The use of engineering plastics to replace metal components in cars in India is slated to rise in double digits in the coming three to four years, riding mainly on the initiatives taken by original equipment manufacturers to reduce weight of the vehicles. Industry insiders say that engineering plastics industry roughly grows at two times the auto production in the country.
According to Sanjay Jain, business director, India of Dutch diversified firm Royal DSM, the average use of engineering plastic (excluding ABS, POM, PC, PP reinforced) components in cars in India is around 5-6 kg at the moment, compared to that of 18-20 kg per car in developed nations.
“There is hence, huge scope for growth in India in the engineering plastics space, especially in the automotive arena,” he said. Jain feels that the two demand drivers for engineering plastics in the Indian auto industry would be one through growth in production of automobiles and second through increase in penetration (replacing metal components with plastic ones). “Based on these two factors we expect the growth to be in double digits in the coming year. Based on past experience, the engineering plastics industry roughly grows at two times the auto production in the country,” he added.
Indian Engineering Review 