From one-off demand to mass production, Axon´ India can deliver cable assemblies including single and multi branched harnesses. Axon´ India is very well versed in the defence, aeronautics and space sectors. Rugged, compact and lightweight cable assemblies are the qualities of the cable assemblies Axon´ can offer.

Besides this, the company offers French technology made in India. The advanced interconnect expertise of the Axon´ group allows its Indian subsidiary to produce state-of-the-art wires and cables, and harnesses using any type of connectors available in the world.

The Indian market is increasingly requesting high tech interconnect products, especially small, lightweight, flexible high voltage wires from 8 to 20 kV designed for use in high voltage applications and reduced atmospheric pressure compatible with standard terminations for avionics, space and military applications.

What are the trends in regulations and standards? Where does Axon stand here?
As a specialist in cabling engineering, Axon´ cable is able to design the whole network. Axon´ engineers assist customers with the most appropriate design (inventor, catia, see electrical harness) and simulation tools (flex life, electromagnetic compatibility) in all the development stages: idea, concept, prototypes, and industrialisation. The local sales and design teams will help and assist customers in the choice and design of any specific requirements for turnkey interconnect solutions. For a quicker service, Axon´ engineers are also able to manufacture prototypes with 3D printing machines.

What are your plans for sustained long-term growth in the country?
The company held the ground breaking ceremony for our new 5,000 m¦ factory at Devanahalli Aerospace Park, Bangalore, which is expected to be opened in 2019.

What is your plan for capitalising on the ´Make in India´ initiative?
Axon´ India caters to the off-set programs through its joint venture company called Dhruv Axon´ Interconnect Pvt. Ltd. This is the offset partner of our customer base in India.

What is your emphasis on R&D in this segment? How forward is the Indian wires & cables market when it comes to R&D and technology advancement?
There has been advancement in the Indian R&D technology in interconnect. Space and weight saving, high data rates, high frequencies and power distribution are just some of the many challenges Axon´ interconnects are designed to cope with.

Axon´ Cable headquarters is situated in the Marne countryside in France (100 km east of Paris) and employs 1,900 strong staff, in 16 subsidiaries worldwide. Its turnover in 2016 is Ç120 million, More than 70 per cent of the sales are achieved through export. Each year, Axon´ group invests 10 per cent of its turnover into R&D. The booming of the Indian aeronautics and space market highlight the needs in innovative interconnects: applications include those especially in radars, electro optics systems, gimbals, defence system, on board electronics.

The flight heritage of the company is as follows: data bus harnesses for A400M, A350, for Mars Orbiter Mission Mangalyaan and the Ariane and Vega rocket launchers, miniature micro D connectors for the Curiosity Rover, and high data rate cable links for Mars Space Probe Maven, lightweight microwave coaxial assemblies for UAVs cable assemblies and harnesses, tailor made and specially designed for severe environments.

What are the emerging technologies that you have implemented in your products and services in this segment, specific to the Indian scenario? Kindly give examples.
An example of a high tech product for power applications from us includes High Voltage wires, with small diameters for voltages up to 22 kV DC. Axon´Cable offers a range of high voltage wires from 8 to 22 kV direct-current (DC). These small diameter wires can be used at high altitude. Axon´ manufactures these products in Europe, so they are not constrained by ITAR regulations. These are small, lightweight and flexible. With small external diameters (ex: 1,52 mm for a 20 kV DC, AWG 22 high voltage wire), these wires are lightweight and flexible and can be used wherever weight and space saving are an most important consideration. Their operating voltage is applicable from sea level to 21,000 m (70,000 ft) altitude for avionics, space and military applications. They are compatible with standard terminations.

Further, they are made of high-performance insulation material like silver plated copper conductor with a FEP (Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene) insulation, which are additionally coated with silicone to improve adherence and termination. The FEP insulation gives high voltage wires an excellent dielectric strength and resistance to a majority of chemical agents. These wires can be used from -55°C to +125°C due to their good dielectric performances.

They also have specific measurement technology, wherein, Axon´s specialised quality control measurements are applied to high-voltage wires. Measuring rate of partial discharge makes it possible to determine the quality of the insulation and guarantees it´s durability while in use.

A variety of electrical tests under pressure simulate flight conditions.

- JOCELYN FERNANDES