<span style="font-weight: bold;">Kennady Kaippally, Country Manager - Mobile &amp; Wind Solutions, Bonfiglioli Transmissions Pvt Ltd.</span><p></p><p> Indian construction equipment (CE) industry was always expected to be poised for growth and what we are now witnessing is realisation of these expectations. The industry is maturing both in the scale and breadth of equipment being manufactured across market segments. </p><p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Market challenges</span><br />Given the changes taking place in industry, Indian market offers both unique opportunities as well as its own set of challenges. We see opportunities for market growth as infrastructure spending increases and market evolves and matures. However, the challenge in such an environment remains in developing or adapting products and manufacturing capabilities that suit the specific demands of Indian market. Innovation in products and manufacturing practices remain a key in overcoming these challenges. </p><p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">A platform of opportunity </span><br />Indian CE market has never lagged behind in optimism even in worst of times, perhaps rightly, given the inherent potential demand of the market. Excon provides the largest platform in India for interaction between end-users, OEMs and aggregate suppliers of CE. </p><p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Key focus</span><br />The key difference between Excon 2017 compared to Excon 2015 is the sense of all-round optimism prevailing in the CE industry. We are seeing more product launches by our customers both for domestic and as well as export markets, driven with our drives. Last time, the industry has bottomed out after touching the peak volumes in 2011, while this time industry is looking to touch new highs, so this sense of optimism is not misplaced.</p><p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Showcasing innovation</span><br />Excon has always been an exhibition were we have presented our latest product offerings and Excon 2017 is no different. Along with showcasing our marque products like solutions for excavators, transit mixers, road building machines, and material handling machines, this year we will be showcasing some of the latest products for the first time in India. </p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">These will include:<br />600F axle for electrically operated vehicles:</span> Bonfiglioli supplies high-efficiency, low noise planetary axles and drives with integrated, high-performance electric motors and low maintenance braking systems for Class 1 material handling vehicles. </p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">600W2/3 Hi-Low gear shift final drive:</span> This gear shift final drive is specifically designed for wheeled and tracked machines featuring a significantly different travel/operating speed ratio. The product is the ideal solution for road paving machines, construction equipment, as well as agricultural and forestry machines.</p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">HDO-bevel helical gear reducer: </span>The bevel helical gear reducer series from Bonfiglioli optimises superior performance with compact dimensions and flexibility. The several options that can be selected from the catalogue facilitate customisation to meet specific application requirements. Gear case from modular cast iron guarantee rigidity in all circumstances while gears, integrally ground finished on their profile, ensure quiet and vibration-free operation, even in the harshest conditions.</p><p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Expectations galore</span><br />Events like this give us an opportunity to meet customers from different CE market segments under one roof. We expect this interaction with broad range of customers to result in both tangible and intangible benefits for us as well as our customers.</p>