The hydraulic motors market in India is also growing steadily, driven by the increasing demand for automation and industrialisation across various sectors.

One of the major factors driving the growth of the hydraulic motors market in India is the increasing adoption of automation in various industries such as agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. Hydraulic motors are widely used in automation applications such as conveyors, material handling equipment, and machine tools. The increasing demand for automation in these industries is expected to drive the demand for hydraulic motors in India.

Normally, hydraulic motors are used for machines requiring high torque and working in difficult environment. Hydraulic motors are also fitted on other applications where it is required a significant torque.

In one machine with hydrostatic transmission, you have typically a diesel engine connected with a hydraulic pump which creates the oil flow that reaches the hydraulic motors that normally are located in the machine’s wheels. The motors will then generate a torque to allow the machine to move in all planned conditions.

The motor selection comes first in the hydraulic system because application design best practices require that one starts with the load requirement, and then work back to the pump that will put the fluid power into the motor selected to deliver the performance goal.

Each motor type has a specific performance profile. So, knowing the application performance requirement and which motor type best meets the objective is the first step. Then it’s necessary to evaluate the cost of your motor options along with the degree of complexity you want for the overall system.

The Indian agricultural sector is another key market for hydraulic motors. The increasing demand for food and the need to increase agricultural productivity has led to the adoption of mechanisation in agriculture. Hydraulic motors are widely used in agricultural machinery such as tractors, harvesters, and tillers.

The Indian hydraulic motors market includes various types of hydraulic motors such as gear motors, vane motors, piston motors, and others. Among these, gear motors are widely used due to their low cost, simple design, and ease of maintenance.

Growth drivers

Automation and industrialisation are major drivers of demand for hydraulic motors in India. Hydraulic motors are widely used in automated manufacturing processes and industrial machinery, including material handling equipment, conveyor systems, and machine tools.

The Indian government has launched several initiatives to boost infrastructure development, such as the Smart Cities Mission, the National Highway Development Program (NHDP), and the Sagarmala Project. These initiatives are expected to increase the demand for hydraulic motors, as they are widely used in construction equipment such as excavators, loaders, and cranes.

The increasing demand for food and the need to increase agricultural productivity has led to the adoption of mechanisation in agriculture. Hydraulic motors are widely used in agricultural machinery such as tractors, harvesters, and tillers, which is driving demand in the agricultural sector.

The demand for energy-efficient equipment and machinery is driving the adoption of hydraulic motors in India. Hydraulic motors have high power density and efficiency, making them an attractive option for businesses looking to reduce energy consumption and operating costs.

The use of hydraulic motors can improve safety in industrial processes, as they provide precise control and can be used to automate hazardous tasks. The increasing focus on safety in the workplace is driving demand for hydraulic motors in India.

The Indian hydraulic motors market also has export potential, as Indian manufacturers are able to produce hydraulic motors at a lower cost compared to other countries. The increasing demand for hydraulic motors in other countries is driving export opportunities for Indian manufacturers.

The global hydraulic motors market is expected to witness a CAGR of 4.50 per cent, during the forecast period, 2019-2025. Some of the major factors driving the growth of the market include the growing construction industry, agricultural sector, and mining industry, primarily owing to an increase in the consumption of base and precious metals. Additionally, consistent technological advancements are expected to offer growth opportunities for manufacturers. However, a shift in the focus toward electrification and adoption of electric motors in applications, such as oil and gas, and a few construction equipment is expected to hinder the market’s growth.

Said a spokesperson from Poclain Hydraulics, “Hydraulic motors are one of the major components of mobile construction equipment. You can find them in compactors, skid steer loaders, excavators, or horizontal drilling machines, and these are only a few examples. Hydraulic motors are today the state-of-the-art technology of drivetrains and for most of the function construction equipment has.”

On the types of hydraulic motors, Poclain Hydraulics spokesperson had this to say: “You can find several types of hydraulic motors, depending on the job to perform. For me, the best type is a radial piston motor. We have motors for almost every need in the right size. Our portfolio offers motors from 172 ccm to 30,000 ccm. We produce these motors in several configurations, as multipurpose motors or as specialised motors dedicated for a single function, like a swing drive motor with integrated valves. However, the technology of all these motors is the same; a radial pistons design.”

Alberto Gatti, Hydraulic Department Manager, Bonfiglioli, said, “Bonfiglioli has always pioneered the concept of integrated drive solution - the motor and the gearbox integration forming a unique system - with many advantages in terms of high-power density, compact dimensions, and application-based solutions. In addition to all these functional needs, the demand from the end-user market is also to have lower operating and equipment costs, which is also a challenge for system providers like us to have the highest technology motors with optimum costs.”

He added, “The construction equipment are experiencing a giant revolution. Saving weight on some components could be fundamental to adding some batteries or hybrid features without affecting the total machine’s gross weight. Space is equally important because we need to locate additional components, and so on. For all the above-mentioned reasons, we are keeping untouched the choice of plug-in hydraulic motors, but we are expanding the range of integrated solutions. We cross-feed ideas used initially only on excavators, to other machines, and we always strive to design new products with something more than its predecessor.”

Added Gatti, “Hydraulic motors are among the most versatile systems used in mobile machines; this is true regardless of the final machine type, purpose, and application. We classify them into three big families: Orbit motors, Swashplate motors, and Bent axis motors. Each family of motors has unique performances, overall dimensions, cost, allowable pressure, flow range, and efficiency. All these parameters must be evaluated based on the operating conditions, applications, and specific machine functional requirements in order to select the appropriate solution, which provides the optimum performances for final equipment usages. A well-designed hydraulic motor will boost speed performances, gradeability, and overall machine fuel consumption.”

He added, “Our product portfolio has an extremely wide range of solutions for track and wheel drive gearboxes. We must be able to match the right motor to the right gearbox in any possible case, and this implies that also our hydraulic motor portfolio must be as wide as possible.”

He added, “We see a clear trend to a higher number of integrated functions, like integrated valves, more sensors, and higher diversity. This is why we have increased the number of different motor types over the last years: MZ motors for swing drives, steerable MG motors or the CDM range (a clutchable double shaft motor), or the latest launched range, the MI motors. The time of one fit-all is gone as the market is demanding a dedicated product without any compromises. Thanks to the modular design we have, we are able to offer these dedicated products with the same quality standard as all our products, by using standardised parts like cylinder blocks and cams.”

Speaking on the key features of hydraulic motors that improve equipment productivity, the spokesperson from Poclain Hydraulics said, “If you see our high torque and low-speed motor, you can find several benefits to improve productivity and efficiency. One of the biggest benefits is, you do not need a gearbox and you have saved a component in between, with no additional efficiency coefficient, which will reduce the total efficiency in your system. The same will contribute to increased productivity, one component less to maintain, one component less which could fail, in the end, you will have a reduced downtime. A second big benefit of our hydraulic motors is the pressure we can work with, 450 bar for MS motors and 500 bar with our MHP motors.

The standardised geared motor variants of the LogiDrive systems from NORD are specially designed for intralogistics, parcel logistics and airport technology and are particularly suitable for reducing the number of versions. The compact design saves space and the lightweight aluminium housing enables weight savings of up to 25 per cent. LogiDrive drive units comprise an IE4 synchronous motor with rated powers of up to 5.5 kW, a 2-stage helical bevel gear unit and a NORDAC LINK frequency inverter to be installed close to the motor. With class IE4 motor efficiency and system efficiency to class IES2, the drive units achieve excellent overall efficiencies - especially in the partial load and speed range. At the LogiMAT, NORD will be presenting the LogiDrive concept, also in combination with an energy-efficient latest generation IE5+ permanent magnet synchronous motor that has considerably lower losses than the current IE4 series. The compact and unventilated smooth-surfaced motor achieves its high efficiency, which at times is significantly above efficiency class IE5 over a wide torque range, making it optimally suitable for intralogistics applications and operation in the partial load range.

The frequency inverters from NORD Drivesystems regularly or permanently record drive and status data in order to optimise the operational safety and efficiency of machines and plants. Based on this information, concepts for predictive maintenance can also be developed. A fast, efficient and comprehensive evaluation of analogue and digital data (measurements, signals, and operating parameters) by the intelligent PLC in the drive electronics forms the basis. The objective of predictive maintenance is to maintain machines and plants proactively and to detect changes at an early stage, reduce downtimes, and increase the efficiency of the entire plant. NORD Drivesystems uses a drive-based approach where intelligent algorithms and virtual sensors transfer information from condition monitoring to predictive maintenance. An example is the sensorless determination of the optimum oil change time based on the oil temperature.

Challenges

While the hydraulic motors market in India is growing, there are also several challenges that the industry faces. Here are some of the key challenges:

High initial cost: Hydraulic motors can be expensive, and this high cost can be a barrier to adoption, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses.

Limited awareness and education: There is a lack of awareness and education about hydraulic motors among potential users, especially in rural areas. This can be a barrier to adoption, as potential customers may not understand the benefits and applications of hydraulic motors.

Competition from alternative technologies: Hydraulic motors face competition from alternative technologies such as electric motors and pneumatics. While hydraulic motors have advantages in some applications, such as high torque and power density, alternative technologies may be more suitable in other applications.

Maintenance and repair: Hydraulic motors require regular maintenance and repair, which can be expensive and time-consuming. This can be a challenge for businesses, especially those with limited resources.

Lack of skilled labour: The maintenance and repair of hydraulic motors require skilled technicians, and there is a shortage of skilled labour in the industry. This can lead to longer downtimes and higher maintenance costs.

Environmental concerns: Hydraulic motors use hydraulic fluids, which can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly. The disposal of hydraulic fluids can be a challenge for businesses, and there is increasing pressure to adopt more environmentally-friendly technologies.

Overall, while the hydraulic motors market in India has significant growth potential, businesses in the industry need to overcome these challenges to fully realise the benefits of hydraulic motors.

Overall, the hydraulic motors market for construction equipment in India is poised for significant growth in the coming years, driven by the increasing demand for construction equipment and the adoption of advanced hydraulic systems in the industry.