India Nippon Electricals LTD and Athena S.P.A. sign a technical co-operation agreement

India Nippon Electricals Ltd (INEL) and Athena S.p.A. formally announce the signing of a technical co-operation agreement for co-operation in the area of electronic fuel injection systems for single and twin cylinder gasoline engines; both for automotive and non-automotive usages.

The  need of meeting  the future emissions standards has been driving the gasoline engine market to progressively adopt electronically controlled fuel injection systems. Driven by the need to support its customer base as also to explore newer opportunities, INEL has signed a technical co-operation agreement with Athena for the production and supply of electronic fuel injection systems in India. This co-operation will bring to INEL's customers the state of the art technology for engine control units, developed by Athena in Italy.

This co-operation will allow INEL to offer to customers, with a definitive cost advantage, all their EFI needs in partnership with Athena - aimed at the company’s strategic goal of developing into a globally recognized brand, providing state of the art technology at Indian cost.

INEL is one of the largest provider of complete ignition system solution to two/three wheeler and non-automotive/general purpose engine manufacturers both in India and abroad. It is also the only ignition system supplier in India to offer the complete range of ignition system products - namely AC generator, regulator/rectifier units, electronic ignition controllers and ignition coils.

Founded in 1985 as a joint venture between Lucas TVS of India (belonging to the TVS group of companies) and Kokusan Denki of Japan (earlier a subsidiary of Hitachi; now belonging to the Mahle group of Germany), INEL has its technical centre and the first plant located at Hosur near Bangalore - having two more plants located respectively at Pondicherry (near Chennai) and Rewari (near Delhi); with a fourth plant under progress at Kolhapur (near Pune). Over the years, INEL has not only grown into a trusted technology partner of two/three wheeler and engine manufacturers in India but also exports to Japan, USA, European Union, Turkey, Eastern Europe and Malaysia. The strong technology focus at INEL; having fully equipped in-house R&D with complete engine/ignition testing facilities; has resulted in 23 patents being granted relating to various aspects of ignition systems.

Athena S.p.A, founded in 1973, is an international group organized into 3 business divisions and 10 manufacturing plants worldwide having it's headquarter located in Alonte (Vicenza-Italy), with the capability of designing and manufacturing state of the art engine parts and electronic components. Athena is fully equipped with all type of testing facilities (dynamic dynamometers, vehicle test benches, end of line test benches, emission test dynamometer etc) and is capable of offering turn-key service for those customers looking for an unique solution for the full EFI system or only a strategy for the ECU engine management. Thanks to its long cooperation with the most important racing teams and R&D teams of key customers all over the world, Athena has developed a unique range of electronic control units (ECU) that can offer to the customer a variety of benefits and features that makes the product very attractive and strategic.

Mr. Subhasis Dey,  Chief Executive Officer of INEL, referring to the agreement with Athena says : “I am proud and happy to be partnering such a dynamic and advanced technology company - and I am sure that for INEL, having its own deep understanding of the ignition system, this represents another strategic step for the overall improvement of our technological development “.

Mr. Giovanni Mancassola, President of Athena, referred to the agreement with INEL saying:

“It is a big honor for us to partner such a well-known and organized company that works in line with and has technical strengths fully meeting the expectations of global customers; and I strongly believe that this agreement for Athena represents a milestone in our dream of worldwide expansion of our technologies and know how.”

The first motorcycles equipped with the EFI technology offered as part of this co-operation will be launched in 2016 with a single cylinder commuter motorcycle.