Could you elaborate on Metalman Auto?s product range?
Metalman Auto manufactures various types of sheet metal and tubular fabricated assemblies with surface treatments. Our product range comprises cabins for construction equipment, loader arms and tower assembly. We supply our products to various original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in India and abroad. We also cater to two-wheelers, three-wheelers, commercial vehicles, passenger cars and earthmoving equipment segments.

What types of construction vehicles do your cabins find application in?
Our cabins find application in construction and earthmoving equipment such as backhoe loaders. The cabins and heavy fabricated parts are made at our Pithampur plant in Madhya Pradesh. We have world-class manufacturing and quality procedures. Metalman Auto has achieved ISO-9001certification to cater to its clients.

Are these cabins supplied in raw form or as a ready-to-install sub-assembly?
These are fully dressed ready-to-install cabins. To cater to the exacting needs of our clients, we invested in machines at Pithampur. We invested to the tune of $1 million in a 340-tonne press brake, and a German-make laser cutting machine.

Which equipment manufacturers do you cater to?
We are currently catering to Case, which has a plant at Pithampur where it manufactures backhoe loaders and vibratory compactors. The plant is an integral part of Case?s manufacturing network, involving world-class manufacturing methodologies.

Do you cater to the equipment replacement market?
We focus only on the OEM segment.

What is the share of business from the equipment sector?
Metalman Auto?s turnover is about Rs 350 crore, out of which Rs 35-40 crore comes from equipment sector, which is about 10 per cent of our turnover.

Are you planning to introduce any new products for the earthmoving and construction equipment sector?
Yes. We are in the process of adding new products to our construction and earthmoving equipment sector business. Without deviating from our core competence, which includes the manufacture of various types of sheet metal and tubular fabricated assemblies with surface treatments, we are working towards the manufacture of air-conditioned cabins, fuel tank assemblies, step assemblies and more. Towards this, we have invested at our Pithampur facility. We currently manufacture all our products, including the ready-to-install cabins, at this plant. The plan would be to enhance the capabilities to turn out better, more value added products that continue to meet the requirements of the clients.