Reliability in Action can only come with the best-in-class machines. SDLG equipment with high value for money gives faster ROI compared to premium machines. This ensures high quality, reliability, low cost of operation and maintenance, says Subba Raju, Managing Director, Detroit Mining and Construction Equipment. Excerpts from the interview...

Could your brief us on your company?
Detroit Mining and Construction Equipment is a dealer for SDLG range of wheel loaders and motor graders for all the four states in South India. We have our corporate office in Hyderabad, with branches at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Nellore. In Karnataka, we have regional office at Bangalore and branch office at Hospet, while in Tamil Nadu, we have regional office at Chennai and branch office at Coimbatore. All our offices are equipped with spares, and have service and sales staff. SDLG sells over one-third of the total wheel loaders in the Chinese market and enjoys a premium product slot in China. The products LG 936L, LG 938L, LG 958, LG 979 and G9190 are being sold in India through our dealer network across South India. These are also serviced and maintained by our trained service staff from the factory.

Who are your major customers?
We have a strong foothold in the port sector and some of our customers are Krishnapatnam Port, Gangavaram Port, Visakhapatnam Port, and Kakinada Port. Our customers also include corporate clients ranging from paper mills to cement companies and infrastructure companies, and retail segment from crushers to bulk material handling owners.

What is the price range?
Considering the growing Indian infrastructure market, SDLG products are made for reliability in action with economical price with additional attachments such as wood grappler and side dump bucket. The 3 tonne wheel loader comes in two variants: LG936L and LG938L. The LG958L of 5 tonne and the LG979L model 7 tonne capacity and the model 9190 is a motor grader. All these models are available with a highly economical and competitive pricing.

Which is the fast moving model in wheel loaders?
The wheel loaders LG936L (3 tonne) and LG958L (5 tonne) models have huge demand, both in ports, mining and infrastructure sectors. Till date, we have sold, supplied and maintaining more than triple digit loaders of 5 tonne capacity in coal and other bulk material handling areas. We are able to get continuous repeat orders from various ports and bulk material handling contractors/owners.

What differentiates SDLG range?
Value products ROI is faster than premium products which we proven with SDLG machines.

What are the growth drivers?
The two major sources of economy are coal and iron. But the iron-ore market segment is not fully active. With the policies of the new government, we expect these two major industries to provide revenue generation for state and Central governments. The government?s renewed focus on mining, push on infrastructure development, smart city development, adding new ports and metro rail projects could boost the equipment industry and contribute to huge demand.

What have the sales trends been so far?
We had remarkable sales in 2012 as we bagged the award for the ?Best SDLG Dealer? and excellent distributor among the dealers across the globe. In 2014, we won the ?Best SDLG key account sales? award among the dealers across the globe for handling major segment. Current year is promising and yet to gain momentum. Mining, infrastructure companies, cement industries, crushers, waste management and recycling are the major potential segments that could drive the demand.

What are your future plans?
SDLG?s vision is to be No 1 amongst the Chinese manufacturer in export market. This is possible only by ensuring 100 per cent customer satisfaction for our existing customers by closely supporting customer with 24x7 quick response, stocking of adequate spare part inventory closer to the customer etc.

Detroit CE has won the ?Best SDLG Dealer? award in 2012 and the ?Best SDLG key account sales? award in 2014.