At the core of this burgeoning sector is not just an increase in numbers, but a narrative of innovation, efficiency, and capability. Excavators, with their hydraulic power, precision controls, and adaptability, have become indispensable in the hands of construction professionals nationwide. Excavators, originally imported into India, have gradually transitioned to being manufactured locally. This shift has been pivotal, as it reduced costs, improved availability, and catered specifically to the unique requirements of the Indian market. Major global players such as Caterpillar, Komatsu, Volvo, and locally established brands like Tata Hitachi and L&T have established manufacturing facilities in India, contributing to the sector’s growth and localisation.

According to Deepak Shetty, CEO and Managing Director of JCB India, India currently ranks third globally in excavator manufacturing, trailing only China and the US. Notably, the country is on track to claim the second spot soon, a testament to its rapid industrial ascent. Reflecting on this transformative journey, Shetty highlighted JCB’s pivotal role, noting how the company has accelerated its output. “It took 15 years to sell 50,000 excavators in the country, but in just the past two years, we’ve surpassed 50,000 units,” he remarked, emphasising JCB India's readiness to meet escalating demand.

Operating at a capacity of 25,000 units annually from its Pune plant, JCB India has significantly bolstered its manufacturing capabilities, achieving a high degree of localisation. The company's diverse lineup, ranging from compact 1.6-tonne excavators ideal for congested urban spaces to robust 38.5-tonne giants used in intensive mining operations, underscores its adaptability to varied applications.

Said Shetty, “At our facility, we can produce up to 20 excavators per day. While JCB has a strong presence in India, we have been actively expanding in export markets. In recent years, our export market has seen significant growth. We offer a range of excavator models to cater to different infrastructure segments. Furthermore, we are diversifying our offerings to accommodate the evolving needs of the market, including the construction of housing complexes in urban areas.”

Poonam Upadhyay, Director at CRISIL Ratings, echoed this optimism, highlighting the sector’s buoyant prospects fueled by accelerated road construction and robust demand from real estate, mining, and infrastructure projects. As India gears up for stringent CEV Stage-V2 emission norms from April 2024, Upadhyay anticipates a surge in equipment procurement, underpinning stable credit profiles amidst sustained government infrastructure investments.

Leading from the front
The rapid pace of urbanization has spurred demand for excavators in metro cities and Tier-II towns alike. Urban infrastructure projects, including metro rail networks, highways, and residential complexes, require heavy machinery for efficient execution. This trend is complemented by government initiatives such as the Smart Cities Mission and Bharatmala, which focus on enhancing urban infrastructure across the country.

Recently, JCB India showcased its range of next-gen range of tracked excavators at Pune. The company introduced its first tracked excavator in India over two decades ago and has since manufactured over 40,000 such machines in India.

Said Shetty, “JCB excavators have been helping build infrastructure in India for over two decades. They are manufactured at our state-of-the-art facility in Pune with a high degree of localisation. In addition to the domestic market, JCB excavators are also exported to over 80 countries, in line with the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. Infrastructure development activity is set to increase significantly, and these machines will play a leading role in this development. We have invested significantly in the design, engineering and manufacture of these machines to one-global-quality standards in India.”

The company showcased its range of 16 different models of excavators during the event; from the 1.6 tonne mini excavator, which is used for smaller applications, to the larger 38.5 tonne excavator used for bulk excavation and mining work. The machines are engineered for Indian applications. The structures and design are validated at the test track at the state-of-the-art research centre at Pune.

These digitally enabled machines are a part of JCB’s next-gen range. They are fitted with JCB’s advanced Telematics Technology called Livelink, which has revolutionised the way fleet management, is done in the industry. This technology gives real-time updates on the service, operations and security of the machines. Livelink is useful for large construction companies as it gives updates on fuel consumption, performance and security alerts for their fleet.

As part of the company’s focus on excavators, JCB launched its JCBNXT 225 LCM tracked excavator last year, which is receiving good response too.

Another construction equipment giant, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE India) introduced the EC210 hydraulic excavator, a specialised 20-tonne model designed for the Indian market under the ‘Built for Bharat’ initiative. This launch marks a pivotal step in Volvo's dedication to the Indian construction equipment sector. The machine is poised to redefine industry benchmarks with its enhanced performance, efficiency, and reliability, promising to usher in a new era of innovation.

The EC210 hydraulic excavator is designed to excel across various applications, offering superior performance, exceptional fuel efficiency, and ease of maintenance. This machine features a best-in-class attachment configuration and a next-generation positive control hydraulics system, ensuring unmatched precision and faster response times. Powered by a Made-in-India T3 electronic engine, the EC210 delivers high torque at low RPM, offering exceptional fuel efficiency through its ten working modes.

Dimitrov Krishnan, Managing Director, Volvo CE India, said, “As India embarks on its remarkable infrastructure growth journey, we foresee exponential demand for construction and mining equipment. The all-new EC210 exemplifies our commitment to delivering products that offer ‘Zyada’ performance and reduced cost of ownership to the value-conscious Indian customer.”

“The EC210 boasts a localisation level of approximately 70 per cent, with Volvo aiming to further strengthen its local supplier base. Volvo CE aims to double and eventually triple its current market share in the 20-tonne excavator segment,” said Krishnan. “We’ve made substantial investments in developing and promoting this product, supported by a comprehensive marketing campaign focused on volume-based growth strategies.”

Speaking on the key trends in the construction equipment industry in India, Kamel Sid, Global Head of Operations, Volvo CE, said, “Globally, many markets are slowing down, but India stands out with a 15 per cent growth in the construction equipment sector this year. The government’s infrastructure focus, evident in increased budget allocations, is expected to drive significant projects across the country, presenting robust opportunities for growth.”

The launch of the EC210 hydraulic excavator marks a significant step in Volvo CE’s journey of innovation and partnership in India. As the country gears up for extensive infrastructure development, the EC210 is poised to play a crucial role in meeting the demands of modern construction challenges, embodying Volvo’s vision of creating sustainable solutions that empower customers to achieve more.

Similarly, Hyundai Construction Equipment India has expanded its Smart Plus series, now offering 8-tonne, 14-tonne, and 15-tonne classes of excavators. These models are equipped with an advanced monitoring system featuring a multi-language cluster, elevating operator convenience, enabling timely servicing, and facilitating early error detection. Notably, safety features include auto engine overheat prevention, an anti-restart system, a battery cut-off switch, and automatic warming up, significantly enhancing equipment and operator safety.

Says Joydeep Baksi, National Sales Head (Sales & Marketing), Hyundai Construction Equipment India, “The Indian construction equipment industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by major infrastructure projects. Hyundai holds a No. 2 position in excavator attachments in India, with over 25,000 units in operation across the country, ranging from 3 tonne to 48 tonne. We offer a diverse range of attachments, including buckets, rock breakers, super-long fronts, and drills, tailored to meet a variety of application needs.”

In the mini segment, the new generation HX35AZ from Hyundai’s HX series is packed with features such as all-cylinder guards and an anti-theft system, aimed at markedly improving safety. Additionally, it boasts a tilt cabin for streamlined serviceability, as well as dozer float and auto travel shift features for heightened efficiency.

Komatsu India, one of the largest manufacturers of hydraulic excavators in India, offers hybrid variants of its excavator. Says Yasunori Fujii, Managing Director, Komatsu India, “Our hybrid excavator contributes to CO2 reduction and lower fuel consumption. Notably, it doesn’t require a charging station; it can generate power by itself. This is a key differentiator from electric excavators, which are still in the prototype stage. We’ve been mass-producing our hybrid excavator for over 15 years.”

He added, “Our Chennai plant is reaching full production capacity. We are exploring opportunities for local investments and considering capacity expansion plans to meet the growing demand in the Indian market.”

Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery, one of the leading manufacturers of mini excavators in India, offers a range of excavators for the Indian market, including the Tata Hitachi NX30. The Tata Hitachi NX30 is the first of the new NX series of hydraulic excavators that marks the dawn of the next generation of excavators. The NX Series offers next-generation performance, hydraulics, versatility, comfort, maintenance, and savings. The next-gen mini excavator NX30 has been designed to provide precision control, high productivity, high fuel efficiency, excellent operator comfort, high versatility, and unmatched return on investment.

Toshiki Onishi, Director (Sales, Marketing, and Customer Support) said, “Tata Hitachi’s next gen excavators offer a perfect combination of Next Gen performance with lower operating cost. Mini excavators are the fastest growing market segment in India today, and NX30 is a made-in-India machine backed by proven Japanese technology. With this, we have strengthened our portfolio of mini excavators and reinforced our capabilities to deliver class-leading next gen machines to meet the evolving demands of the mini excavator market in India.”

Tata Hitachi NX30 is powered by a powerful, fuel-efficient, and productive Yanmar engine and comes with a wide range of bucket options to ensure best-in-class performance. The new NX series excavators come with the next-generation Hydraulic system, which incorporates the latest in hydraulic technology. Powered by the Quadra Flow Hydraulic System, a patent-pending, multifunctional hydraulic system, the NX30 delivers power and speed as per the demands of the application and promises best-in-class fuel efficiency while doing the same.

Last year, Sany India introduced five new compact excavators to its lineup. The newly revealed excavators come equipped with a range of features designed to optimise performance and efficiency on the job site. Sany has not only focused on enhancing the machines' capabilities but has also taken steps to upgrade their overall appearance, ensuring a modern and sleek aesthetic.

Said Deepak Garg, Managing Director at Sany Group (India & South Asia), “Sany’s announcement of five new compact excavators underscores its dedication to providing state-of-the-art solutions, blending advanced technology with a refreshed design. As the construction landscape evolves, Sany remains a key player in driving progress and efficiency through its innovative equipment offerings.”

The landscape of excavators in India is also witnessing significant technological advancements. Manufacturers are integrating advanced features such as GPS tracking, telematics, automated controls, and enhanced fuel efficiency into their machines. These innovations not only improve operational efficiency but also reduce downtime and maintenance costs, thereby enhancing the overall value proposition for customers.

Looking ahead, the future of the excavator market in India appears promising. Continued urbanisation, infrastructure investments, and advancements in technology are expected to drive sustained demand for excavators across various sectors. Moreover, initiatives such as Make in India and Digital India are likely to further bolster domestic manufacturing capabilities and technological innovation within the sector.

The market for excavators in India is poised for growth, driven by urbanisation, infrastructure development, and technological advancements. While challenges exist, opportunities abound for manufacturers, distributors, and stakeholders across the construction and industrial sectors. As India continues its journey towards economic prosperity, excavators will remain indispensable allies in shaping the nation’s future infrastructure landscape.