India chooses Russian Helicopters' Ka-226T

 

Moscow / 22 May 2015 -  In May 2015, India's Defence Acquisition Council approved a major raft of deals on a non-tender basis for its armed forces, which included the Ka-226T light helicopter made by Russian Helicopters.

The Council's decision does not mean that a contract will be concluded immediately. Rosoboronexport in partnership with Russian Helicopters will, on the Russian side, enact the contract for the delivery of helicopters under the “Make in India” programme, and the helicopters will be produced by Russian Helicopters' Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise.

“The light multirole Ka-226T performed well in tests carried out in India and is the optimum choice for India’s armed forces,” said Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev. “The contract envisages the construction of a record number of Ka-226T helicopters, and will require considerable work and collaboration with Indian industry. It is important to note that Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise will be crucial in fulfilling this order, as it will play the main role in enacting this project.”

The Ka-226T light helicopter, designed by the Kamov Design Bureau (a Russian Helicopters company) was certified in Russia in March this year. It had previously participated successfully in the Light Utility Helicopter tender announced by India's Defence Ministry to renew its fleet of light helicopters, announced in 2003 and withdrawn last year. Tests on the Ka-226T amid India's mountainous terrain and hot climate enabled it to demonstrate its considerable advantages over the competition produced by western companies.

The modern multirole Ka-226T helicopter, like its predecessor the Ka-226, is produced by Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise, which boasts unique experience in producing helicopters designed by the Kamov Design Bureau. For example, Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise produces the world-renowned Ka-32 helicopter.

GKN Aerospace got USD multi-million contract for F-100 engine structure

London, UK, 1 June,2015 -  GKN Aerospace Chem-tronics Inc. has been selected by the United States Tinker Air Force Base to supply 147 turbine nozzle support structures for the Pratt & Whitney F-100 series engines which power USAF F-15 and F-16 aircraft. This contract is valued at approaching USD10M.

These are critical spares items for the United States Air Force, as well as other allied nations’ operational fleets of F16 and F15 aircraft. They support the aft nozzle exit section in the rear of the engine on all Pratt & Whitney F-100 series engines.

Manufacture of these complex titanium alloy structures will be undertaken by the company’s highly skilled team at its GKN Aerospace Chem-tronics Inc operation in El Cajon, California, with deliveries commencing in 2015 and completed by December 2017. This facility has manufactured this item previously for Tinker Air Force Base.

Production of each support structure requires extensive expertise in a variety of skilled processes. Hot-forming is used to create the shell body skins for each structure. Flanges are welded on with stiffeners attached using spot welding and numerous additional items attached with fasteners.

Darren Levack, Vice-President and General Manager at GKN Aerospace Chem-tronics Inc pointed out, “We have been manufacturing these vital structures for the F-100 engine since 2009, using the fabrication skills that our site is renowned for. Our aim is to continue to provide the high levels of expertise that will allow us to fulfill future spares requirements for all F-15 and F-16 operators.”

GKN Aerospace Chem-tronics Inc. also manufactures the forward, rear and augmentor fan cases for the F-100 engine and builds many similar engine case products for the F-119 and F-135 engines.

Kolkata cabbie 'greens' rides with Grass & Plants

Kolkata, India, May 28,2015 - With a bed of real grass on the rooftop and a cluster of eight potted plants inside, the yellow-coloured ambasador car, which operates as a taxi resembles a moving garden and outshines other vehicles on the city's streets.

40-year-old driver Dhananjay Charkaborty who operates the 'plant fitted' car calls it his 'Sobuj Rath' or Green Chariot.

A self-confessed plant lover, Chakraborty says his rented house was filled with potted plants and lack of his own space prevented him from maintaining a full-fledged garden.

is love for greenery, however reached a different level after he discovered an empty bottle of alcohol left beind in the backseat by a passenger. After a lot of pondering Chakraborty placed a money-plant in the bottle and kept it in his car. That he says began the 'greening drive' of the taxi.

"I love planting trees. Since I live in a rented house I could not have maintained a garden. But I made sure to keep potted plants and plant saplings wherever possible. Once I found a bottle of alcohol in which I planted a money plant.

"Initially, people made fun of me but gradually they began appreciating my work. When I saw the plant growing, I thought of creating an entire garden in my taxi," Dhananjay told PTI.

The 'Green Lawn' or the 'Green Tray' another name coined by Chakraborty for the car, which he says took around six months to complete, was inaugurated this May 8.

A ceiling of artificial grass enhances the green feel of the car. The cost of creating the lawn came up to Rs 22,000, which says Chakraborty, excludes the cost of decorating the ceiling and planting saplings inside the taxi.

"I have set up an artificial grass bed on the ceiling of the taxi which gives a sense of real grass. I have also put potted bonsai plants near the driver's seat. On the left side I have another tray of grass and drawings have been made on it. The art has been made keeping pollution in mind. The pots have short poems and captions written on them," says Chakraborty.

The taxi which plys from Karunamoyee to Tollygunge and vice-versa does not charge customers additional for the decoration and the extra comfort provided by the planting of trees and grass. - PTI

Kalyan Jewellers invests Rs 175 Crore to open 4 new showrooms

Hyderabad, India May 25, 2015 - Kalyan Jewellers India’s leading and trusted jewellery brand has recently announced that it will invest Rs.175 crore to expand its distribution operations. The company is launching 4 new showrooms. The company is making a foray into East India for the first time by opening a showroom in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Kalyan is consolidating its presence in the National Capital Region with 2 showrooms in Gurgaon and Noida. 

Kalyan is also strengthening its presence in the UAE by adding a new showroom marking the tenth for the company in the country. 

Kalyan has been on an aggressive expansion drive and has earmarked Rs. 800 crore for expanding its distribution network. It is planning to set up 22 showrooms this fiscal year of which nine will be in the Gulf region. The company is also in the process of converting its 570 customer service centres into mini 'My Kalyan' stores which will focus on selling affordable diamonds to capitalise on the potential of this category.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. T.S. Kalyanaraman, Chairman and M.D. said, “Jewellery consumption in the Indian market is increasing due to positive consumer sentiment and stable prices, and we want to tap into this growth. We are entering the Eastern market for the first time with Bhubaneswar as it holds tremendous potential. We are also consolidating our presence in the North. The investment in UAE is in line with the buoyant demand in the Gulf region. We expect our international operations to contribute up to 10% of our revenues by the end of this financial year. Funding of the expansion plans will be met through the funds we have received from the private equity investment as well as from internal accruals and bank borrowings. We are targeting 30% growth in topline to Rs. 13,000 crore and enhancing the distribution network by 30% in the year. We are also ramping up our manufacturing operations and plan to have India's biggest production house by 2017.”

With the two new showrooms in Gurgaon and Noida, Kalyan Jewellers will now have a total of five exclusive showrooms in the NCR region and a total of nine showrooms in North India including Jalandhar and Amritsar. Kalyan has been present in the UAE since 2013 and has been expanding rapidly to cater to the growing needs of the strong South Asian diaspora. 

The company is also present in the Kuwait market and is looking to launch in Qatar by opening 6 showrooms.

Today Kalyan has emerged as a strong national player with presence across South India, Maharashtra, Gujarat, National Capital Region (NCR) and Punjab, and has a network of 79 exclusive showrooms in India and West Asia. It targets to have 100 showrooms by the end of the year. 

Kalyan had recently opened in Chennai with the world’s largest gold and diamond jewellery collection and an investment of Rs. 200 crore. It was the single largest investment by any jeweller in a single showroom across the country.

GKN Aerospace celebrates the HondaJet world tour

                                                       HondaJet makes EBACE debut

London,UK, 29 May,2015 - GKN Aerospace congratulates Honda Aircraft Company on a successful world tour of its advanced light jet, the HondaJet and  supplies the complete composite, lightweight bonded fuselage and the innovative, all-acrylic, front and side windshields for this technologically advanced aircraft.

The fuselage is manufactured at GKN Aerospace’s facility in Alabama, USA with assembly at GKN’s plant in Orangeburg, South Carolina, close to Honda Aircraft Company’s world headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina. The windshields are produced at GKN Aerospace’s specialist transparencies operation in Garden Grove, California.

Kevin Cummings, CEO, GKN Aerospace pointed out, “We are extraordinarily proud to have played a role in the evolution of the HondaJet. To watch now as it continues its world tour is to appreciate Honda’s challenging spirit and vision in creating this high performance, fuel efficient light jet. We look forward to a long and successful relationship supporting Honda as the aircraft enters service with customers around the globe.”