The B series motor graders are offered with an NEF engine and variable horsepower.
The Case grader has the best technical features and it is only a question of time before it gets to the top position, says Anil Bhatia, Director - Sales & Marketing, CASE India. Excerpts from the interview.

Case has recently forayed into the motor grader market. What has been the response so far?
Case has been manufacturing graders for decades; graders were launched in India very recently. The idea behind bring the CASE graders in India was to provide quality in the construction business through advanced technology in India. Two models have been launched - the CASE model 845 B and CASE model 865 B. These machines are the best available in its class and are engineered to give a long product life. NHAI has indicated that this year many projects are going to be awarded on EPC basis, which will definitely give a boost to the road construction. The actual execution of the road jobs has a direct bearing on the demand of graders and so we are optimistic that demand will be high for graders. Our CASE 865 B grader is a powerful grader which will find application in the mining segment.

What is the demand-supply scenario for motor graders for different tonnage and horsepower?
Graders in the horsepower range up to 150 HP will continue to dominate the segment for some time in the future. Graders are needed for road construction and have a direct co-relation to the actual execution of road projects. The higher horsepower graders will be in demand as the size of jobs increase.

Brief us on the features of B series motor graders.
The B series motor grades are offered with a state-of-the-art NEF engine, and variable horsepower. The engine horsepower varies depending on the load exerted on the machine. The grader is offered with an automatic ZF transmission. The machine has a multi-curvature mouldboard which reduces the resistance coming on the engine and hence, reduces fuel consumption. The cabin of the grader is spacious and provides excellent mound board visibility.

What are the design features incorporated in the B Series motor graders?
The machine is designed incorporating the four main criteria for any product offered by CASE: operator comfort, productivity, serviceability and low operating costs.

Is machine control technology a standard option in your range?
Automatic transmission is a standard option in our machine. Yes, it is possible for the operator to operate the machine in the manual mode. A good grader ensures that the base of the road is well built. A well graded surface saves on the more expensive dense bituminous macadam and experienced project managers are insisting on a good quality grader. CASE graders have been in use at many prestigious projects for years abroad.

What is the scenario regarding the import of motor graders?
We are importing the graders from Brazil in a fully assembled condition. Majority of the manufacturers offer imported graders in the Indian market. CASE graders are built to last for years and customers will be able to experience the difference. Operators comfort and the ease of operation is another aspect which customers have noticed. The latest in engine technology, metallurgy, hydraulic, and ergonomics are all put in use in the grader. The CASE graders are easy to operate and will revolutionise the grader market in India. The built-in quality in the Case grader has been appreciated by the users.

Is there any more investment planned, any new product on the anvil?
CASE has plans to strengthen the dealer network in India. Currently, there are 60 dealers and investments have been lined up to strengthen the network. CASE skid steer loaders and wheel loaders have been introduced in the Indian market. CASE has also introduced a new model 752 tandem compactor with a water-cooled engine.