Our focus is on diesel engines which are the prime power source and backbone of all light, medium and heavy construction and mining equipment, across the board. Over the years, the emission norms have been updated and made more stringent. The next level emission norms are around the corner and major equipment OEMs will have to incorporate the engines that conform to the emerging emission landscape. It is evident that that in line with the changing needs of the market, the engine makers are endeavouring to deliver diesel engines with high-tech systems to provide the best possible fuel efficiency, desired emission compliance and cost-effective products, in India?s highly price-sensitive and competitive market.

Off-Highway Research forecasts that the Indian construction equipment market is going to be most buoyant in the near future. With many global OEMs set up manufacturing facilities in India and the new emission norms around the corner, the engine manufacturers have new market opportunities opening up and a good business out of it. Leading engine manufacturers, be Indian or global players, are gearing up to cash in the opportunities. The very much Indian engine manufacturer Cooper Corporation has already stepped into this endeavour way back in 2006 when it struck a joint venture agreement with the UK-based Ricardo to introduce advanced engine range for the domestic as well as export markets. Volvo Penta, which so far used to introduce most of its engine ranges in India from its global facilities , is now planning to offer engines to off-road equipment OEMs locally. To start with, the company will introduce a few ranges from its Pithampur facility starting from 2017. There are many other global engine players which are keen on entering this lucrative market in the near future. All in all there is a promising market in the offing for diesel engines in India.

In this edition we also bring out for our readers BKT?s latest tyre range with distinct features for sprayers in agri fields. Read the interview with Jatinder Kaul of Ingersoll Rand to know more on the company?s plans for the portable air compressor market in India. The American branch of O+P unveiled the patented retention system for pressure hoses capable of protecting operators and machine components. Read on our section on Safety to know more on this.

Our other regular columns in this section remain as usual.