What are the current trends driving the demand for backhoe loaders in India?
The backhoe loader is always the first choice of customers in India due to its versatility in applications with quick inter and intra-site machine movement. The statement ‘sales of backhoe loaders have been under retrogression’ is not quite accurate, as during the last five years, backhoe loaders’ market contribution has been in the range of 52 to 55 per cent.

Over the past three years, JCB has introduced fuel-efficient and low-periodic maintenance products, leading to a significant improvement in the total cost of ownership (TCO). JCB offers the largest range to serve different customer segments and applications.

We have launched the JCB Eco XPERT range with CEV Stage IV introduction to enhance profitability for customers. We have observed that rental charges have been improving across India during the past few years to accommodate inflation. As a short-term strategy, we continuously focus on every opportunity to reduce costs through a unique initiative called LASER, ensuring minimal price increases for customers. Through various field-level activities, we ensure that salient features are well understood by customers.

As part of our long-term strategy, JCB has set a vision and roadmap to reduce carbon footprint by improving fuel efficiency. We are committed to ensuring lower operating costs for JCB backhoe loaders, ensuring continued operations and maximum return on investment for our customers. We are celebrating the achievement of 4.0 lakh+ JCB customers, which has made JCB synonymous with trust.

What measures does your company take to ensure energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact in the design and manufacturing of backhoe loaders?
JCB products consistently stand at the forefront of technological advancements, offering unparalleled value to our customers. Within our ecoXpert range, our latest backhoe loader models are equipped with the highly fuel-efficient JCB 444 engine, providing approximately 10 per cent enhanced fuel efficiency and boasting a remarkable 15 per cent reduction in maintenance costs. Through our state-of-the-art in-house design centre, we have crafted the JCB range with best-in-class engine technology, eliminating the need for any after-treatment while ensuring highly efficient hydraulics.

Among several other initiatives aimed at reducing maintenance costs, we have implemented a 100 per cent increase in hydraulic oil change intervals and introduced features such as auto stop, auto idle, economy mode, and roading mode, allowing our customers to conserve more fuel and achieve an overall reduction in total cost of ownership (TCO). For higher loading applications, our 4X4 range of 4WD machines delivers superior output and fuel efficiency.

Moreover, our newly integrated digital display provides real-time information about the machine's health, along with service reminders and fault codes. Ensuring minimum downtime, JCB's finest service support and extensive service network guarantee that our machines remain fault-free and operate seamlessly.

To further enhance our customers' experience, our machines are equipped with the advanced New Livelink 4.0, featuring 4G connectivity and a complimentary six-year subscription. This revolutionary system offers detailed analyses of machine utilisation and performance parameters, ensuring our customers stay informed and up to date.

With the introduction of the electronic engine with CEV IV range, we have engineered products that deliver outstanding performance with a 74hp engine. These machines are designed to offer low initial costs, minimal periodic maintenance expenses, and trouble-free operation without requiring any after-treatment.

What are the improved addons your new backhoe loaders feature towards higher machine rigidity, faster duty cycles for digging, loading, breaking (with hydraulic jack hammers) stability and operator’s comfort while making the machines suitable to work on varied applications?
At JCB, our commitment lies in enhancing the attributes of our machines to provide unparalleled performance, reliability, and durability. The introduction of the new JCB ecoXpert range marks a significant advancement, boasting enhanced efficiency, productivity, and a proven track record of performance in rigorous Indian conditions.

Prior to product launch, we conducted extensive field testing, cumulatively operating our machines for over 1.0 lakh hours. This rigorous testing process ensures that our machines are built to withstand and excel in real-world scenarios. Among the notable features of our machines is the incorporation of a new efficient variable displacement hydraulic pump, complemented by a robust fuel filtration system.

With the inclusion of the CEV IV range, we offer two distinctive modes to cater to different operational requirements. The “plus mode” enhances excavator operation speed, while the “loading mode” optimises loader performance.

Safety and operator comfort are paramount in our design philosophy. To this end, we have equipped our machines with a spacious and comfortable cabin, which includes an improved seat and an effortless throttle. Moreover, we have taken measures to reduce cabin noise by 7 per cent, providing a quieter working environment for operators. The integration of a new digital display with trip meters and digital speedometer further enhances the operator's experience, offering a range of valuable information at their fingertips.

To address operator fatigue and boost front-loading productivity, our variants are equipped with an easy shift gear mechanism. This thoughtful addition streamlines the machine's operation and contributes to a more efficient workflow.

How are you orient your product lines to cater to the exports markets while making the machines adhere to the emission and other regulations? What is your present volume of exports?
By adhering to the one global quality principle, JCB India strives to maintain superior product quality for all its customers, whether domestic or international. This commitment is exemplified by the practice of manufacturing both domestic and export machines on the same production line. As a prominent exporter of construction equipment and machines, JCB India serves 130+ countries, each having diverse emission norms and regulations.