pg no 08-12

EXCON 2017

Key Takeaways

Best year for CE industry

The infrastructure sector in any economy is regarded as the engine of growth, but very importantly of employment. The Indian infrastructure sector is expected to grow with the growth of construction and equipment industry. According to Vipin Sondhi, Chairman, CII EXCON 2017, “The Indian CE industry which peaked in 2011 went through a downcycle for four straight years from 2012 until 2015. This year as an industry, we will surpass our previous best year of 2011 with a growth of 14 per cent. The industry is headed for better days of a projected stable growth of 10 per cent CAGR over the next 5 years compared to 7 per cent in the previous decade.”

Ushers in Smart Technologies

The construction equipment industry is embracing new digital experiences by integrating big data and IoT in its products and services. “Technology is enabling our businesses at an unprecedented rate and every industry is adapting to this change and I can proudly say that we have completely embraced the essence of this transformation. It’s important to be scalable and sustainable in an era of disruptive technology. With the support of central and state governments in irrigation, road construction, etc. and importantly irrigation at the village level, these technologies will play an important role in the overall development and building an infrastructure on time, scalable and sustainable,” said Sondhi.

Telangana, Karnataka call CE companies to invest

Telangana Minister for IT and Industries & Commerce K T Rama Rao called upon construction equipment manufacturers to set up shop facilities in the state. The Minister said, “We welcome those who come and set up manufacturing ancillaries units here. We have moved away from red tape to red carpet to attract our investors in the state.”

He further assured, “As part of the Telangana Government’s industrial policy, the entrepreneurs seeking to set up their manufacturing facilities do not require government permission. If their project is already complete and the land is approved their certification process would only take 15 days.”

Karnataka Large and Medium Industries Minister R V Deshpande acknowledged that the creation of human resources is the biggest challenge in present day. He urged the infrastructure industry captains to create good jobs. He informs, Karnataka has already created more than 13 lakh jobs by September 2017 and 5 lakh more jobs are in the pipeline. Deshpande also encouraged the industry to invent and invest in Karnataka and promote ease of doing businesses. He said, “Infrastructure is the key for economic, social and human resource development. It’s a key and priority area for the state.”

Infra equipment park to come up in Telangana

Attivo, part of Srei Group, has signed an agreement with the Telangana government for setting up of an industrial park to manufacture infrastructure equipment.

According to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Telangana government and Attivo during EXCON in the presence of Telangana Minister K.T. Rama Rao, Attivo will develop an infrastructure equipment manufacturing park in the National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) near Zaheerabad town in Telangana.

“Spread over 500 acres, the park will create a sustainable and comprehensive industrial zone of international standards. Most of the world’s leading original equipment makers (OEMs) are expected to set up their units in the park, which has a potential to generate more than 10,000 direct and indirect employment over the next 10 years,” an official statement said.

Crane Owner Association signs MoU with IESC for skill development

On the sidelines of EXCON 2017, a MoU was signed between the Crane Owner Association of India (COAOI) and Infrastructure Equipment Skill Council (IESC) with the perspective to empower skill development. As per the MoU signed, COAOI will be responsible for providing labour to the companies that are a part of IESC. Post the training, IESC will provide certificates approved by the Government of India to the employees who have been trained at various companies.

A global platform for component manufacturers

EXCON 2017 witnessed the participation of large number of global and domestic players in the components, accessories and aftermarket segment.

The combined Indian construction equipment market including construction equipment, spares, service and exports stood at $ 5.8 bn in 2016-17 is likely to touch $ 10.5 bn by 2021-22 according to CII-ICEMA Report on Indian Construction Equipment Industry released during CII EXCON 2017.

The overall market for spares for earthmoving equipment in FY 2016-17 was in the range of Rs 4,000 - 4,300 crores. The spares market is expected to go up to Rs 5,800 crores by FY 2022 with the allied services business to be pegged at Rs 800-850 crores giving a huge opportunity for growth of the components industry.

EXCON aims to leverage this gradual shift in the market dynamics by providing an international platform for local component manufacturers to showcase their offering to a global audience.

Big is beautiful

Crushing and screening industry in India is witnessing huge shift towards bigger machines. The major benefit of bigger machines is the operating cost comes down as a bigger machine enables produce more with less number of labours. V. Senthil Kumar, Managing Director, Propel Industries Pvt Ltd, Coimbatore, observes, “In the crushing and screening, the sizes are becoming bigger as customers are increasing their scale of operation. So, we are seeing a trend towards bigger machines.”

Paradigm shift in acceptance of high-end lubricants

Complete lubrication solutions that include products, technology and services associated with the equipment maintenance are gaining acceptance in Indian market. Shankar Karnik, General Manager Industrial, ExxonMobil Lubricants said, “Even though rupees per litre may seem higher for our solutions, than that of other products, customers are now willing to invest in higher rupee per litre to achieve total cost of ownership benefits.”

Ravi Chawla, Managing Director of Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd said, “We are committed to deliver superior services along with best quality lubricants which have the highest degree of drain intervals.”

Concrete roof tile-making machine enters Indian market

Widely used in European countries, concrete roof tiles offer complete resistance to extreme climates, withstands the ravages of weather and hazards of fire, permanent colour is assured, unique strengthening reduces breakage during handling and transportation, good insulation characteristics and permeability with age. Italy’s Vortex Hydra S.r.l has introduced its concrete roof tile-making machine in India in partnership with Columbia Machine Engineering (I) Pvt Ltd.

“During its entire lifecycle, a concrete roof tile only causes about 45 per cent of the greenhouse gases of that triggered off by a clay tile therefore are environment friendly,” claims Paul Packer, Sales Area Manager, Vortex Hydra.

Focus on truck availability

The truck no more needs to visit a workshop for repairs; it is the workshop that visits the truck! Are you surprised? Today’s truck-makers understand that for customers to become prosperous their trucks need to operate continuously. Eicher Trucks & Buses introduced ‘Think 100% Uptime’ programme for select products in construction segment to deliver customer delight. “Through our unique container site support model and on-site service vans we are taking service to customers door step,” informed Rama Rao A S, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Eicher Heavy Duty Trucks, VECV.

‘Safest’ Pick-n-Carry Crane is here!

Construction and material handling equipment manufacturer Escorts Construction Equipment (ECE) launched a Pick-n-Carry Crane, CT Smart 15 that has unique anti-toppling and anti-lifting features which provide enhanced safety on the site. “CT Smart 15 has the highest safety on minimum footprint. With auto derating load chart in articulation, the newly launched CT Smart 15 Crane, has unique anti-lifting features that provides enhanced safety on the site,” claims Rajinder Raina, GM – Marketing, Escorts Construction Equipment.

World’s first Backhoe Loader with AMT ‘Made in India’

JCB India has developed ‘world’s first’ Backhoe Loader with Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) called Easy Shift that allows gear shifting to take place with no operator effort through a rotating knob below steering wheel thus, replacing the gear lever. “Easy Shift facilitates ease of operation, a rested operator and also ensures better productivity,” informs Jasmeet Singh, Head – Corporate Communications and External Relations, JCB India.

Grader goes rural

LeeBoy India Construction Equipment has launched two new motor graders in the 18 and 22 tonne categories: LeeBoy 990 (18-tonne, 250 hp) and LeeBoy 995 (22-tonne, 280 hp). However, now the company plans to come out with a smaller grader for rural roads with an 8-foot blade. Apart from supplying this in Indian market, Leeboy sees its huge demand in Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Digitisation taking centre stage

With the evolution of smartphones on the rise, Quest Informatics plans to launch mobile applications for different processes that will enable integrating the business systems with IoT. The company believes that enabling these services would help major manufacturers anticipate the equipment failure well before time, further enhancing the operational efficiency of customers.

Tata Hitachi’s SHINRAI - An engineering masterpiece

The star attraction at Tata Hitachi’s booth was the all new backhoe loader –Tata Hitachi SHINRAI. Designed and manufactured on the key pillars of capability, reliability and trustworthiness, SHINRAI is an engineering masterpiece built in collaboration with Tata Technologies and Hitachi Construction Machinery, Japan. “The all new backhoe loader with its new and advanced features stands true to its name, SHINRAI – a Japanese word that means trust, reliability and confidence,” informs Sandeep Singh, Managing Director, Tata Hitachi.

Capacity addition on rise

The construction equipment industry is estimated to grow by 10-11 per cent year-on-year in the next few years whereas the concreting equipment segment is likely to grow by 13 to 15 per cent. SCHWING Stetter is one of the leading players in concrete equipment manufacturing. However, the company believes, that current production capacity will not allow them to meet this increase in demand. Therefore, SCHWING Stetter India plans to enhance its production capacity by setting up a greenfield project with an investment of around Rs 140 crores, informs Anand Sundaresan, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, SCHWING Stetter India.

Seeing the greater acceptance of aluminium formworks in affordable housing segment, Sharp Ply, with its principles from Ukraine and Germany, is expected come out with the aluminium formwork solutions soon.

Tippers demand likely to go up

The road construction push includes the Bharatmala Pariyojana with a Rs 5.35 lakh crore investment to construct 34,800 km of roads. In addition, Rs 1.57 lakh crore will be spent on the construction of 48,877 km of roads by the state-run National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Requirement of tippers for this industry comes from primarily two applications: Aggregate Mining and Surface Transport. Both these applications will see unprecedented demand in the coming 2 years, observes Dr. A.K. Jindal, Head – Electric Vehicles & Defence Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Engineering, Tata Motors. n

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 14

JCB introduces world’s first Backhoe Loader with Automated Manual Transmission

Earthmoving and construction equipment manufacturing giant JCB India announced unveiling of an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) called Easy Shift on a Backhoe Loader at Excon 2017.

“We are the first manufacturer in the world to offer Easy Shift AMT on a Backhoe Loader. It allows gear shifting to take place with no operator effort through a rotating knob below steering wheel thus, replacing the gear lever. This facilitates ease of operation, a rested operator and also ensures better productivity,” informs Jasmeet Singh, Head – Corporate Communications and External Relations, JCB India.

The new Backhoe Loader is packed with 30 new innovative features including 15 industry firsts and five world’s first such as an SOS switch, Economy and Power Mode, Guide me home, and Smart App machine diagnostics.

Bringing smart technologies to India

Known for products with state-of-the-art technology and innovation in design, JCB India is now leveraging digital technology by integrating Big Data and Internet of Things in its products and services. The new range of intelligent machines exhibit the blend of technology and digital innovation to meet the demand for world-class machines to build India’s next-gen infrastructure.

Vipin Sondhi, MD and CEO, JCB India said “Innovation has always been the cornerstone of JCB’s philosophy. We are stepping up our offerings to provide the latest solutions based on the evolving customer trends through customer centric apps and by integrating Internet of Things through our advanced Telematics Technology, Livelink.”

JCB India’s pavilion theme resonated with the theme of Excon 2017 of ‘Fuelling Next Gen Infra Building’ by using smart and innovative technologies. Excon saw JCB showcase its commitment towards providing a world-class digital experience to its customers as it introduced multiple mobile applications which ensures all the relevant information is just a click away for users.

“Applications such as JCB Livelink, Smart Diagnostic, parts E-sell and digital product manuals will redefine how customers interact with manufacturers. They are all aimed at improving the overall customer experience by providing all the important information in real time,” Jasmeet said.

Launches largest ‘Made in India’ Tracked Excavator

In line with the company’s philosophy of being a full-range infrastructure equipment partner, JCB India also introduced an all-new 38-tonne Tracked Excavator with two variants – JCB 380LC Xtra and JCB 380LC Quarry Master (QM).

The JCB 380LC Xtra comes with a powerful engine and its hydraulic performance gives the power to do more than expected. The wide range of heavy duty buckets can be used as per different applications and strata to maximise output which is available from 1.4 to 2.3 cu.m. Power boost feature increases hydraulic system pressure to provide higher digging force and lifting capacity when needed.

“The JCB380LCQM offers 16 per cent higher lifting capacity owing to a combination of high hydraulic power and high operating weight and provides 6 per cent more output while handling blocks. The JCB Dieselmax engine returns a 3 per cent high fuel efficiency and generates high torque at low speed to suit the job needs,” the company claims.

Industry revival is here

Giving an overview of the industry performance, Sondhi said, “Between April 2012 and September 2015, construction equipment industry witnessed around 45 per cent de-growth. The industry was at its peak in 2011; we came close to it in 2016 and in 2017 we will beat up that. So, the year 2017 was the best year for the construction equipment industry as well as JCB India. During this period the industry grew by about 12 per cent and we are around that. In 2018, we expect that if the industry grows by 10 to 15 per cent, that will be great.” n

We are stepping up our offerings to provide the latest solutions based on the evolving customer trends through customer centric apps and by integrating Internet of Things through our advanced Telematics Technology, Livelink.

Vipin Sondhi, MD and CEO, JCB India

We are the first manufacturer in the world to offer Easy Shift AMT on a Backhoe Loader.

Jasmeet Singh, Head – Corporate Communications and External Relations, JCB India.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 16

Volvo Penta bets big on Indian market

Miron, congratulations on being appointed as the Head of Volvo Penta in India. What is your commitment to the Indian market?

Over the years, Volvo Penta has established itself as one of the leading players in India providing complete power solutions for marine and industrial applications. Having the world-class manufacturing facility in India for local production of Volvo Penta engines, we would like to further strengthen our business in India and neighbouring countries. We are committed to deliver one-global quality from our facilities across the globe and Pithampur facility is not an exception. Engines manufactured in this facility are no different from the engines manufactured in Sweden or in the USA.

Have you been able to explore in the export markets with ‘Made in India’ products?

The Pithampur facility in India is producing engines to meet emission norms of EU Stage II, IIIa (BS CEV III), IV and the upcoming EU stage V. The same assembly line is also manufacturing as per Euro-III, BS-IV and even Euro-VI for our own Volvo Group products.

At present, we are exporting the majority of the locally manufactured 5- and 8-litre engines to the global market. Domestic market is opening up right now. The factory has the capacity to produce 100,000 engines a year and as of now we are producing around 25,000 units a year. We will ramp up production.

By when we can expect Volvo Penta engines are being used in Volvo’s construction equipment?

Volvo Penta is within the Volvo Group responsible for the engine and component business to external customers. Our products are developed to meet the stringent requirements of our customers in industrial and marine applications.

Volvo Construction Equipment, though, is using the same core engine as the rest of the Volvo Group. But it is finalised and certified by our colleagues from Volvo Construction Equipment. This secures a perfect driveline development in-house to

secure the best application or machine for the end customer.

As the Indian government is committed to transit to BS CEV IV emission norms by 2020, are you ready for this?

Already today we have the knowledge, experience and technology available to meet the next emission regulation step in India. Even our customers and OEMs are today ready with their engine room design with our current engine range due to Volvo Penta’s modular engine design concept.

What will be your core objectives to achieve in India for the next 5 years?

Our main objective is to retain a strong customer focus as a highly reliable “engine partner”. We further want to increase customer satisfaction as well as our market share on the industrial and marine engine market.

How do you look at the year 2018? What is your growth target?

As of now, Volvo Penta is growing in India very healthy year on year. We will be more aggressive and grow at an even faster pace. Our target is

to achieve high double-digit growth in the next

few years.

As of now, Volvo Penta is growing in India very healthy year on year…Our target is to achieve high double-digit growth in the next few years.

Miron Thoms, Vice President and Head of Volvo Penta in India

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 18

Hyundai’s SMART Series steals the show

Hyundai Construction Equipment India (P) Ltd, a major domestic supplier of excavators in India, showcased its technological prowess with their latest SMART Series of excavators during the EXCON exhibition at Bengaluru.

According to the company, “SMART series machines are the result of understanding the customer needs and preferences in Indian market, many value added features including fuel saving kit, improved operator comfort and reinforcement of high stress areas on the machines are added to enhance the operational efficiency and profitability of the customers.”

SMART is the acronym for Superior performance, low Maintenance, Analytical capabilities, enhanced Reliability and advanced Technology.

Hyundai Construction also launched 3 new excavators for Indian market, R480 LC-9S is the fuel efficient, reliable and safe solution for OB removal in coal mines, this 9 Series global offering from Hyundai Construction Equipment India would ensure operational efficiency and profitability for the mining contractors.

R140 W-9S, 14-tonne class wheeled excavator is the right solution for concrete laying while making the concrete roads. “Considering Government of India’s impetus on concrete roads, this product would create niche for itself at the market place and would offer a win-win solution to the customers and Hyundai,” said Sharwan Agnihotri, Head - Marketing, Hyundai Construction Equipment India Pvt Ltd.

He adds, “R140 L SMART is a new product designed after customer feedback and extensive research on their needs and preferences.” This machine is equipped with SMART features including Hi-Mate and 4-cylinder engine from Cummins.

Apart from the excavators, Hyundai Construction Equipment India also launched its unique remote management system Hi-Mate. This app-based technology feature enables customers to access machine control from the hand-held device and take informed decisions to improve operational efficiency.

Speaking at the exhibition, Anup Nair, VP and Business Head, Hyundai Construction Equipment India Pvt Ltd said, “Launch of global products to Indian market demonstrates our commitment of offering best technology and customer support to Indian customers. We would keep on scanning the market for exploring the possibilities of customisation of our products for local needs.”

Agnihotri adds, “We would offer relevant customisation in available technology to the Indian customers with a focus to improve operational efficiency and productivity.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 22

Volvo CE targets to expand its customer base

We want to make sure that every customer who interacts with us experiences the ease of business and finds the right solution for his requirement.

Dimitrov Krishnan, Vice President and Head of Volvo CE India

Volvo CE is celebrating its 20th anniversary in India. How do you look at this journey?

20 years ago, there were very few players in the Indian market and Volvo was a new entrant. Since then, Volvo CE has evolved and today we consider India a home market. We have a factory which produces 70 per cent of what we sell in India today. Our entire team is local, we have acquired road equipment division of Ingersol Rand which had a long legacy in India. Going forward, we wish to focus on increasing our customer base across all segments.

Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Industry 4.0 are the new buzzwords for manufacturing industry. How do you foresee their impact on the construction equipment domain?

New age technologies like Artificial Intelligence, IoT and Industry 4.0 will impact every industry whether it is construction equipment or automobile. Machine control systems with Artificial Intelligence, connected enterprise, solutions based on data captured from equipment into a data server and then analysing those data to understand machine performance will have a significant impact on industries across the spectrum. However, the critical aspect will be to see how these developments make sense for end users by adding value for him. In that respect, construction equipment industry is yet to reach its optimum point; some major disruptions are yet to happen.

We launched our telematic solutions long ago that facilitates real time machine performance monitoring. This has been well-accepted by the high-end end users in mining industry. But I think the retail users will need a much simpler value added telematic solution which can solve their problems.

Could you tell us more about the newly launched excavator?

The new EC200D excavator has been specifically designed for general construction work. Featuring Volvo’s famed fuel efficiency, the new machine also has a bucket breakout force of 123 kN and an arm tear-out force of 96 kN, which helps it deliver high job site productivity and fast cycle times.

What do you wish to achieve by launching EC200D?

The EC200D excavator has been launched in India to increase our customer base. Today EC210D is a high performance and high-end machine which is used by customers mainly in the quarry segment who can extract value out of it. EC200D makes us accessible to a wider customer base because the price-point is more economical.

We will also reach out to those customers who are doing earthwork and who consider Volvo as not a viable investment for them. We are going to make our product viable to them. Direct contractors will be our primary target. Hirers and rental players will also find attractive value proposition in EC200D.

Are you going to produce it locally?

In the first year, we will be importing this equipment from our Korea plant. By the end 2018, we will start manufacturing EC200D in our state-of-the-art plant in Bangalore. At present we manufacture two excavators i.e. EC210D and EC300D in this facility.

What is your target for 2018?

We will project 2018 as the year of retail excellence because we intend to reach every customer possible with the message that Volvo is within their reach both in terms of affordability and usability. We want to make sure that every customer who interacts with us experiences the ease of business and finds the right solution for his requirement. We have a wide range of products – starting from entry level products like EC200D excavator to high-end EC950E. Volvo will be a well-considered brand by every buyer across the industry.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 24

CASE unveils a slew of new products

The new products are examples of how CASE stays ahead of the curve by constantly innovating and upgrading its machines to meet customers’ needs, and our manufacturing facility at Pithampur is testimony to our commitment to ‘Make in India’.

Abhijit Gupta, Brand Leader, CASE Construction Equipment India

CASE Construction Equipment, a brand of CNH Industrial, has extended its product range of by launching a slew of new products at EXCON 2017. The new products include 752EX Vibratory Tandem Compactor, 770EX OL Only Loader, and upgraded PRO Series Backhoe Loader

CASE has also displayed 2050M Dozer and 1107EX Soil Compactor for the first time, in addition to graders, skid steer loaders and backhoe loaders. This wide range of equipment illustrates the brand’s ability to cater for activities as diverse as urban construction, road building, infrastructure, mining and agriculture.

CASE manufactures its industry-leading compactors and backhoe loaders at its WCM (World Class Manufacturing) Audit-awarded Pithampur plant in Madhya Pradesh. In addition to meeting domestic needs, this facility also exports to markets in the Asia Pacific region, Africa and the Middle East.

Abhijit Gupta, Brand Leader, CASE Construction Equipment India, said, “The new 752EX will strengthen CASE’s leadership position in the compactor segment, in which we are the only company to have sold more than 10,000 units in India. The PRO Series Backhoe Loader and the 770EX OL Only Loader are customised to India’s specific requirements. These new products are examples of how CASE stays ahead of the curve by constantly innovating and upgrading its machines to meet customers’ needs, and our manufacturing facility at Pithampur is testimony to our commitment to ‘Make in India’.”

Product Details

CASE 752EX Vibratory Tandem Compactor

The CASE 752EX is equipped with a fuel-efficient 3.9-litre 4-cylinder engine, with a mechanical injection system and internal exhaust gas recirculation that delivers 76 HP at 2,200 rpm and torque of 332 Nm at 1,300 rpm. This new-generation engine is developed by CNH Industrial subsidiary FPT Industrial. The 752EX’s single-piece engine hood gives easy access for routine maintenance, with all daily service points conveniently accessible at ground level.

Customised CASE 770EX OL Only Loader

Customised for the Indian market, the CASE 770EX OL is powered by a 3.9-litre 4-cylinder FPT Industrial S8000 engine with a mechanical injection system. It is re-engineered to deliver higher loader lift capacity. The power shuttle transmission provides four forward and reverse speeds. The hydraulically shifted clutches allow the operator to change direction and travel speed on the go, while the control valves deliver smooth speed and direction shifts, resulting in smooth and precise operation.

PRO Series Backhoe Loader

The CASE PRO Series Backhoe Loader is powered by an FPT Industrial S8000 engine which delivers powerful performance and fast response time coupled with higher productivity and fuel savings. The Series is re-engineered from the ground-up to deliver industry-leading backhoe breakout force, higher loader lift capacity/reach and best-in-class cab visibility.

The new PRO Series Backhoe Loader has a robust, robotically welded two-piece structural frame design which results in great stability, performance and serviceability. For versatility in different Indian operating conditions the machine is designed with heavy duty structures, tanks, fenders and rims. To give the series a muscular look, there is a dual-colour tone, with a mix of Grey on the lower parts of the machine and Power Tan colour on the upper parts.

Bigger buckets allow greater load lifting and increase productivity. The series is equipped with a superior working range and will reach deeper than any other backhoe loader. There is a choice of two configurations: a standard dipper dig depth of 4.5 and 4.7 metres, or an extendable dig depth of 5.9 metres.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 26

BKT presents its finest ‘Masterpieces’ at EXCON

Displayed its cutting-edge tyres for construction and earthmoving equipment at EXCON 2017.

Taking advantage of its home ground, BKT - the off-highway tyre manufacturer headquartered in Mumbai, unveiled some of its finest masterpieces: cutting-edge tyres for construction and earthmoving equipment at EXCON 2017 – the 9th international construction equipment and construction technology trade fair held in Bengaluru between 12th and 16th December.

BKT stall was dominated by the large All Steel Radial Tyres Earthmax family – a tyre line, which has been specifically developed to favour the best weight distribution on the ground for dumpers, loaders, dozers, graders and some multi-purpose vehicles.

Right at the forefront, there was Earthmax SR 45 in size 18.00 R 33, an ideal tyre for rigid dumpers operating even on the harshest grounds. An essential feature is the extraordinary tread depth increasing tyre durability and ensuring productive efficiency on the long run.

The next exhibit in size 24.00 R 35 was Earthmax SR 47, specifically designed for rigid dumpers as well. This tyre stands out for an extra-long product life-cycle thanks to its E4-class tread that reduces wear and provides extreme resistance against cuts and abrasion.

Earthmax SR 46 is BKT’s response to adverse and rocky environments. Displayed at Excon in size 27.00 R 49, this tyre features an all steel casing reinforced with steel-belts to provide excellent protection against impacts, mechanical stress, and punctures. Today in India this is largest All Steel Radial Tyre being produced.

Specifically developed for rigid dumpers and loaders is Earthmax SR 31 – was on display at Excon in size 23.5 R 25. This tyre provides best traction and pleasing riding comfort. Made of a special compound, not only is it extremely resistant against cuts and abrasion, it also dissipates the heat developed during equipment operation.

In addition to the Earthmax products, also XL Grip (L3) was displayed at the trade show in size 17.5-25. It is a cross-ply tyre that provides best stability and durability. It has been particularly engineered for loaders for the purpose of reducing the risk of perforation during heavy-load operations to a minimum level.

Another pattern for tough service is SUPER GRADER, a bias tyre for graders excelling in traction and self-cleaning properties. On display at the event in size 14.00-24.

BKT’s EM 936 offers riding comfort as a plus. This tyre has been specifically developed for excavators, self-loading concrete mixtures and telehandlers. Its features are easy handling, improved self-cleaning properties, and excellent traction. It was showcased in size 16.0/70-20.

“This year in its 9th edition, Excon is a major event in the field of construction and the most momentous one for the South Asian market. It is a unique occurrence that BKT could not have missed – an extraordinary opportunity to exchange ideas with branch professionals, operators, and experts, and to demonstrate them innovative products tailored to their individual needs,” said Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, BKT.

Commenting on the company’s performance, Ashok Chhajer, GM – OE Sales, BKT said, “We have enhanced our market penetration in domestic market and today 18 per cent of our products are being consumed locally which was 8 per cent a couple of years back. In 2018, we would continue to grow in domestic as well as international markets.”

Excon is a major event in the field of construction and the most momentous one for the South Asian market. It is a unique occurrence that BKT could not have missed.

Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, BKT

In 2018, we would continue to grow in domestic as well as international markets.

Ashok Chhajer, GM – OE Sales, BKT

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 28-30

Gulf Oil sets record straight

The Hinduja Group-owned Gulf Oil Lubricants India aims to stand at Top 2 position amongst the private sector lubricant companies in India by 2020. On the side-lines of EXCON 2017, senior spokespersons of the company speak to B2B Purchase and explain the future roadmap.

Here is the excerpts from an interview with Ravi Chawla, Managing Director; Somesh Sabhani, Vice President – B2B; and Deepak K Tiwari, Senior GM – Infrastructure, Mining & Fleet Business, Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd:

Lubricants play a crucial role in determining the emission from a vehicle. As the government plans to bring in BS-IV by 2020, are you ready for this?

Ravi Chawla: It’s not only about the vehicles which are on road which will have to meet BS-VI but even construction equipment and off-road vehicle would have to meet the emission standards from 2020 onwards. We have oils which will meet the BS- VI emission standard and some vehicles are undergoing field trials.

We have introduced AdBlue that helps a vehicle meet the BS-IV and BS-VI emission standards. AdBlue is an additive that reduces the most harmful substance - nitrogen oxide (NOx) - in diesel engine exhaust gases.

We already have signed up with Force Motors and Bharat Benz for providing AdBlue to them. Currently, we have more than 30 per cent of market share in AdBlue and looking forward to building partnerships with a few construction equipment makers for AdBlue.

How do you see the response for new your products at EXCON?

Somesh Sabhani: The outlook for year 2018 is very positive. There is an upsurge in infrastructure development activities in the country especially in the field of road construction, metro rails and mining.

The government recent announcements of Sagarmala and Bharatmala will also attract significant investments across sectors. At EXCON 2017, we witnessed the same kind of momentum across the OEM partners and the construction companies.

In the context of projects like Bharatmala to Sagarmala, how do you foresee the growth for lubricant industries?

Ravi Chawla: All the major infrastructure development programmes in India including Smart Cities, Bharatmala, Sagarmala etc. lubricants will play a very critical role in keeping the deployed machines running with optimum efficiency. We foresee huge industry growth in the lubricants industry in the coming years.

In last ten years, the Indian lubricants industry has grown at about two per cent in volumes whereas, we have been growing at 11 per cent CAGR. As per survey conducted by IMRB for Gulf Oil, Gulf Oil stands at No. 3 in brand recall survey amongst the lubricant brands of India. By 2020, we aim to stand at Top 2 position amongst the private sector lubricant companies in India. We are committed to deliver superior services along with best quality lubricants which have the highest degree of drain intervals.

Apart from adding products like AdBlue, what kind of value proposition you are going to bring for your customers?

Deepak K Tiwari: As part of our strategy, we emphasis on having strong customer relationship, we pay attention to customer feedback. This reflects in our products, as we are the pioneers in ‘long drain interval’ engine oil for e.g. gear and axle oils now a drain interval of 1,20,000 km from 80,000 km, which was 40,000 km earlier. While, it also extends the service intervals significantly and offers greater value proposition for our customers. In addition, quality of our oils is much better in terms of the way we formulate them. We also provide technical and condition monitoring services.

Somesh Sabhani: Our hydraulic oils are made from Group II base oils in which Turbine Oil Stability Test (TOST) life is double from normal hydraulic oil. In case of normal hydraulic oil available in the market, the TOST life would be 2,000 to 2,500 hours whereas our TOST life of our hydraulic oil is 5,000 hours. Doubling the TOST life means doubling the service life - this is something that we guarantee. Our OEM partner, Schwing Stetter, a concrete equipment major, has chosen us as their partner due to this reason.

Apart from the longer drain intervals, what are the other parameters a customer should consider while they select a lubricant for their machines?

Deepak K Tiwari: Mining and construction sectors are largely unorganised and sites are located at remote locations. So, in around 60 per cent of cases, they would like to rely on technologically advanced products that can increase their machine uptime. However, the balance 40 per cent of decision making for lubricants procurement depends on how a lubricants company provides an end-to-end solution. So, the whole strategy of our Infra Mining and Fleet (IMF) business is to create a single point interface between customers and Gulf Oil. It involves partnering and consulting the customers by providing them with superior products, support them to take rational decision and thereby create value addition.

Today, probably Gulf is the only lubricants player in the country that has a dedicated team which reaches out to around 5,000 consumer sites at various remote locations and offers bundle of services from consulting to rationalisation to logistics. So apart, from longer drain intervals, these are the essential factors when customers decide to procure lubricants.

Please brief us on the product that you have launched for Kobelco at EXCON 2017.

Deepak K Tiwari: Kobelco Construction Equipment largely overlaps with our consumer base; infrastructure (roadw ays) being the key business drivers for both the companies. Therefore, this synergy becomes very strategic for Gulf Oil as well as Kobelco.

In this context, we have introduced a complete series – from high-end diesel engine oil to high-end hydraulic gear oil and greases for their post warranty after-market, which primarily is going to get sold through their dealers as well as all the larger infrastructure players.

Somesh Sabhani: Going forward, as there is a complete synergy between Gulf Oil and construction equipment OEMs, we are going very aggressive on partnering with them.

How the collaboration with OEMs helps the end users?

Somesh Sabhani: The end user gets a lubricant which is tailor-made to specific equipment of that OEM and is the best for providing optimal protection and performance.

Keeping the 2018 in mind, what will be your five core objectives for the next year?

Ravi Chawla: We want to be a part of India’s growth story and we will continue to perform better than the industry. The second objective is to keep improving our products basis customer feedback in much organised way. Third, is to grow and nurture our OEM partnerships. Fourthly, we should be able to enhance our existing tie-ups to deliver greater value addition. And fifth core objective is to build better and stronger relationships with all our stakeholders.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

AVTEC launches heavy-duty transmission for mining and oil-field applications

AVTEC, one of the largest independent manufacturers of powertrain and precision engineered products, introduced a 1,200 hp heavy-duty transmissions ideal for 100-tonne mining dump truck and oil-field applications.

The product was formally launched by Deepak Kumar Hota, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) in the presence of Prabhakar Kadapa, CEO & Managing Director, AVTEC Ltd.

AVTEC’s new product named AH8700 has been designed and developed at its in-house tech centre at Hosur, Tamil Nadu. The product has been validated in the harshest of Indian conditions and has unique features that ensure reduced cycle time with 7 forward speeds and 1 reverse speed, improved fuel efficiency with lock up clutch arrangement and better gradeability with optimum step ratio for effective torque utilisation.

AH8700 provides durable and reliable performance for mining vehicles and Oil Field applications. AH8700 is designed and engineered to work relentlessly in the most demanding situations and operate in the toughest terrain with ease. AH8700 is built for heavy duty cycles with minimum maintenance and resulting in faster work cycles and extended service intervals.

With all OEMs working diligently towards designing and manufacturing vehicles compliant with the latest emission norms, the use of electronically-controlled engines and transmissions is the need of the market. AVTEC understands this need and has introduced indigenously developed electronically controlled transmissions providing data controlled mechanism, enhanced system efficiency and reliability.

Deepak Kumar Hota said, “AVTEC has been a partner of BEML for more than 3 decades now. We congratulate AVTEC for launching this new product and wish them success in all their future endeavours. We look forward to have a continued relationship with AVTEC in the years to come.”

Commenting on the development, Kadapa said, “We are committed to delivering an array of advanced products and setting global benchmarks in reliability and efficiency for the off-highway industry. The introduction of this product will help us tap into the huge potential of the Indian as well as Global mining and oilfield market.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 32

ExxonMobil: Giving Customers Value for Their Money

Though we are certainly premium lubricant brand, we still have been successful in demonstrating the value to our customers and that has helped us grow.

Shankar Karnik, General Manager Industrial, ExxonMobil Lubricants Pvt Ltd

What are your core objectives for 2018 as far as business in India concerned?

We are planning to invest and go deeper into segments. Privatisation of mining has opened new vistas for us. Things have started picking up in the construction sector, which was in a lull for the past couple of years. A lot of impetus is being given on the development of roads and bridges– thus helping the infrastructure sector to make a shift out of its slumber. Real estate sector will also pick up soon. Although we have not seen the investments right on the ground to the extent they were envisaged, but suddenly the signals seem quite positive now. We are hopeful that the construction, mining and infrastructure space will grow exponentially in the year 2018.

Certainly, all these developments will increase demand for equipment. With this as the backdrop, several manufacturers are already ramping up their capacities and are deploying many foreign technologies. Many local manufacturers are also becoming significant in this area. Not just equipment and technology but services associated with the equipment maintenance, offering a complete solution to the customer is also gaining popularity. In this context, lubrication solutions that we bring to our customers are gaining more and more acceptance. Even though rupees per litre may seem higher for our solutions, than that of other products, customers are now willing to invest in higher rupee per litre to achieve total cost of ownership benefits. This paradigm shift is very important for us.

Our Mobil brand is positioned higher over many conventional lubricants. From a performance stand-point, we aim to deliver quality products and services to our customers to help them achieve economic and sustainable benefits. Customers are now looking at higher specific outputs which implies that they want their equipment to be available for more number of hours, deliver better cycle times and achieve higher productivity. All these are interconnected, and lubricants play a vital role in this regard. Hence, we are upscaling as well and bringing better technology to match their demands.

Our Mobilgrease XHP Mine Series is specifically designed for the lubrication of extra heavy duty, off-highway and mining equipment. We have demonstrated our products with major mining, developers and operators (MDOs). We observed that Mobilgrease XHP 322 Mine provides with optimum equipment protection in high sliding mechanisms and also helps in extended re-lubrication intervals.

What sort of value for money your lubricants offer?

In terms of savings, our Mobilgrease XHP Mine Series has delivered almost about $ 1 million savings annually for a major MDO which is working at the Western Coalfields. Similarly, for boom hydraulics in excavators, we have Mobil DTE 10 Excel, a premium high viscosity, shear stable and zinc free oil. This has delivered up to 3 to 5 times additional oil drain intervals compared to high-viscosity lubricants available in the market. In addition, Mobil DTE 10 Excel has also delivered up to about 7 per cent to pump efficiency which in terms of productivity is significant. This not only gave economic benefits, but also delivered environmental benefits and safety.

How has been the performance of your company in the recent past and what is your future road map?

Since 2015 our growth has been in double-digit across segments despite the market not growing, we witnessed an increase in our market share. Though we are certainly premium lubricant brand, we still have been successful in demonstrating the value to our customers and that has helped us grow. In 2017, we aimed at growing at a record pace. We see similar trends continuing into 2018-19. In the long-term and short-term, we are very excited about the Indian market and we see India as the biggest growth market today. We are investing significantly in India not only for now but for the next 10 years. We have a strategy in place to be present in the market in a much-amplified manner.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 34

Crushing & screening industry sees shift towards bigger machines

In the crushing and screening, the sizes are becoming bigger as customers are increasing their scale of operation.

V. Senthil Kumar, Managing Director, Propel Industries Pvt. Ltd., Coimbatore.

How do you look at the crushing and screening industry in India?

Till the time infrastructure growth is there, the crushing and screening industry will grow. However, real estate industry is not doing well for the past 2 to 3 years. Once the real estate industry picks up, the industry growth will improve further.

Do you feel that the demand has not come to its desired growth level?

I think the current pace of growth will be maintained even if there are some setbacks in some industries. At Propel, we are growing by around 60 per cent year-on-year in terms of turnover during the past 4-5 years.

Did you launch any new product at EXCON 2017?

Yes, we have launched 250 TPH Track Mounted Crusher during EXCON 2017. This is an innovative dual-power crusher that can either run on generator or on power. It allows to switch from 200 TPH to 250 TPH in the same machine. We have also launched 600 TPH Jaw Crusher and 200 TPH Sand Washing System.

What kind of technology shift is being witnessed in this sector?

In the crushing and screening, the sizes are becoming bigger as customers are increasing their scale of operation. So, we are seeing a trend towards bigger machines.

What may be the reason for this shift?

The operating cost comes down with the scale. The number of people involved for a small plant or a bigger plant is almost same. So, there is a lot of advantage when one goes for the scale. It enables to produce more with a bigger machine with less number of labours.

Is this trend going to continue for next few years?

Definitely! This trend will continue for years. Also, there are futuristic trends like automation, Internet of Things. One will be able to control his/her machines even sitting outside the office. These are the few things which are going to happen in another 5-6 years.

What kind of automation we can see in crushing and screening segment?

Automation will enable an operator operating a machine sitting inside a cabin. It will also reduce labour involvement. We have already started supplying automated plants commencing 2016.

Has the demand for artificial sand increased within rural segment?

Everywhere artificial sand demand is increasing. People are realising that it is better than river sand. Earlier artificial sand was better only in theory; now people have started realising it. Artificial sand is much cheaper; it is also better in quality. Many RMC plants have permanently switched to artificial sand even though the river sand is available to them. However, though engineers and architects are become aware of this, there exist some reluctance from masons and supervisors.

Did you launch any specific product for the rural segment?

Yes, we have 75 tonnes/hour Vertical shaft impactor and 125 tonnes/hour Cone crusher for rural segment which includes Sand classification system.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 36

Proman helps customers beat the competition

Any manufacturer who gives a 360-degree solution keeping the customers profitability in mind will definitely be the preferred equipment supply partner.

RS Raghavan, Managing Director, Proman Infrastructure Services

Proman Infrastructure Services Pvt Ltd is a company formed by a group of professionals with extensive experience in crushing, screening and heavy equipment. The company’s prime focus areas are in the field of crushing, screening and grinding. It provides the following services.

•Selection, manufacture and supply of crushers.

•Detailed design and engineering for turnkey crushing and grinding systems.

•Project management for crushing, screening and grinding systems.

•After-sales service for crushing systems.

•Supply of spares and wears for crushers.

Crushing and screening is a unique field. Apart from the crushers and the process involving it, one must also have control or influence on the upstream operations like mining, drilling and blasting. The lowest cost per tonne of the final crushed production can be achieved when these are planned together. The challenge to many quarry owners is to obtain the right quality of aggregates at the right price and this can only be achieved by having a total control on the equipment, process, after sales and spares. Keeping this in mind, PROMAN was formed. It has a unique alternative approach in this field to help contractors and quarry owners.

Commenting on the future of construction equipment industry in India, RS Raghavan, Managing Director, Proman Infrastructure Services Pvt Ltd, said, “Construction equipment industry in India is going to be a matured market. Today, a customer is prudent to understand what is good for him. Any manufacturer who gives a 360-degree solution keeping the customers profitability in mind will definitely be the preferred equipment supply partner.”

India has a huge potential for infrastructural development. Being a key market in Asia, most of the local and international players in the construction equipment segment are very active here. A lot of Indian companies are slowly building up expertise to offer fully built equipment in India. Eventually, in Raghavan’s opinion, any manufacturer who can deliver international quality products at a reasonable price will succeed.

He adds, “PROMAN has technology tie ups with the best in the world and we manufacture them in India thereby providing the best value to our customers.”

Had a fruitful EXCON

PROMAN had a very good response at EXCON 2017. The company had displayed around 15 crushing and screening equipment. “The quality of customers visiting us was very good. We were able to close good orders and we hope to conclude more orders in the next few months from all the enquiries received from the customers in EXCON 2017,” said Raghavan.

Technology to watch out for in 2018

Flexibility in the design of the equipment to adapt to the varying demand of the products produced by the contractor or the quarrying segment is the key to the mutual success of the equipment supplier and the customer, observes Raghavan. He adds, “PROMAN has pioneered in this along with our collaborators and are able to take our customers way ahead of their competition in any given segment.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 38

Caterpillar expands its product portfolio

Launched a range of new products includes backhoe loaders 426F2, 424B2, Hindustan 2021 D wheel loaders and Cat 336D2 L excavators at EXCON 2017.

Caterpillar, the global heavy machinery equipment maker, announced the launch of four new products for the Indian market at EXCON 2017. With the launch of these new products, Caterpillar aims to deepen its presence in infrastructure, mining and energy sector in India.

Commenting on the new launch, Vivek Vanmeeganathan, Country Head and Managing Director, Caterpillar India, said, “Our decision to launch new products to add to our existing segments demonstrates our resolve to contribute to the India growth story. We would like to strengthen Caterpillar presence in infrastructure, mining and energy sector in India with innovative and cutting-edge technologies.”

The new range of products include an advanced series of backhoe loaders (426F2 and 424B2), Hindustan wheel loader (2021D2) and Cat excavators (336D2 and 349D2), which were displayed alongside Caterpillar’s existing range of products. Other products showcased at the exhibition include 125 kVA FG Wilson generator set; SEM branded motor graders, wheel loader and dozer; 500 KVA generator set; and product support capabilities such as Cat 360°ADVANTAGE, Cat Connect technology, product support (service van display), Cat finance, and rental and used equipment.

“Customers can expect increased productivity with an improved operator environment, better fuel efficiency and more reliability from the new range of backhoe loaders. 426 F2 and 424 B2. Pump flow in a superior hydraulic system delivers excellent hydraulic performance at the operator’s fingertips,” Vivek informs.

New Cat products including excavators, backhoe loaders along with existing products are well positioned to meet the demands of the Indian market, overcoming challenges pertaining to unfriendly topography, weather conditions, tough terrain and high altitude.

Vivek further added, “For over 35 years, from A Series to the new F2 Series, we have produced backhoe loaders that are designed with the operator in mind, providing reliability, power and a quality operator environment. The Cat 426F2 backhoe loader continues this tradition, providing a machine to help the growth of business. A large number of infrastructure projects, especially highways, energy and rail projects, are currently underway in several parts of the country. Initiatives such as Smart Cities, Clean Ganga and Swachh Bharat offer huge potential for us to deepen our presence with cutting-edge technology and solutions.”

Commenting on Caterpillar’s participation at EXCON 2017, Amit Bansal, Sales Director, Building Construction Products, Caterpillar India said, “The 426F2 features the Cat C4.4 engine. The engine is a 4-cylinder, 4-stroke direct injection turbocharged, inter-cooled and equipped with standard glow plug starting for optimal cold weather performance. This provides reliable starting performance down to (–) 26 C.”

Besides the advanced loaders, Caterpillar has also showcased its new excavator Cat 336D2 and 349D2. Other machines that were on display at the trade fair would include excavators, motor graders and track type tractors.

“Cat excavators are equipped with unique features that enable them to undertake complex tasks in tough terrains. These excavators are best-in-class in performance and safety features. The machines will be instrumental in working on construction and road building projects across India,” said Andy Dhanaraj, Sales Director, Global Construction and Infrastructure, Caterpillar India.

With 3,210 kg payload, new Hindustan series wheel loaders 2021D2 also come with improved operator environment and a highly reliable and fuel-efficient engine. The 2021D2 wheel loaders provide higher productivity with improved lift height and the lowest operational cost.

“Cat machines are equipped with advanced technological capability and have demonstrated positive results in difficult terrains in many parts of the world,” said Andy.

Caterpillar has been manufacturing in India for more than four decades. Today it has six manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 40

Tippers demand likely to go up: Tata Motors

Tata Motors, a flagship company of the Tata Group, is a major manufacturer of commercial vehicles in India. Commenting on the future of construction equipment industry in India, Dr. A.K. Jindal, Head – Electric Vehicles & Defence Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Engineering, Tata Motors, said, “We see the road construction segment booming due to the impetus provided in the budgetary allocations for roads and infrastructure projects.”

The road construction push includes the Bharatmala Pariyojana with a Rs 5.35 lakh crore investment to construct 34,800 km of roads. In addition, Rs 1.57 lakh crore will be spent on the construction of 48,877 km of roads by the state-run National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Requirement of tippers for this industry comes from primarily two applications: Aggregate Mining and Surface Transport. Both these applications will see unprecedented demand in the coming 2 years, believes Dr. Jindal.

Rajesh Kaul, Head, Sales and Marketing, Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors, adds, “There is a visible shift towards rated load regime, indicating that more vehicles are required to carry similar loads. Manufacturers of commodities like steel, coal and cement have been stressing on lower freight rates. All this will lead to the migration from low tonnage points to higher tonnage vehicles. Tata Motors is all set to cater to this growing need with its versatile range of vehicles in 31-tonne, 37-tonne, 40-tonne and 49-tonne range.”

Tata Motors at EXCON 2017

At EXCON 2017, Tata Motors’ focus was on mining and road construction industry as the company sees positive movement in macro-economic indicators in these segments. “We showcased product superiority or exclusivity with globally renowned Cummins SCR technology, heavy-duty ULTIMAAX suspension system, factory fitted comfortable AC SIGNA cabins and light weight but stronger tipper bodies. All these vehicles are powered by our range of powerful 180 to 300HP SCR technology engines,” informs Dr. Jindal.

Driver comfort is increasingly becoming more relevant due to the increased utilisation of assets, longer lead distances as well as the scarcity of drivers in this industry. Tata Motors provides options of air-conditioned comfortable cabins as well as sleeper cabins in many of its tippers to cater to this demand.

Kaul adds, “We are also working on various aggregates like engines, axles and suspension systems to reduce the maintenance costs associated and provide a long-lasting trouble-free operation. One such technological marvel that we showcased is rubber and metal, heavy-duty ULTIMAAX suspension. These technological solutions are helping our customers get better productivity and continued operating profits.”

With roads becoming wider and better and the state border toll nakas getting out due to GST regime, transporters are looking to increase the number of trips. High HP vehicles will help them in doing so.

“The look and feel of the vehicles as well as the total cost of ownership is really unmatched and we strongly feel that these vehicles will be the ‘go to, high demand’ products,” Kaul claims.

Vehicle that were showcased by Tata Motors at EXCON 2017

•SIGNA 3718.TK 24 Cum tipper

•PRIMA 3130.K 19 Scoop tipper

•PRIMA 2525.K 16 Box tipper with ULTIMAAX suspension

•SIGNA 2518.K 7 CuM RMC with Bogie Suspension

•PRIMA 3125.K 23 Cum Box tipper.

oSIGNA 4923.S double compartment side-ways tipping trailer

oFirst in segment features:

nUltimaax suspension (Metal and Rubber suspension - No leaf spring, NO lubrication)

nTelematics as standard fitment with 3 years complimentary service in PRIMA tippers.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 42

SCHWING Stetter to expand capacity, plans to invest Rs 140 Cr

Concrete equipment manufacturing major SCHWING Stetter plans to enhance its production capacity by setting up a new facility in Tamil Nadu or Maharashtra.

Talking to B2B Purchase, on the sidelines of EXCON 2017, Anand Sundaresan, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, SCHWING Stetter India said, “The construction equipment industry is estimated to grow by 10-11 per cent year-on-year in the next few years whereas the concreting equipment segment is likely to grow by 13 to 15 per cent. Our current production capacity will not allow us to meet this increase in demand. Therefore, we have decided to enhance our production capacity by setting up a greenfield project with an investment of around Rs 140 crores.”

With this expansion, SCHWING Stetter would shift the production of a range of machinery to the new location and free up space at the existing facility to roll out new equipment. However, they are yet to finalise the location. According to Sundaresan, the company would prefer to be near the existing facility in Chennai as it would be easy to monitor. At the same time, he adds, “We are also keeping our options open to set up a facility in Maharashtra as the local government encourages investment in manufacturing by giving lucrative incentives.”

In Maharashtra, Nagpur is a preferred location as it is strategically located in terms of highway connectivity and proximity to automobile hubs, informs Sundaresan.

Launches application based products at EXCON

Keeping in line with the growing government infrastructure requirements, SCHWING Stetter introduced the application based products to suit the Indian market. With products across concreting, non-concreting, industrial and environmental technology solutions; this move would enable the company to participate across all government projects that will be announced.

Speaking on the occasion, Sundaresan said, “SCHWING Stetter India has always been at the forefront of India’s infrastructure needs. While we have been playing a key role in the development of the country, we are taking a step towards, widening our reach to all corners of our country. We think this product realignment strategy will definitely work wonders for us and the construction industry.”

V. G. Sakthikumar, Managing Director, SCHWING Stetter Sales & Services Pvt Ltd, said, “At SCHWING Stetter, we have always paid attention to environmental issues and being a concrete equipment manufacturing company. We have always laid emphasis on indigenising products and introducing newer product range, keeping in mind the customer requirements.”

We have decided to enhance our production capacity by setting up a greenfield project with an investment of around Rs140 crores.

Anand Sundaresan, Vice Chairman and MD, SCHWING Stetter India

We have always laid emphasis on indigenising products and introducing newer product range, keeping in mind the customer requirements.

V.G. Sakthikumar, Managing Director, Schwing Stetter Sales and Services

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 44

Ajax Fiori launches ‘first’ 26-metre Boom Pump in India

Concrete equipment manufacturing major Ajax Fiori launched AF 26ZX – the very first 26-metre Boom Pump in the Indian industry at EXCON 2017.

According to Debasis Bhattacharya, Head Sales, Marketing & Product Support, Ajax Fiori Engineering (I) Pvt Ltd, “Made out of high-grade and light-weight steel, the 70-cubic metre output can be mounted on a 4X2 chassis which places this machine at the top of the list of Boom Pumps as none of the manufacturer has combined such a mammoth pumping machine on a compact chassis. These traits of our AF 26ZX makes this machine an economical choice for customer.”

K. Vijay, Executive Chairman of Ajax Fiori unveiled the network map of Ajax Fiori which showcased the company’s Pan India dealership network with 30 offices and 87 touchpoints making them the strongest and widest support network in concreting industry.

Transit mixers being the most cliché product in the concreting industry, Ajax Fiori wanted to provide a solution which would prove helpful to the customer. With the help of advancement in the trucking technology in India, Ajax Fiori announced that its entire fleet of Transit Mixers, ranging from 6 to 10 cubic metre, which would run on the truck engine itself, eliminating the need of an additional engine, saving the customer on capital investment.

Jacob John, Director at Ajax Fiori, launched the biggest machine of the entire fleet – the 120 cubic metre Inline Bin Batching Plant. This machine is designed in a modular fashion which reduces the time taken to erect and dismantle the whole machine which in turn helps the customer with his project deadlines.

-------------------------------------------------------------

SANY India: Breaking through the clutter

SANY India has launched 6 clutter breaking products in the heavy equipment and 2 in the Excavator segment at EXCON 2017. The company displayed its technologically advanced and cost-effective products that have been a game changer in the construction equipment industry.

Xiang Wenbo, President, SANY Group and Deepak Garg, Director and CEO, SANY South Asia & SANY Heavy Industry India, were present at the occasion.

New launches included Heavy Equipment Pilling Rig SR285, BP HZS120, STM7, STM8, Rough terrain crane SRC 800, Truck crane SPC250, Concrete Pumps and Compactor and Excavators SY500LC-9H and SY120. These products boast of features like fuel efficiency, low maintenance cost, operator comfort and safety, ergonomic design, reliability and stability to name a few.

Commenting on the occasion, Xiang Wenbo, President, SANY Group said, “The heavy equipment industry is seeing a rapid growth in India owing to the myriad developments planned for the country. We have a full range of equipment in the Indian market for various purposes and many of them are locally manufactured. These are exciting times for the country at large and the construction equipment sector in particular and we will strive to live up to the demands of the sector in every possible way.”

Deepak Garg, Director and CEO, SANY South Asia & SANY Heavy Industry India said, “We are excited to launch our new range of products and are sure that these will appeal to our customers. SANY India is taking a step further to play a larger role in the burgeoning Indian manufacturing and construction sector and we are working towards continuously bettering our offerings in tandem with the needs.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 46

Forest Press exports machines from India

Our production facility for Forest Press Machines in India is expected to be inaugurated by April 2018.

Manoj Pillai, Managing Director, Forest Press Machines

What is there at your stall which is new for customers?

Forest Press has participated at EXCON for the first time and tried to create a brand image in the Indian market. Besides, we have launched the Forest Press Block Master Series. The machine is designed with smaller board size suits to the entry level markets with high quality products in affordable price. The model BM 4 could produce 5,000 blocks or 17,500 pavers or fly ash bricks per shift with 5 employees.

We have also introduced Forest Universal Tile Press with four stations including coloured face concrete and bottom standard one. The base with rubber or filter option allows various texture formats. This machine is able to produce all types of interlocking pavers, terrazzo tiles and flag tiles.

Mega Star Planetary Mixers in different capacities with complete batching plant includes colour dosing, flying bucket and travel-weigh system is new in India.

Apart from the existing Single Station Wet Press the new Triple Station and Five Station machines will add up shortly to Indian market.

What is the capacity of Block Master Series machines?

The entry level model BM 4 is capable to produce 5,000 blocks or 17,500 pavers fly ash bricks per shift with 5 employees whereas the model BM 9 can produce up to 15,000 blocks or 50,000 pavers or fly ash bricks per shift. These machines are offered with standard as well as customised options suits to the project requirement. These machines are designed with plug-and-play solution to reduce the installation time at site. All the machines will assemble and test in our factory before dispatch.

Are you going to launch any other product?

We feel that the market condition is improving now and would like to come out with new products. We would soon come up with Mini Press as well as Five Station Press that are well-known for the production of high density kerb stones, slabs, flag tiles in various dimensions and finishes. We have already launched these products in UK but in India very surely it will be available in couple of months.

How positive is the market scenario now?

The government’s decision to impose anti-dumping duty on several imported items has come as a blessing for the industry. Also, the initiative like ‘Make in India’ is a positive movement towards encouraging domestic manufacturing. Most importantly, as the construction industry is maturing, the demand for high-end products and technology is ever-increasing. GST and related single tax help to save the time at border check posts and 2018 looks very positive.

The government is giving emphasis on developing concrete roads and many have raised voice against this. How do you see that?

We need to understand the ground realities. In India, we generate lots of fly ash from coal-based thermal power generation. We consume this fly ash to produce cement. Therefore, cement-based concrete roads are encouraged to give a sustainable growth to the cement sector. Also, climatic conditions of some parts of the country demand concrete roads. Therefore, we need to use the most suitable technology for a project and of course should be cost effective too.

How many machines you have supplied from India?

We have supplied three machines to Nepal, four to Iran, two to Bahrain, one to Qatar and approximately 9 in India. Couple of projects coming in other parts of the country. So, all together two dozen machines in two years.

What is the status of your upcoming plant?

Our production facility for Forest Press Machines in India is expected to be inaugurated by April 2018. This facility located near to Electronic city which covers a production area of 60,000 sq. ft. This will be equipped with 6 EOT cranes, robotic welding, and machining as well as completely automated handling systems.

We would like to manufacture all the models in addition to some precast machines.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 48

Wirtgen to transform the way roads are being built in India today

Seeing the acceptance of high-end solutions in Indian market, we will bring futuristic technologies that will change the way roads are being built in India today.

Ramesh Palagiri, Managing Director & CEO, Wirtgen India

Firstly, we would like to hear from you about the Deere’s acquisition of Wirtgen?

Of late, Wirtgen has been acquired by the American equipment major John Deere. With the $5.2 billion acquisition of Wirtgen Group, John Deere has become the first manufacturer to have both crushing and screening as well as mobile equipment under one parent group. Wirtgen’s product portfolio will complement Deere’s existing construction equipment offering and establishes Deere as the industry leader in global road construction.

So, from 1st December 2017, Wirtgen Group becomes a part of John Deere and it will operate as part of John Deere’s construction forestry division. All the Wirtgen brands namely Wirtgen, Vögele, Kleemann and Hamm will remain untouched.

How different was EXCON 2017 from its earlier editions?

I think it is too busy – more customers compared to the earlier editions of EXCON and that’s the biggest difference. The event is getting more popular beyond South. Apart from getting quality footfalls from South India, we have seen visitors from other regions were also queuing up with serious requirements.

How do you see the future of road making in India?

The road making in India has seen remarkable growth during the past 3-4 years. When the current government took over in 2014, road construction was only around 9-10 km a day and today it is picked up to around 25 km a day. This upward trend is not only visible in National Highways, but also in State highways. A lot of major road projects are being awarded by State governments like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.

Concrete or asphalt – which is going to sustain?

I think, the trend for concrete roads will continue as the Ministry’s directive of making all roads using concrete is very clear. Considering the number of roads which are already awarded and the number of tenders which are announced are for concrete roads. I think there will be mix of both asphalt and concrete roads in the coming years.

Are you going to be active on both?

Wirtgen is equipped for both – concrete as well as asphalt roads. In addition to road rehabilitation, we have all the equipment that are used in making concrete roads and asphalt roads on the paving level.

How do you see the acceptance of advanced road making technologies in India?

In Excon, Wirtgen announced five Indian premières: the large milling machine W 195, the small milling machines W 50 H, W 55 H, W 120 R and the slipform paver SP 62.

Vögele presented the new SUPER 1400 and SUPER 1403 – true all-Indian road pavers for pave widths up to 7.3 metres whereas Hamm showcased its compactor 3520, compactor 311 and the compactor 311 D with additionally powered drum.

Also, Kleemann exhibited three products from the EVO line: mobile jaw crusher MOBICAT MC 110 Z EVO, mobile cone crusher MOBICONE MCO 9 EVO and mobile screening plant MOBISCREEN MS 703 EVO.

However, apart from displaying these products, we have showcased some futuristic technologies which are going to come to India soon. We displayed dual-layer concrete paving technology which is advantageous in both economic and technical terms. We have also exhibited VÖGELE RoadScan, a contactless temperature-measurement system, makes paving quality measurable and verifiable. So, seeing the acceptance of high-end solutions in Indian market, we will bring futuristic technologies that will change the way roads are being built in India today.

How was your performance during the past year?

Apart from roads, railways has also shown significant traction. In fact, business in railways is as big as roads. For us it has been an excellent run during the past three years with around 25 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) growth. The year 2017 again will be a best year for us.

What kind of y-o-y growth you expect in the next three years?

We expect at least 15-20 per cent y-o-y growth in the next three years.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 50.

Ajashy launches India’s first Tree Spade

Tree Spade can be fitted as an attachment with wheel loaders or skid steer loaders which will prevent cutting of trees at the road and construction sites.

Kamal Jeet Singh, Director, Ajashy Engineering.

Today, as the infrastructure development is going around across the country, almost all such projects need to cut the trees coming in the way of the work. Gurgaon based Ajashy Engineering Sales Pvt Ltd has come up with a unique solution called Tree Spade that enables transplanting grown trees instead of cutting them down.

Ajashy Tree Spade, unveiled at the recently concluded EXCON 2017 in Bangalore, claims to be first of its kind tree transplantation attachment in India. The Tree Spade can be fitted as an attachment with wheel loaders or skid steer loaders which will prevent cutting of trees at the road and construction sites, informed Kamal Jeet Singh, Director, Ajashy Engineering.

He said, “The Tree Spade, cutting through the soil, uproots the trees along with the root ball, which can be transplanted at a new location. Thus, many full-grown trees can be saved contributing to environment while the project executing companies prevent the hassle of plantation and maintenance of new saplings whose survival rate is quite less.”

At EXCON, Ajashy used the platform to target construction companies in spreading the awareness and providing them with Tree Spades as an environment-friendly, cost-effective and time saving solution, informs Singh.

Enables faster project execution

Experts from road and infrastructure sectors have welcomed this idea of an alternative to cutting the trees. Jyotsna Dayal from Rocks ‘n’ Tools, Delhi was also present at the occasion. Her organisation offers landscaping and horticulture services including uprooting and transplanting trees across the country. Sharing her experience, she said, “We were involved in the execution of New Delhi airport’s Terminal 3 and had major problems in uprooting tree from there to make an entry to the airport.”

Talking on the advantages of newly launched Tree Spade, Ms Dayal said, “Earlier, it used to take 2-3 months for uprooting and transplanting a tree depending upon the sizes of the trees. Now, using Ajashy Tree Spade we can execute this job within 3 hours. This will also result in faster project execution.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Fab-India: Making in India for India

Established in 1991, Fab-India Industries is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company, involved in the manufacturing, supplying and installation of asphalt batch mix plant, heavy road construction machineries and equipment, waste tyre pyrolysis plant and concrete plants.

Explaining his perspective on the future of construction equipment industry in India, Ritesh Prajapati, CEO of Fab-India Industries said, “Our current focus is on improving the quality of our plants by installing advance techniques so that they can be eco-friendly and easy to operate for users.”

R&D team at Fab-India Industries is evaluating various technical aspects related to enhancing operational efficiency of their plants.

Fab-India at EXCON 2017

Commenting on the company’s participation at EXCON 2017, Prajapati said, “EXCON has always been a huge platform for the different product promotion and marketing and we planned accordingly to make use of that opportunity. We have displayed our expertise in the field of road construction equipment

by showcasing state-of-the-art asphalt plants and concrete batching plants. The USP of our products includes customer satisfaction, quality maintenance and advanced technology.”

Vision 2018

In 2018, Fab-India Industries plans to launch completely indigenised eco model stationary concrete batching plant and export quality asphalt batching plant. “Our vision to develop world-class products for India in India,” informs Prajapati.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 52

Mahindra unveils higher horsepower variant Backhoe Loader

Mahindra & Mahindra, a part of the $ 19 billion Mahindra Group, announced expansion of its existing range of backhoe loaders with the launch of its first higher horsepower variant – SX90 under the aegis of its established brand EarthMaster.

Speaking at Excon 2017, Vinod Sahay, CEO, Truck and Bus Division and Construction Equipment Division, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “In line with Mahindra’s vision to provide comprehensive range of products and services for our customers, we have entered into the higher horsepower backhoe loader segment with the launch of Mahindra EarthMaster SX90. This product has been designed and developed after an in-depth understanding of the needs of the contractor fraternity. Our aim is to provide them from comprehensive range of backhoe loaders to the industry and help them break-free from dated technology and thereby improve their productivity.”

He adds, “EarthMaster SX90 provides an opportunity for maximum equipment utilisation and delivers excellent quality output and thereby increased return on investments.”

Sachin Nijhawan, Vice President and Business Head, Construction Equipment Division, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “The SX90 is a rugged and versatile backhoe which is set to deliver excellent output at the least cost of operations. It provides performance par excellence and is most suitable for construction, demolition, loading and excavation operations among others. It is also apt for multiple applications with a wide range of attachments available.”

Mahindra EarthMaster - The master of every job

According to Mahindra, with best-in-class hydraulic forces and durable transmission, the EarthMaster SX90 is truly versatile and the master of every job. It is powered by a 90 HP 4915-IA-CEV engine developed by Mahindra. The robust one-piece structure, extended banana boom and longer loader arm give the SX90 an unassailable advantage over its counterparts.

With a big spacious cabin that allows easy access and new ergonomically designed cluster for better accessibility, it provides for best in class operator comfort. Its backhoe end provides for quick excavation cycle time and higher digging forces leading to higher productivity.

The Mahindra EarthMaster range including SX90 has undergone rigorous testing in the harshest of terrains and for the toughest of applications. It is backed by Mahindra’s dealer sales and service network covering over 400 districts which has unparalleled reach across the country. It is equipped with apt technology that is affordable and coupled with unmatched quality, superior style, operator comfort and its innovative telematics technology, DiGiSENSE.

Apart from SX90, other models in the EarthMaster series displayed at Excon 2017 include standard variant VX which comes with joystick operation, SXL – the front-end loader with extended arm and the new concept DrillX – a unique solution for piling application. The product display was also accompanied by host of attachments which truly complement the equipment and make them versatile as well.

Major achievement at EXCON

The recently launched Mahindra RoadMaster G75 also got a lot of traction with the visitors at EXCON 2017. The category creating disruptive motor grader saw tremendous booking and the Mahindra Construction Equipment delivered the keys for their 100th and 125th motor grader RoadMaster G75 to the customers during EXCON 2017. Also, a single largest order of 5 motor graders was received at the exhibition where the total bookings of various Mahindra construction equipment crossed 50 mark for the first time in the history of its participation in the EXCON exhibition.

The EarthMaster and RoadMaster range are being manufactured at Mahindra’s state-of-the-art facility at Chakan, Pune.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

pg no 54-56

TIL launches long boom cranes & new reach stacker at EXCON 2017

The launch of Mobiload, the versatile pick-and-carry crane epitomising productivity, superior technology and performance, is a game changing initiative by TIL in the 15-tonne mobile crane segment.

Pinaki Niyogy,

Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, TIL

TIL Limited, a leading provider of material handling and road building equipment in India, launched new long boom cranes and a new reach stacker at EXCON 2017.

Mobiload 315 – the latest entrant from TIL in the pick-n-carry cra