Demand for motor graders is expected to be strong in the next couple of years. Sanu George, Business Head, SDLG India, explains more on the industry scenario and product offerings.

What is the current market size of motor graders in India?
The current market size of motor graders in India is approximately 1,000 units.

How do you visualise the opportunities for motor graders?
SDLG expects the demand for motor graders to be strong in the next couple of years thanks to the government's ambitious infrastructure plan, especially its road building programme. This will be a major growth driver as developers need more powerful machines to meet construction deadlines. Additionally, coal mining activity is also picking up and there is work for motor graders in this application, building the haul roads. Therefore, in the short- to medium-term, we expect to see an increase in demand for motor graders. Smaller and lighter models will find demand in rural development projects in India where they are needed for narrower road construction.

What are the emerging technology trends in motor graders in India?
Swing frames offer greater flexibility in a variety of work scenarios. The articulating swing frame's movements allow the blade to generate more power and carry a heavy windrow. It also allows the unit to make turns at more acute angles for close-quarter work or work on smaller roads. For greater durability and easier operations over its lifetime, the swing frame's composite bearing should be lubrication- and maintenance-free. Our G9138 motor grader features this type of swing frame.

What are the standard features in your new generation of motor graders?
We offer the G9138 and the bigger G9190 motor graders, both built in our manufacturing facility in Linyi, China. The highly-productive G9190, powered by the 148 kw Deutz Tier III engine, features a hydraulically-controlled movable blade for ultimate precision and performance on any terrain - from highways and airports to construction and agricultural applications.

The G9138, on the other hand, is powered by a Deutz BF4M1013-15T3R/2 engine that has an output of 111 kW. Its blade can cut depths of up to 575 mm and create bank slopes of up to 90o. The sliding range of the blade is 500 mm, while it can be inclined up to 47o forward and 5o backward. Maximum gradeability in travel is 20o.

There is a wide range of projects in India, from airports to highways to road developments in rural areas. These two machines satisfy the demand of both large-scale infrastructure projects and rural developments.

What are the monitoring and control technologies associated with new motor graders?
The G9138 motor grader features a fully-digital instrument panel offering the operator precise control over the highly-manoeuvrable machine. The panel also facilitates machine inspection and maintenance. The grader also has a swing frame which makes it suitable for use in a variety of situations.

What challenges do you foresee for further development of motor grader market?
In general, the Indian construction industry has not evolved to the same degree as markets in more developed countries. This means that the use of specialist machines which are engineered for specific applications is not as widespread. This generally accounts for the slower uptake in the use of motor graders. This, however, is changing and we foresee a much stronger pick-up in the usage of motor graders across India.

How do you visualise the market scenario in 2020?
Motor graders have become one of the fastest-selling equipment categories in India as contractors look to speed up project schedules and as the government ramps up road building. At the same time, in the last Budget, there was a record amount set aside for the development of infrastructure, which should mean demand for construction equipment, including both motor graders and excavators, will continue to thrive in the years ahead.