  empowering people with disabilities and related issues.

Women make their mark in supply chain management

To recognize the role of women in Supply Chain, (in an organization & an individual working in an organization), Pune branch instituted a new award category – Women Contribution in Supply Chain.

 Women contribution in supply chain award was awarded to Esquire Healthcare and Logistics Pvt. Ltd, Pune (Organization) and Sharmila Kesarkar, Head-Supply Chain, Jehangir Hospital, Pune, (Individual).

The prizes to the winners of the Kaizen Competition, the first of its kind organized by the Pune branch were also presented at the awards function.

Harish Kumar Sharma, National President, Indian Institute of Materials hailed the work of IIMM Pune and their contribution to supply chain industry. He presented President’s medal to Suhas Gawas, Chairman IIMM, Pune along with Arjunsingh Rajput, Suhas Gare and Harshal Bardiya, the executive committee members of Pune branch. 

Suhas Gawas, Chairman IIMM, Pune in his welcome address said that IIMM has a legacy of six decades with 54 branches. IIMM Pune was one of the first branches to recognize the work of individuals and organizations for their excellence in supply chain management.

The program was supported by Diamond Sponsor-Mileage Logistics Pvt Ltd, Gold Sponsors – MAN Logistics (India) Pvt Ltd and Bansali Metalloys, Silver Sponsors Ensigns Software and Communications, Cotmac Electronics & Genie Auto Products Pvt. Ltd, Bronze Sponsors Jainex Industrial Corporation, Anil Metals, Tranter India Pvt Ltd, Ashwani Metals and EagleBurgmann India Pvt. Ltd.

Foundation day program of ISDS at BNCA

The Institute of Sustainability and Development Studies Pune ( ISDS) at MKSSS’s Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture for Women ( BNCA) on the occasion of its foundation day  organized a National Symposium on India’s life mission and sustainable development goals : ‘Grass Root Innovations Bharatiya Approach Towards Sustainability’.Dr. Gajanan Dange, President Yojak Centre for Research, Ravindra Dev, Chairman MKSSS, Dr Anurag Kashyap, Principal BNCA, Prof. Asmita Joshi Executive Director ISDS, Prof. Nidhi Dixit, Prof. Piyush Girgaonkar Urban Affairs and Advocacy, BNCA moderator amongst others were present on the occasion.

The inaugural session was followed by panel discussions on life and SDGs moderated by Prof. Namrata Dhamankar . Panelists included Devendra Pai, Course Director Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership, Muddu Krishna, Karmayogi Bharat Mission, DOPT, Government of India, Urban Planner and Berjis Driver, Climate Fellow at NIUA and Youth Ki Awaaz . The panel discussion on Grassroots innovations was moderated by Prof. Piyush Girgaonakar and the panelists included Bindi Patel, Founder and Director ECOrrect, Aman Jaiswal, Founder and CEO Giftreeng Innovations and Agritech, Amita Deshpande, Founder reCharkha-the ecosocial tribe and Siddharth Roy, Founder That One Plus Project.

Dr.Gajanan Dange said that India demonstrated effective leadership during G20 summit with Delhi Declaration . The world is taking note of India’s leadership. The strategy to take everybody on board through consensus reflects our values and strength. India can show the path to achieve SDGs and balance progress with conservation.

He added that at ISDS we will float effective studies and scholarships to bring and present development models based on Indian principals .

Ravindra Dev, Chairman MKSSS sustainability is rooted in Indian culture and every individual should strive to live in harmony with nature.  ISDS is working towards this direction and in coming days will gain importance not only in India but also outside India.

Dr.Anurag Kashyap gave the welcome address and briefed the audience about various activities and collaborations of BNCA including UN academic impact program. ISDS was formed primarily to spread awareness on sustainability development norms, he said.  

Prof. Asmita Joshi gave a brief overview of activities of ISDS in past one year. She said that this unit is integrating sustainability and education and is engaged in skilling, education, advocacy,innovation and research.ISDS is trying to bring about a positive change through localised approach.