A significant trend is the shift from post breakdown maintenance of machines to a preventive diagnostic to monitor the health of the machine. This is apparent in the replacement of mechanical displays by all electronic displays which are increasingly becoming a part of the machine?s standard features for monitoring and service reminders. Equipment India finds out more on the changing trends in the motor graders market.

The Indian construction equipment market has the potential to grow six to seven times from the total revenues of $3 billion in 2012 to $22.7 billion by 2020 and from over 60,000 units in 2012 to 330,000 in 2020. To meet the demands of planned investments, the market will more than double between 2009 and 2014, with a noticeable increase in sales of all types of construction equipment used for road-making.

As per its data, the growth rate of motor graders from 31.52 per cent in 2009-2010 would reach over a whopping 163 per cent by 2014 (the total volume of motor graders in 2009 was 342 units, which in 2010, became 450 units, a growth rate of 31. 52 per cent). The forecast is a growth in volume around 900 units by 2014, a growth rate of 163 per cent compared to base of 2009 figures.

Amarnath Ramachandran, Vice President ? Product Engineering & Knowledge Management, LeeBoy India Construction Equipment, says, ?With specific reference to the market for motor graders, there has been a growth of 55 per cent in 2010, with continued stable growth in 2011, and sales of over 500 units. The demand-supply scenario for motor graders is still at a nascent stage in India where power and productivity are the main drivers for demand. Since the main application of motor graders in India is in the roads sector, the market is dominated by the 125-174 HP which accounted for 68 per cent of the market share in 2011.?

?The demand for the motor graders is quite phenomenal,? points out D Naidu, Director, ChTZ Equipment India. ?As India continues to focus on its infrastructure requirements, the demand for motor graders continues to grow. NHAI continues to set aggressive targets of road construction per day, resulting in multiple road projects being awarded on a monthly basis. Our state governments? focus on roads as an asset and its a bility to promote inclusive growth are also positive growth enablers for the
motor grader industry,? says Sam M Vedhakumar, Sales and Support Manager, Caterpillar India.

Says Sunil Sapru, President, LiuGong India, ?The market for motor graders is in the growing phase, and it should continue to be on the same trajectory for the near foreseeable future. He adds, ?With GPS or laser- based technology, the sub- base levels are optimised to specified limits and hence there is tremendous savings in laying WMM, DBM/DLC, AC/PQC. The market is quite upbeat about the technology and we are sure with the cost of projects going up, the technological advancement viz GPS or laser- based controls will become mandatory.?

Speaking about the fast changing trends, Amarnath has this to say, ?A significant trend in the current scenario is the shift from post breakdown maintenance of machines to a preventive diagnostic to monitor the health of the machine. This is apparent in the replacement of mechanical displays by all electronic displays which are increasingly becoming a part of the machine?s standard features for monitoring and service reminders.?