TS Santhanam family of the TVS Group has opened a manufacturing unit of Leggaro Composites near Chennai to produce carbon fibre components to serve the global luxury car market.

In November 2020, the TSF group forged a strategic partnership with Italy-based MIND S.r.l., which has been serving marquee customers across Europe. The company boasts of complete integration in design and composite components manufacturing. TSF group’s large-scale manufacturing and automation experience complements MIND’s existing capabilities, according to a statement.

“Establishing Leggaro’s manufacturing facility in Chennai is a milestone, which will allow us to scale up our presence and provide cost-effective composites solutions across industries,” said Sriram Viji – Management Member, Leggaro Composites and Managing Director, Brakes India.

The plants in Bologna, Italy, and Chennai, India have a built-up area of 10,000 square metres with specialisation in delivering components in composites.

The TSF Group, a part of the erstwhile TVS Group, inaugurated the manufacturing facility of Leggaro Composites aimed at stepping up presence in the country, a top official said on Wednesday.

The manufacturing unit was part of the strategic partnership between TSF Group and MIND S.r.l signed in November 2020 in Bologna, Italy.

“The TSF Group has decades of experience in providing high-quality, design-led manufacturing to customers across the globe. Establishing Leggaro’s manufacturing facility in Chennai is a milestone, which will allow us to scale up our presence,” Leggaro Composites Management member Sriram Viji said.

The plants in Bologna, Italy and Chennai would have a built-up area of 10,000 square metres with specialisation in delivering components in composites using advanced technologies of transformation of carbon fibre.

“MIND S.r.l., the Italian base of Leggaro, has developed its experience in carbon composites over several years and established itself as a supplier to many luxury car brands and motor sports companies,” MIND S.r.l CEO Francesco Varrasi said.

“We are excited to partner with the TSF Group and have their support to expand our operations and capability to innovate,” he said.

WOLFSBURG, Germany – Brakes India will display its global product line-up this week at IZB’22.

Part of the TSF Group, that derives its legacy from the erstwhile TVS group, Brakes India has been a leading Tier-1 braking systems supplier to renowned global OEMs for more than six decades. The company lays a deep focus on stellar engineering & design development, world-class quality, cost competitiveness, and superior customer centricity.

“Brakes India currently has significant export contracts to the European market across braking systems, ferrous castings as well as aftermarket friction and non-friction products. We are actively working with customers on new product development, including on EVs, where we are able to provide best in class efficiency, light weighting and noise free braking. Our customers choose to work with us due to our long-term commitment and predictable way of working, with co-located warehouses, world-class quality systems & quality performance and sustainable practices in business & for the environment,” said Mr. Sriram Viji, Managing Director, Brakes India.

Alongside the braking, friction and foundry products, the company will also display its composites portfolio under the brand Leggaro Composites. The composites business has a rich Italian Motor Valley heritage and combines the strength of MIND S.r.l. Composites and strong manufacturing support from the TSF Group. The company is a certified tier-1 supplier of composite parts to many car manufacturers and caters to the luxury mobility, motorsports, medical and industrial domains.

“Through Leggaro, we are looking at scaling up manufacturing of high quality, light weight, aesthetic components to serve the increasing demand for composites. Within this year, Leggaro’s new plant in Chennai will begin serial production and supply of carbon fibre components to the European market, providing a low-cost base and making composite components more accessible in the market,” Sriram added.

 About the TSF Group:

The TSF Group houses the companies managed by the T S Santhanam family, whose lineage stems from the erstwhile TVS Group. The group has diverse investments across financial services, automotive components, vehicle dealerships and parts distribution. The group portfolio includes Sundaram Finance, Sundaram Finance Holdings, Sundaram Home Finance, Royal Sundaram, Brakes India, Wheels India, Turbo Energy, Sundaram Motors, Axles India, Madras Auto Service and IMPAL, few of which are publicly listed entities. The group has revenues of ∼€2.5 billion, employs more than 37,000 people across 1100 locations and is renowned for its long-term business outlook, corporate governance, sustainability and social responsibility.

Mind is part of the “Vanguard Initiative” a project funded by the European Community. The initiative involves the development of hybrid composite-metal additive manufacturing components. The partners involved are Örebro University, LaserTech, the Bofors Test Center in Sweden, Mind, the University of Bologna and Nextema in Italy.