Case gives lot of importance to training and developmental programmes.
DK Narang,Managing Director, Case India.
Case India is gearing up, by investing in all areas of its operations, to provide best value to its customers with a comprehensive product range, says DK Narang, Managing Director, Case India. Excerpts from the interview.
How do you assess the current market scenario for construction equipment in general and its growth potential in the coming years?
The growth of construction equipment industry depends largely on the project execution in infrastructure sector. The speed at which execution of infrastructure project takes place decides the pace at which the equipment suppliers will grow. Currently, issues like land acquisition, hardening of interest rates and delays in other approvals have affected the pace of project execution. Rising input costs, increase in fuel prices and depreciation of rupee have also taken their toll on the market. However, as the government has targeted for a huge (one trillion dollars) spend in infrastructure sector, the medium term outlook for the Indian construction equipment Industry remains bullish.
How do you rate your performance in both the backhoe and vibratory compactors market? What are your strategies to consolidate the leadership position?
The vibratory compactors market is expected to be stagnant this year at about 2,300 units. We are consolidating our top position in the vibratory compactors segment. The loader backhoe market is likely to witness a small drop during 2012. We are confident of maintaining our second position in the loader backhoe market also. Our presence in the market is established with a clear focus on products development with high quality standard, dealer and distribution development, and customer satisfaction.
What has been Case's strategy in the current scenario where the off-take of equipment has dipped considerably?
The period of market slow down in our view is short term, government is re-emphasising and providing the impetus to the infrastructure projects through various policy measures. However, in these circumstances, we need to provide extra support to the existing equipment fleet of our customers, to help them improve their fleet utilisation. We will continue
our efforts to strengthen our network to provide best value to our customers.
How has the company been addressing issues like devaluation of rupee, high cost of funding, ever-increasing cost of input materials?
Devaluation of rupee and higher interest rates of late have posed major challenges for construction equipment industry to maintain its cost competitiveness amongst tough competition. We took up this challenge of rupee devaluation by minimising our import
content and thereby shielding ourselves to a large extent from currency fluctuations.
We also undertook several cost optimisation projects to keep our costs under check. There is also a constant vigil on our working capital in order to contain the impact of higher interest costs.
Considering the intensive competition, and not-so-rosy demand supply scenario, what has been Case's focus in providing value addition, especially in terms of service support?
The equipment uptime is one of the major factors which customers consider while deciding on the construction equipment purchase. Time-bound projects need reliable machines. We have intensified our support to the machines in the field through, well established dealer network. We are also leveraging on our global experiences to ensure continuous improvement in products and services.
Case has been on a mission to integrate the plant with a global industrial footprint. Could you brief us on the same?
CNH has always laid strong emphasis on utilising its manufacturing strength as a competitive edge in various markets it operates in. Case India has undertaken a major initiative to integrate its Pithampur plant with global industrial footprint through leveraging worldwide expertise to improve processes, quality, reliability and operating efficiencies.
Could you brief us on the training programmes initiated by Case?
Case gives lot of importance to training and developmental programmes. Case India has a dedicated team of technical trainers with an exclusive centre for training and development located at the Pithampur plant. The training centre provides training for continuous development to our dealers and also conducts customised/tailor-made training programmes to meet customer needs.
How do you look at the growth potential in another three years and how competent is Case to meet all challenges?
With strong fundamentals of the Indian market and government focus to provide impetus to infrastructure development, housing and power projects, we expect the construction equipment market to grow at healthy pace in next five to 10 years. Case India is gearing up, by investing in all areas of its operations to provide best value to its customers with a comprehensive product range.
"We have intensified our support to the machines in the field through, well established dealer network. We are also leveraging on our global experiences to ensure continuous improvement in products and services."
Case India is gearing up, by investing in all areas of its operations, to provide best value to its customers with a comprehensive product range, says DK Narang, Managing Director, Case India. Excerpts from the interview.
How do you assess the current market scenario for construction equipment in general and its growth potential in the coming years?
The growth of construction equipment industry depends largely on the project execution in infrastructure sector. The speed at which execution of infrastructure project takes place decides the pace at which the equipment suppliers will grow. Currently, issues like land acquisition, hardening of interest rates and delays in other approvals have affected the pace of project execution. Rising input costs, increase in fuel prices and depreciation of rupee have also taken their toll on the market. However, as the government has targeted for a huge (one trillion dollars) spend in infrastructure sector, the medium term outlook for the Indian construction equipment Industry remains bullish.
How do you rate your performance in both the backhoe and vibratory compactors market? What are your strategies to consolidate the leadership position?
The vibratory compactors market is expected to be stagnant this year at about 2,300 units. We are consolidating our top position in the vibratory compactors segment. The loader backhoe market is likely to witness a small drop during 2012. We are confident of maintaining our second position in the loader backhoe market also. Our presence in the market is established with a clear focus on products development with high quality standard, dealer and distribution development, and customer satisfaction.
What has been Case's strategy in the current scenario where the off-take of equipment has dipped considerably?
The period of market slow down in our view is short term, government is re-emphasising and providing the impetus to the infrastructure projects through various policy measures. However, in these circumstances, we need to provide extra support to the existing equipment fleet of our customers, to help them improve their fleet utilisation. We will continue
our efforts to strengthen our network to provide best value to our customers.
How has the company been addressing issues like devaluation of rupee, high cost of funding, ever-increasing cost of input materials?
Devaluation of rupee and higher interest rates of late have posed major challenges for construction equipment industry to maintain its cost competitiveness amongst tough competition. We took up this challenge of rupee devaluation by minimising our import
content and thereby shielding ourselves to a large extent from currency fluctuations.
We also undertook several cost optimisation projects to keep our costs under check. There is also a constant vigil on our working capital in order to contain the impact of higher interest costs.
Considering the intensive competition, and not-so-rosy demand supply scenario, what has been Case's focus in providing value addition, especially in terms of service support?
The equipment uptime is one of the major factors which customers consider while deciding on the construction equipment purchase. Time-bound projects need reliable machines. We have intensified our support to the machines in the field through, well established dealer network. We are also leveraging on our global experiences to ensure continuous improvement in products and services.
Case has been on a mission to integrate the plant with a global industrial footprint. Could you brief us on the same?
CNH has always laid strong emphasis on utilising its manufacturing strength as a competitive edge in various markets it operates in. Case India has undertaken a major initiative to integrate its Pithampur plant with global industrial footprint through leveraging worldwide expertise to improve processes, quality, reliability and operating efficiencies.
Could you brief us on the training programmes initiated by Case?
Case gives lot of importance to training and developmental programmes. Case India has a dedicated team of technical trainers with an exclusive centre for training and development located at the Pithampur plant. The training centre provides training for continuous development to our dealers and also conducts customised/tailor-made training programmes to meet customer needs.
How do you look at the growth potential in another three years and how competent is Case to meet all challenges?
With strong fundamentals of the Indian market and government focus to provide impetus to infrastructure development, housing and power projects, we expect the construction equipment market to grow at healthy pace in next five to 10 years. Case India is gearing up, by investing in all areas of its operations to provide best value to its customers with a comprehensive product range.
"We have intensified our support to the machines in the field through, well established dealer network. We are also leveraging on our global experiences to ensure continuous improvement in products and services."
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