Portable air compressors play a pivotal role in mining, infrastructure and construction applications. The mining application specifically, is a segment of paramount importance, looking at the amount of aggregates which is required for infrastructure and construction projects. Similarly, the extraction of minerals such as iron ore, manganese, coal, limestone etc with reliable portable air compressors with the lowest possible energy consumption is an important application under metal mining. Also, all the infrastructure and construction projects start with excavations where portable compressors are required and then the entire work chain starts.

Current market – not powerful
The market currently has been plunged into a steep decline due to the pandemic attack globally. This has a far reaching impact on every industry, so also the mobile compressor market. From June onwards, the market is seeing some movements in terms of activities and opening up of projects. But it may take some time for the market to bounce back as Tony Van Herbruggen, General Manager, Power Technique Customer Center, Atlas Copco (India) says, “This is an exceptional year and the pandemic has impacted projects worldwide. With the unlock 2.0, we look forward to infrastructure and mining projects getting started, giving us continued opportunities to touch lives and improve infrastructure needs of people in India. We expect a slow and staggered growth in the short term but expect stability and better growth in the long term.”

However, Rajesh Premchandran, Director – ISAAME ((India, South Asia, Africa and Middle-East), Elgi Equipments, sees some silver lining amidst the pandemic scenario as he says, “Even during this pandemic, continuity of operations in blue metal quarrying, construction and coal mining segments continued to drive demand for portable air compressors.”

Braving the pandemic
The COVID-induced lockdown starting March-end had literally paralysed the industry throughout the months of April and May. From June when the unlocking process started, it was really tough for the industry to cop with the conditions, however, most production facilities opened and started working in a staggered manner with minimum workforce and according to the requirement. With the projects in construction slowly picking up, the demand also will start picking up slowly. Meanwhile, mining activities are mostly going on so that there will be almost a steady requirement of machinery during this period. The compressor manufacturers are now active in the business. Herbruggen says, “We have taken the necessary steps to ensure social distancing and hygiene norms in our production facilities in Chakan and Dapodi located in Pune. We maintain the highest norms for employee care while ensuring our equipment meets the quality and performance which our customers have come to know and expect.”

Elgi has also taken adequate safety measures in its manufacturing, sales and other operational areas. “With the safety measures in place and strict adherence to safety guidelines, our production lines are busy delivering products that are reaching out to our customers across various industrial verticals in the world,” says Premchandran.

Market to bounce back
The construction and infrastructure segment today requires more innovation in all areas of core infrastructure such as roads, metro rail, expressway, airports and expansion on existing highways. Herbruggen says, “Expectations from the Indian market will continue to focus on infrastructure projects by offering products that meet our customer’s needs and ensures them long-term benefits. India is a growing economy and looking at the overall infrastructure requirements coming up, we expect this healthy trend to continue in the coming years as well.” Premchandran adds, “We are expecting a capital utilisation of 70 per cent by the end of this year with the infrastructure companies against their current capital utilisation of 50 per cent which will open up for investment in capital equipment.”