We have a very strong research and development team that is striving to provide break?through technologies on our equipment. Our focus is now on providing solutions to our customers to keep the operating costs at the minimum level. I will consider this as our value for money proposition in hard times, says Viraj Parthi, India Country Leader, Terex Mobile Processing Equipment. Excerpts from the interview.

What is your expectation on the demand curve in 2014?
The last 18 months or so have been very challenging for our industry. Mining and infrastructure are the main demand drivers of our products and these are the segments that have been affected the most. We were also addressing the aggregates market where we are dominant players; however, growth in infrastructure is a driver for this segment and at present I don't see any major growth in this sector. In fact, expect a flat demand in 2014 as well.

What are the major challenges Terex MPS faces?
The major challenge is the liquidity issue. All companies are running short of funds. Secondly, many non-viable road projects have been awarded. What looked attractive when the economy was going well has now become challenging with the revised environmental conditions. This is the reason for road developers asking for renewed contracts. This has delayed project executions and it will not get on track until it is addressed and a solution falls in place.

What is the impact of the devaluation of the rupee on Terex MPS's performance?
The impact of the devaluation of the Indian rupee has been severe on the crushing and screening equipment industry. Though we have a local factory in Hosur, the content of imported items is high and we get directly affected by this volatility. We are continuously working on localising our products without making any compromise on quality.

Has this economic slowdown given you the chance to focus more on servicing the clients?
In hard times, staying close to our customers is a priority for us. When we do business with a customer, we are not just selling a product, we are providing them with an experience. We also help in arranging equipment finance for our customers with the help of Terex Financial Services.

What are measures you have taken to augment dealership and spares availability?
We have a very competent team that understands this industry's requirements and is able to quickly put together solutions that work best for our customers. We operate through a dealer network and these dealers are companies that enthusiastically work with the mining, quarrying and construction industry. They are finely networked across the country and are able to reach out to our customers whether it is to provide a solution or to provide services and parts.

What are the latest product / technology trends in crushers and screens?
Like the US and Europe, India is following the trend of moving to tracked crushers in place of traditional static and semi-static one. Globally, we have moved from Tier-3 engines to Tier-4 engines and now the focus is on producing more fuel- efficient machines. We are also working upon a dual power system which will have the facility to run on electrical power once it is set at the site.

How do you assess the performance so far in 2013?
2013 has been a good year for us. We are satisfied with the performance and there is always scope for improvement. In 2013, the first quarter was good for us; the next two quarters were not that favourable. I can only say that we are hoping to achieve our target in terms of whatever goals we have set.