The story
Namakkal has built lorry bodies since the 1950s, when local mechanics began fitting wooden and steel load bodies on truck chassis. The district also became one of India's largest lorry-owning areas, so demand was close at hand. Body builders, welders, painters and spare-part dealers grew into a cluster stretching to Tiruchengode. Buyers from other states bring chassis here to be fitted.
In numbers
No published source we could open prints current numbers for this cluster.
Ways in for a newcomer
- Fabrication job-work: chassis extensions, load bodies, tipper hydraulics
- Tanker and refrigerated body building
- Spare parts, paint and accessory trading
- Repair and refurbishment for lorry fleets
Problems the cluster faces
- Body-code (AIS-093) compliance and approvals
- Steel price swings
- Shift to factory-built bodies by truck makers
- Shortage of skilled welders
Businesses to start here
Bus & Truck Body Building →Refrigerated Truck Body Building →Auto Leaf Springs for Trucks and Light Commercial Vehicles →Precision Sheet Metal Fabrication (Job Shop) →