Bucher Hydraulics offers hydraulic valves and solutions to asphalt pavers, compactors, mobile cranes, concrete pumps, earthmoving equipment etc. Kapil Sehgal, Managing Director, shares more on the company's plans and market outlook...

One pathbreaking offering: It was one of the cartridge valve solutions for load holding applications because that was a problem area for our customers and we tried to bring that product assembled in India so that we could offer best of product technology and competitive price to meet their expectation. That gave a lot of confidence with the customer on our capabilities.

Demand drivers in 2019: Road construction is the major driver in the construction market. In general last year every customer was doing good, besides this we are also strong in agriculture market. Both these application segments has shown very good demand growth during this year. We hope the momentum to continue in 2019 though it will be at low level.

Announcement contributing to the company's growth in 2018: Till 2012, we were in a small rented premise and then in 2013 we invested in our own land, building and we have been investing on regular basis in the manufacturing capability and capacity in-house. We do not outsource our core competence; machining, honing, grinding, assembly and testing.

Challenge for the company in 2019: In my personal opinion, there will be a slowdown as 2019 is the election year, the growth that everyone enjoyed in 2018 will not happen in 2019. Other aspect is with reference to sourcing components in India. The perception and understanding of quality and precision by Indian supplier base vis-a-vis European expectation is and will remain a challenge needing continuous efforts.