Buckets and rock breakers are the most important attachments for excavators and Volvo CE is particularly concentrating on these, due to the huge demand for these attach?ments, says AM Muralidharan, President, Volvo CE. Excerpts from the interview.

How do you assess the changing trends in the use of a variety of attachments with excavators and loaders?
There are various trends that we see in the attachment industry today and companies are adapting to them quickly:
? Contractors not only desire more attachments for all machines but recognise the value of buying and using them to the full extent.
? Attachment sales will increase along with equipment sales as the economy starts to recover.
? Contractors now demand a machine for multiple types of work at the jobsite.

What is the total market in terms of value and units for rock breakers and also tell us about the range offered by Volvo in rock breakers.
Buckets and rock breakers are the most important attachments for excavators and Volvo CE is particularly concentrating on these due to the huge demand for these attachments. There are four types of rock breakers offered for excavators ? HB 14 (EC140), HB21 (EC210) HB22 (EC210/240) and HB29 (EC290) Volvo CE has incorporated several features to the rock breakers that make them the most efficient such as auto-stop system, auto- lube kit, stronger tie rods, two-speed control, larger capacity accumulator and a built-in valve.

Tell us about the range of attachments meant for demolition.
While one part of India is being built, there is the old India (old cities) where a lot of demolition and construction is happening currently and we expect this to continue in the coming years. This has, to a large extent, helped in the growth of the attachment industry with the continuous demand for various attachments. Also, companies are gradually realising the benefits of using correct attachments for each application, like shear-mounted excavator for demolition, vibratory plate compactor attachment for canal side slopes, crusher bucket for recycling, auger attachment for piling, etc.

In India, the demolition segment is still in a nascent stage. Has it restricted your growth prospects in the rig-mounted hydraulic attachments?
The demolition segment remains nascent, so does the design and development of the right attachment, and this becomes a vicious circle. If the attachments for demolition do not develop to the right extent, the demolition segment remains nascent. So this has not dampened the growth prospects in any way. On the contrary, it has helped in analysing and understanding how businesses can grow in this segment. Attachment business houses are trying to cope with right devices and tools for different applications. The equipment manufacturers can?t be far behind. For instance, Volvo has re-designed booms, arms, counter weights and such, for special applications.

How do you look at the competition, especially in the rock breaker segment?
There is too much competition for rock breakers. There are 50-60 attachment manufacturers across the world and as many breaker manufacturers. However, only specialised or small companies have the capability to offer more attachments. All put together, it will give a total set of attachments that are required by the customers or specific applications required by the market.

What is the lifecycle of your range of products offered?
That depends. There are many factors that go into this, for instance, condition of the equipment, maintenance practices, site condition and operator efficiency.

Brief us on the other major attachments offered by Volvo.
Some major attachments offered by Volvo CE are:

? For articulated haulers ? pipe hauling and log hauling, cement mixing and water tanker.
? For wheel loaders ? special buckets, log grapples, fork and block handler, metal handling arms, e.g. side dump buckets.
? For motor graders ? mouldboard extensions, mid / front mounted scarifier, rear ripper, push block, dozer blade, etc.
? For excavators ? special buckets, quick coupler and rock breakers.