We intend to strengthen our footprint through greater localisation
Ramesh Palagiri, MD & CEO, Wirtgen India
What are the key products you are showcasing at Bauma?
At Bauma ConExpo India, we are showcasing a comprehensive range of solutions from the Wirtgen portfolio, including Wirtgen cold milling and recycling machines, Vogele road pavers, Hamm rollers and compactors, Kleemann screening technologies, and our digital productivity solutions. Many of these products are manufactured for Indian operating conditions through our Pune facility.
What makes these solutions particularly relevant is India’s unprecedented investment in highways, urban infrastructure, airports, logistics corridors, and mining. Customers today require equipment that delivers higher productivity, lower lifecycle costs, improved fuel efficiency, consistent quality, and reliable service support. Our focus is not just on individual machines but on integrated production systems that help contractors complete projects faster and with greater profitability.
What major shifts are you seeing in customer demand, and how is your product strategy responding?
Indian customers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their purchasing decisions. The conversation is no longer limited to machine acquisition cost. Customers are evaluating total cost of ownership, fuel consumption, machine uptime, automation features, digital connectivity and operator productivity
We see five key trends:
1. Higher automation and ease of operation to address skilled labour shortages.
2. Digitalisation and fleet connectivity for real-time project monitoring.
3. Greater focus on fuel efficiency.
4. Demand for predictive maintenance and uptime assurance.
5. Increased adoption of recycling and resource-efficient construction practices.
Our strategy is aligned with these shifts. We are integrating intelligent machine controls, telematics, performance-tracking solutions, and digital jobsite management tools. Additionally, our recycling technologies and efficient paving and compaction solutions help customers reduce material consumption, fuel use, and environmental impact while improving project quality.
What are your plans to expand manufacturing and exports from India?
India plays a strategically important role within the Wirtgen’s global manufacturing network. Our Pune facility has evolved significantly since production commenced in 2011 and today manufactures a range of Hamm, Vogele, and Kleemann products for domestic and international markets.
Over the next few years, we intend to further strengthen our manufacturing footprint through increased localisation, capability enhancement, and supply-chain development. We see India not only as a large market but also as a competitive export base for selected products and components.
Exports from India already serve regions such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and we expect this role to expand as Indian manufacturing continues to improve in scale, quality, and cost competitiveness. Our objective is to leverage India's engineering talent, supplier ecosystem, and strategic location to support both local demand and global growth opportunities.
What are your key business priorities for the Indian market over the next two to three years, and where do you see the biggest growth opportunities?
India remains one of the most exciting growth markets for the construction equipment industry globally. Over the next two to three years, our priorities will be:
- Strengthening our leadership in road construction technology.
- Expanding localisation and manufacturing capabilities.
- Accelerating adoption of digital and connected solutions.
- Enhancing customer support and lifecycle service offerings.
- Investing in workforce development and operator training.
We see substantial opportunities in national highways, expressways, urban infrastructure, airport expansion, mining, aggregates processing, and road rehabilitation projects. In addition, growing emphasis on project quality and productivity will create increased demand for advanced equipment and integrated technology solutions.
Our confidence in India remains extremely strong. As infrastructure development continues to be a national priority, Wirtgen Group India is committed to partnering with customers by providing innovative technologies, reliable service support, and locally relevant solutions that help build the country’s future infrastructure.
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