In India, we offer the single drum compactor ? Hamm 311 in drum drive and padfoot version;   also, our current offering of the HD90 tandem will be replaced by a new tandem roller in the second half of 2013, says P Ramesh, CEO and Managing Director, Wirtgen India. Excerpts from the interview.

What have been the market trends for equipment and machinery for the road sector in 2012?  
In 2012, the market was down by 20 to 30 per cent for equipment and machinery, especially in Q2 and Q3. We  experienced  a  mild  increase in  demand   in Q4   and  expect  the same to continue in  the first  half of  2013.

What is the demand-supply scenario for compactors? Brief us on the range offered by Wirtgen.
The market for compactors has decreased by 5-8 per cent   in 2012 and in the last five years,   more players   have entered the field. It is a matter of time before the market for compactors will again pick up. Hamm is the global
market leader for tandem compactors and No 2 in field of single drum compactors and also winner of several awards for innovations.

In India, we offer the single drum compactor ? Hamm 311 in drum drive and padfoot version;  also our current offering of HD90 tandem will be replaced by a new tandem roller in the second half of 2013.

What is the demand-supply scenario for pavers?
The demand in 2011 was around 250 for the sensor paver and around a hundred   in the 9 m class and above. There was a drop of around 40 per cent in the demand in 2012. Voegele offers a complete range of pavers from the 1.8 m to the 16 m class. However, in India we offer the S1300-2 for 5 m class to the 2100-3 for the 13 m class.

What is the growth potential for milling and recycling for road projects?
New technologies like milling and cold recycling are introduced to the Indian highways and city roads, and more road contractors are showing an interest in these environmentally friendly technologies. We have also undertaken some pilot projects within India, to promote these technologies.

What are the latest product/technology trends in paving?
The latest product is the new Dash 3 generation pavers from Vogele. These  are equipped  with various  user-friendly functions like the pave dock   assistant  to facilitate communication  between  paver operator  and driver of feeder vehicle, push rollers for jolt free transfer of mix, new auto set function, eco-plus  package for lower emissions, ergo plus operating  system, etc. This paver will be on display at our bC India pavilion.

Given the current scenario, what is your take on the financing of road equipment?
The companies/contractors are facing difficulty in getting finance   from non-banking financial companies for road equipment. This is due to the tight liquidity situation and an increase in defaulters.

Any launch planned for bC India?
At bc  India  2013, we have a 2006 sqm stall space where as many as 18 machines from our 4 brands: Wirtgen, Vogele, Hamm and Kleemann will be on display, including new product launches  and introductions  in  the  Indian market. We are  showcasing our complete delivery range available  for  the  Indian market, including  the new Vogele  2100 dash 3 paver, the new Wirtgen Recycler WR240, and the Kleemann crusher MZ110.

This show will also be a platform to interact with our existing as well as potential customers, and also an opportunity for customers to have a hands-on experience on the products on display. The bC India exhibition is a good opportunity for visitors to witness a wide range of equipment, latest technologies and state-of- the-art machinery from both Indian and global companies.  

How do you view the future for the road equipment segment?
The  future is definitely bright for the  road  equipment  sector  as  more projects would  get  implemented  and  many more projects are set to  be  awarded.