Enhancing Machine Performance & Customer Satisfaction

Caterpillar’s Customer Value Agreements (CVAs) provide hassle-free service to customers at any point in the machine lifecycle.

Caterpillar: In step with India’s progress since 1930

Caterpillar has actively participated in diverse infrastructure and construction projects in India, bolstering the country’s development in infrastructure, mining, and energy sectors.

Gmmco: A one-stop solution provider

Customers look to Gmmco to offer complete solutions be it new equipment, used equipment, rental, buyback, tailor-made product support solutions, etc.

Caterpillar showcases new excavators at customer event

The recently launched Cat 350 excavator along with the 374 and 395 excavators were displayed at the event.

Caterpillar displays latest range of hydraulic excavators at its customer meeting

Cat® dealer, Gmmco, organised a one-day customer meeting at GMR Arena in Hyderabad, on 8 May 2023, to showcase the latest range of next-gen cat large hydraulic excavators.

We are one of the front runners in embracing cutting-edge tech

Mukul Dixit, Director – Sales & Marketing, speaks on the role of technology in the motor grader industry, and how is Caterpillar leveraging this technology to benefit its customers.

Bringing the CE fraternity together

Organised by Aries Events, Earthcon Expo was held from March 11 to 13 at Ahmedabad.

BKT to launch two new ‘Made for India’ EARTHMAX tyres

Balkrishna Industries (BKT) the Indian multinational company and global player in the off-highway tyre market will be participating in the bauma CONEXPO India 2023. Armed with a strong R&D, BKT will be launching two tyres under the sub-brand EARTHMAX at the bauma CONEXPO INDIA.

Up-grading roads!

The road construction industry in India is undergoing a paradigm shift. Robust demand, higher investment and significant policy support in the road construction industry are driving the demand for motor graders in India.

Innovations in Mining!

Organised by CII, the 16th edition of the International Mining and Machinery Exhibition (IMME) - India's only focused fair for the mining industry was held between 16 to 19 November 2022 at Rajarhat, Kolkata.

$5.13 Bn Opportunity!

Growing at a CAGR of 9.4 per cent, the Indian backhoe loader market is likely to touch $5.13 billion from $1.77 billion in 2021.

Gmmco: A one-stop solution provider

Established in 1967, Gmmco is part of the $2.8 billion diversified CK Birla Group. Gmmco is a priority Caterpillar dealer for south, central and western India selling mining, construction and energy equipment to customers including CIL, SCCL, and other state-owned enterprises. Gmmco offers a one-stop solution shop for all industrial requirements.

Gmmco: A one-stop solution provider

Gmmco, a part of the $2.8 billion diversified CK Birla Group, has a wide portfolio of construction equipment, including excavators, loaders, motor graders and off-highway trucks. Proven technological leadership, superior build quality, optimum costs and an efficient service network make Caterpillar equipment stand apart from competitors.

Upgrading Technology

Commonly used to construct and maintain gravel and dirt roads, motor graders have also prepared building foundations and drainage ditches, making them popular with government agencies and contractors.

Gmmco, Caterpillar launch Workshop-on-Wheels to serve remote locations

The vehicle has been designed keeping in mind safety and utility for ensuring optimum service capability.

Launch of new Cat® 424 backhoe loader

Gmmco and Caterpillar launched the all-new Cat®424 on July 23, 2021, in a grand online event. The event saw enthusiastic participation from numerous customers and industry insiders.

Launch of new Cat® 424 backhoe loader

Gmmco and Caterpillar launched the all-new Cat®424 on July 23, 2021, in a grand online event. The event saw enthusiastic participation from numerous customers and industry insiders.

Bounce back

Construction equipment finance has bounced back after the pandemic-forced lull.

Gmmco, Caterpillar new-gen motor Grader SEM 915

Gmmco and Caterpillar launched the new generation motor Grader SEM 915 on January 20, 2021. The event was hosted online and had enthusiastic participation from customers. SEM 915 and other SEM models were showcased along with their features.

Gmmco and Caterpillar launch new-gen motor Grader SEM 915

Gmmco Ltd and Caterpillar Inc launched the new generation motor Grader SEM 915 on January 20, 2021. The event was hosted online and had enthusiastic participation from customers.

Cat nextGen excavators Day celebrated

Gmmco and Caterpillar Inc, along with their customers, celebrated the Cat NextGen Excavators Day.

Cat NextGen Excavators Day celebrated

Cat NextGen Excavators Cat 323D3, Cat 320D3 and Cat 320D3 GC were showcased along with their key benefits and features

Caterpillar Hydraulic Excavator

Caterpillar Inc launched its new hydraulic excavator, Cat? 313D2 L, in India. Manufactured at the Tiruvallur facility, the new excavator has unmatched versatility, improved controllability, easy operation and a comfortable redesigned operator station, according to the company.

Caterpillar Hydraulic Excavator

Caterpillar Inc launched its new hydraulic excavator, Cat? 313D2 L, in India. Manufactured at the Tiruvallur facility, the new excavator has unmatched versatility, improved controllability, easy operation and a comfortable redesigned operator station, according to the company.

Linnhoff India Gmmco ink pact

Linnhoff India has formed a strategic dealership alliance with Gmmco, a leader in equipment for infrastructure mining, energy and transportation business.

Cat Financial launches India operations

Caterpillar Financial Services India (Cat Financial India), a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc, announced the launch of its India operations effective July 1, 2019.

Linnhoff India renamed to Ardent Maschinfabrik

Nearly seven years after the asphalt mixing plant manufacturer Linnhoff India ran its operations successfully, the corporation changed its corporate name to Ardent Maschinfabrik Pvt Ltd with effect from December 26, 2019.

Towards Greener Future

Asphalt is regaining traction in the Indian road construction due to its better recyclability and the freedom to use waste materials like plastics along with asphalt mix. The future looks greener for asphalt mixing plants.

Linnhoff India renamed to Ardent Maschinfabrik

Nearly seven years after the asphalt mixing plant manufacturer Linnhoff India ran its operations successfully, the corporation changed its corporate name to Ardent Maschinfabrik Pvt Ltd with effect from December 26, 2019.

Linnhoff and Gmmco ink dealership alliance

As per the new partnership, Gmmco will do the sales, marketing and services for all Linnhoff products across India.

Cat Financial Launches India Operations

Cat Financial India will enable Caterpillar India dealers to provide financial solutions in a responsive and timely manner to meet customer's needs and support them in expanding their business opportunities.

Caterpillar launches new hydraulic excavator in India

Caterpillar Inc launched its new hydraulic excavator, Cat? 313D2 L, in India. Manufactured at the Tiruvallur facility, the new excavator has unmatched versatility, improved controllability, easy operation and a comfortable redesigned operator station, according to the company.

Caterpillar launches new hydraulic excavator in India

Caterpillar Inc launched its new hydraulic excavator, Cat? 313D2 L, in India.

Linnhoff India and Gmmco ink dealership alliance

Linnhoff India, a leading manufacturer of asphalt mixing plants, has formed a strategic dealership alliance with Gmmco, a leader in equipment for infrastructure mining, energy and transportation business.

Cat Financial launches India operations

Caterpillar Financial Services India (Cat Financial India), a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc, announced the launch of its India operations effective July 1, 2019.

Caterpillar delivers equipment and collaborative support

Caterpillar offers a wide range of equipment and solutions for underground metal mining and coal mining in India.

Transforming Skill Landscape

Shortage of skilled operators has been a major challenge faced by the infrastructure and construction industry for the past many years.

IMT unveils piling rig for Indian market

IMT, one of the global leaders for piling rigs, has launched its AF 125 piling rig, made in India for the Indian market.

Caterpillar unveils new excavator portfolio

Caterpillar India announced the launch of its next generation 20-ton class excavators, Cat 320D3 and Cat 323D3 to cater to the Indian construction industry. The new machines are manufactured at its Thiruvallur manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu, India.

Caterpillar launches next-generation 20-ton excavator portfolio

Caterpillar India announced the launch of its next generation 20-ton class excavators, Cat 320D3 and Cat 323D3 to cater to the Indian construction industry. The new machines are manufactured at its Thiruvallur manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu, India.

EQUIPMENT INDIA Awards & CEO Forum 2018

After the bitterly cold days and nights of the famed Delhi winter, spring is said to augur good tidings. Or so it is believed. Maybe, it was in continuation of this tradition that the city successfully held yet another edition of the Equipment India Awards.

IMT in Partnership With Gmmco

IMT, the global leader for piling rigs from Italy, has appointed GMMCO Ltd as their exclusive distributor recently for pan-India territory.

Government should fast-track the procurement

After a lull in the past three years, mining, especially coal, is set to show significant growth in the next few years. Coal India (CIL) is doing its best to increase coal production quickly, from the current 568 million tonne per annum (mtpa) to 927 mtpa by 2020.

Aligned with CE Growth

High pressure, large diameter and volumetric capacity hoses fitted with appropriately speced fittings and protection covering are key ingredients for heavy construction and mining machinery. Such hoses have endured extreme usage under adverse to poor operating cycles and environment.

Dynamic professional

Ranjit Ravindran is Business Head (Mining), Mining & Construction Equipment Division at Voltas Ltd.

Leading sales

As General Sales Manager, Pankaj Jha provides leadership on all sales-related activities of Perkins in India. He works closely with Perkins electric power (EP)

Gmmco is here to stay for the long haul through good and bad times

Gmmco, a C.K. Birla Group company, is celebrating 50 years of exemplary business this year. On this special occasion, H Jayaram, Managing Director & CEO, Gmmco Ltd, spoke exclusively with EQUIPMENT INDIA.

Skidding Upwards!

Almost two decades ago, a skid steer machine was connoted as ?Bobcat?, because that was the most popular brand of skid steer machines in the world. The term ?skid steer? stands for turning on its axis by skidding and not by steering the wheels.

Waking up to New Demand

The demand for crawler dozers is expected to be driven by the various government-sponsored infrastructure projects coming up in the country, and the new momentum in the mining industry.

Cat 3600 Advantage

GMMCO and Tractors India Pvt Ltd (TIPL) launched Cat 3600 ADVANTAGE special purchase bundle with the Cat 320D2 at Excon 2015.

On new role

Pankaj Jha has been appointed as Perkins? General Sales Manager for India.At his current responsibilities, based out of Bengaluru, Jha will lead on all sales related activities in India and will continue to work closely with Perkins Electric Power (EP) Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), industrial OEMs and distribution partners Gmmco Power and Powerparts to deliver the India strategy and business growth plan.

Rental Market for DG Sets

The rental market for DG sets is expected to grow in future as the economy has started recovering. DG sets play a major role in peak hour saving - production, standby application, and continuous power - construction sites.

Motor Graders

Owing to a very high demand, practically all recognized Motor Grader manufacturers of like Caterpillar, Komatsu, Volvo, LeeBoy, Tata Hitachi and others are selling used Motor Graders either directly or through their authorized dealerships, closely followed by organised resellers cum auctioneers like Quippo, Shriram Automall, Gemini Equipments, Infrabazaar and finally at tier III, level by small and medium sized resellers spread all over the country.

Versatility, reliability, durability and unmatched performance excite customer to choose CAT excavators

Traditionally, excavators with operating weight 10 to 24 tonne are classified as medium range and in the last five years, their sales constitute above 70 per cent of the total excavator sales, out of which 20-24 tonne category accounts for approximately 50 per cent and 10-15 tonne is approximately 20 per cent.

Diggies to Scoop the Growth Pie

Market indicators show visible signs of economic recovery and infrastructure development. Crawler excavator segment is expected to witness resurgence in sales from 2015 and is expected to grow to 26 per cent.

Taking to the Success Path

High performance service of Cat? machines have played a critical role in the phenomenal growth of Dilip Buildcon. Within a period of 10 years, the company?s revenue has increased from Rs.50 crore to Rs.2,500 crore, making it one of today?s top players in the construction industry.

Mining Growth

India is on track to overtake the US as the second-largest coal consumer after China this decade. India wants to more than double coal output to 1.5 billion tonne by 2020. The central government has already taken specific actions including e-auctions of coal blocks; 28 blocks are already allocated and more blocks to be e-auctioned soon.

A Steady Course

The Bauma Conexpo Show - bC India, which took place from December 15 to 18, 2014 in the India Expo Centre in Greater Noida, Delhi, has held a steady course as regards key figures.

Indian OEMs and Perkins leaders look ahead to 2015

Perkins Engines Company recently held its 6th Global Original Equipment Manufacturers (GOEM) Council in Delhi.

Mining Potential

With the growing demand for increased output of coal and iron ore and other minerals, the demand for mining equipment and machinery is expected grow manifold.

Demand for mining equipment from PSUs is expected to increase

Gmmco is fully geared up to serve its customers with efficient product support, so they achieve maximum uptime and productivity of CAT fleet, says S Ananthakrishnan, AVP, Mining Project Sales, Gmmco. Excerpts from the interview.

Demand for mining equipment from PSUs is expected to increase

Gmmco is fully geared up to serve its customers with efficient product support, so they achieve maximum uptime and productivity of CAT fleet, says S Ananthakrishnan, AVP, Mining Project Sales, Gmmco.

Mining Potential

With the growing demand for increased output of coal and iron ore and other minerals, the demand for mining equipment and machinery is expected grow manifold. The mining sector has gone through major challenges in the last few years. For instance, the CE industry

We have leading-edge solutions for machine control and tracking

Caterpillar India announced the launch of its new Cat? 424B backhoe loader in Chennai earlier this year. Our goal is the same everywhere in the world it does business, including India - to help our customers be more successful in their business by using Caterpillar products and services.

It's time for the show!

The 3rd edition of bC India, which mirrors the pulse of the CE industry, is expected to attract over 30,000 visitors to witness the exciting range of construction and mining equipment and machinery.

Cat launches backhoe loader

Caterpillar India has announced the launch of its new backhoe loader at a function held recently in Chennai. Over the past few years, the Cat-? 424B backhoe loader designed for the Indian market

Caterpillar launches new backhoe

Caterpillar India today launched its new backhoe loader at the Chennai Trade Centre. Over the past few years, the Cat? 424B Backhoe Loader designed for the India market and customer requirements has been recognized as best in class performance, productivity and durability.

On Fast Track with Cat- 320D

Creating the formation for laying railway tracks can be a formidable job. However, with the right earthmoving equipment, it becomes easily negotiable. The Cat 320D excavator has been simplifying the challenges for Agarwal Enterprises, which does earthwork to create embankments.

Excavators Ready to Ride the Slump

Within the Indian construction equipment industry, the crawler excavator segment is the largest by value and the second largest, after backhoe loaders, in terms of number of units sold. Now, the shrinking market and intense competition have forced OEMs to focus more on value additions. Concepts like low lifecycle cost, faster ROIs, lowest cost per tonne all have made it imperative for OEMs to innovate, both on the product design and service fronts. Agith G Antony takes a peek at the prevailing t

We provide tailor-made offerings to suit different customer requirements

Caterpillar?s vision is to be recognised as the leader everywhere we do business. Our strategy in India is to win by delivering quality products, services and solutions to our customers, says Ajay Shankar, Country Manager, Caterpillar India. Excerpts of the interview.

Government should fast-track the land acquisition process

Gmmco, well supported by Caterpillar, is the one-stop shop for mining equipment and solutions. We offer the complete range of Cat surface and underground mining machines

Getting ready for the upturn

In spite of the unfavourable market dynamics, most of the OEMs have adopted innovative strategies to sustain themselves while keeping an eye on the coming boom. Innovative strategies are developed to retain existing customers

Gmmco opens second CCU yard

Gmmco inaugurated its second dedicated Cat-? Certified Used (CCU) yard at Hyderabad. Located in the heart of a mining and quarrying belt as well as in the midst of a plethora of construction and road-laying projects in the area, the CCU yard serves to take Gmmco?s CCU offerings closer to the customers of the region.

Gmmco to purchase part of Cat mining distribution

GMMCO has acquired the expanded Cat mining product line distribution and support business for its territories from Caterpillar Global Mining LLC. Gmmco is the authorised Caterpillar dealer in West, Central and Southern India. ?As one of the major mining equipment players in India, we at Gmmco are delighted to take over the expanded mining product business.

GMMCO to purchase part of the Expanded Cat Mining Distribution Business from Caterpillar

GMMCO, Chennai, India, and Caterpillar today announced that GMMCO has acquired from Caterpillar Global Mining LLC the expanded Cat mining product line distribution and support business for its territories. GMMCO is the authorized Caterpillar dealer in West, Central and Southern India.

Making more for vishal earthmovers

Vishal Earthmovers has 20 excavators, out of which four are Cat? 320D, deployed at various project sites. Mumbai, India's commercial capital, is fast living up to its stature with the boom in infrastructure projects.

Total solutions from Gmmco

Gmmco offers one-stop solutions to customers looking for mining, construction and road-laying machines, and engines of various capacities and for various applications. Established in 1967, Gmmco, a CK Birla group company, has been engaged in the sale and support of construction

First Actros truck from Chennai facility rolled out

The first Mercedes-Benz Actros 4841K rolled out from the new assembly line at the Oragadam, Chennai facility of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles. The Actros is positioned as a vehicle for tough mining operations.

Cat dozers are designed for ease of serviceability

Cat dozers are known for their operator comfort features, excellent visibility and low-effort controls that help improve operator efficiency, Vedhakumar talks about the dozer market and the product and service back-up offered by the company.

Cat motor graders are well known for their productivity and profitability

Caterpillar offers a wide range of motor graders that cater for multiple customer segment requirements, right from heavy con?struction to haul road maintenance and mining applications.

Moving More and Making More

Enhanced productivity and reduced operational and ownership costs make the new Cat 950H wheel loader a valuable partner in SEW Infrastructure?s Trichy-Dindigul road project.

Big Offering from Gmmco and Cat

Gmmco introduces Caterpillar?s world?s largest 500HP motor grader to Indian markets.For Gmmco and Caterpillar, 6 December 2011 was a red-letter- day, when the world?s largest and India?s first 500 HP Caterpillar Motor Grader 24M was handed over to South Eastern Coalfields (SECL).

We shall be focusing on mobile access platforms at Excon

We have invested about Rs 100 million in developing infrastructures like depots and service facility; Rs 800 million in assets and have plans to invest Rs 1,000 million over the next year, says Rakesh Modi, Chief Executive Officer, MTandT, in an exclusive interview with Equipment India.

Equipment Rental: Rentals Moving Up

Out of $ 2.3 billion construction equipment sold in India, just seven per cent is sold to rental companies, which is low compared to the global average of 50 per cent; in China, it is approximately 35 per cent, in USA 65 per cent and in Japan, it is 80 per cent.

Mining Equipment: Gmmco markets CAT mining trucks of 60 to 360 tonnes

With large/mega size mines coming into play in the last few years, high capacity trucks are increas?ingly being deployed in India, says S Ananthakrishnan, Senior General Manager, Machine Business Group, Gmmco.

Gmmco ties up with Junttan

Gmmco has recently tied up with Junttan OY, pioneers in the hydraulic piling technology. Junttan hydraulic piling hammers and other foundation equipment are complementary products to Gmmco?s existing marketing programme.

On A Solid Foundation

The market for foundation equipment appears to be quite buoyant with increased demand in the infrastructure segment, particularly in the power, steel, ports and transportation sectors.

Terex Finlay joins hands with Gmmco

Gmmco has been appo?inted as an authorised distributor in North India as well as South India for the Terex Finlay product line comprising jaw crushers, cone crushers.

The Trimble GCSFlex System Advantage

The GCSFlex is designed to offer small to mid-sized contractors a reliable, flexible and affordable option to leverage machine control technology.

25 Years of Nation-Building

Gmmco was formed in 1967 when the GP-CK Birla Group took over Blackwood Hodge Equipment, who were distributors for the Terex range of products.

GMMCO believes in total product support

There is enormous potential for duty cycle cranes in India, but as of now, the concept has not been popularised in the country, even as demand is climbing,? says M Saravanan, Business Head, New Business, GMMCO. 0 - - 14428 14 102 2011-03-01 00:00:00.000 Equipment India We are in the process of further investment for new product lines

?Sany gives top priority for safety and the cranes designed and produced by us are all incorporated with the safety features which are required globally,? says Rajesh Kawoor, Vice President ? Sales, Sany Heavy Industry India. Excerpts from the interview.

How is Sany placed in a fast-evolving scenario, in the Indian context?
Looking at the emerging scenario in the Indian market, we are experiencing a very positive atmosphere. The growth pattern up to 2008 was very steady and upward but in 2009 and 2010, the growth was erratic and not uniform. As far as Sany India operations are concerned, we are anticipating a growth rate of about 30 per cent and major growth is envisaged in cranes and concrete machinery.

What sort of topline growth is Sany looking at in the next five years?
In the next five years, we are looking at a growth rate with an increase of about 5-10 per cent every year, compared to the preceding year. We are also in the process of deciding on future investment in the coming years and to start production of new product lines.

Brief us about your R&D spend.
The Sany Group spends about 7-9 per cent of sales revenue on R&D and as Sany India R&D is in place, the spending pattern will be similar to Sany Group policy.

What is the market potential for crawler cranes in India?
The potential for crawler cranes in the building segment is for smaller capacities up to 80T and we do not see any drastic change in this segment. We see the largescale projects, power plants and windmills as the largest users of crawler cranes; the requirement from this segment is for higher capacities.We are expecting a steady growth in the next five years and we see the requirements of higher capacity crawler canes will definitely increase.

How do you look at the issues of training/and skilled operators?
On-site and classroom training are conducted for the customers, operators and technical staff to explain the operation procedure and also for regular maintenance procedures. The operators are trained and also tested to check their calibre. If they are found lacking in any aspect, Sany takes special care and initiative for training that operator until he is confident, thus making the crane operation for the customer safe and smooth.

Do all the engines used comply with emission norms?
Sany cranes are mounted with the world?s best known engines, Cummins and Deutz, which are within the environmental norms. For cranes of capacity 50T to 250T, we have the Cummins engine and for higher capacity cranes of 400T and 630T we have the Deutz engine.

Inbuilt safety system

? SLI (Safe Load Indicator): This  indicates the percentage of load been lifted by the crane, at  a  specific configuration and working radius.
? Hook movement limiter: The hook movement limiter stops the hook at a safe distance from the boom tip and thus avoids collision and damage to  the boom.
? Angle sensor: The  angle sensor is installed on the main boom foot and also at the luffing boom foot, so as to indicate the working angle of the main boom and luffing boom separately.
? Load sensor: This device indicates the amount of load that has been lifted  by the crane, the actual load.
? Anemometer: It indicates the wind speed  to the operator and he can lower the boom if experiencing turbulent wind flow at the work site.
? Pawl locks for the winches: The  pawl lock is provided for both main winch and auxiliary winch so as to stop wrong operations without the lock being  released.
? Limit sensor: It is fitted on the frame near to the boom foot.
? Back stopper: It is an additional safety device which stops the boom from moving above 81 degrees.
? Engine parameter display: This is in the operator cabin which provides the customer with all  the working data of the engine which indicates oil pressure, temperature, coolant temperature, fuel available in tank, engine RPM, battery voltage, etc,
? Camera and visual display: Two cameras are fitted on the crane which provides the rear view of the crane and also of the winches.
? Swing alarm: The  beeper works automatically when the crane swings.
? Future safety installation: Camera on luffing tip.

?The potential from the aftermarket is huge and the competition is intense. We are expanding our distribution network and product portfolio to meet the challenges from the aftermarket,? says Ajith Raj Nair, Joint Managing Director, Mann + Hummel. In an exclusive interview with Equipment India, Ajith Raj talks about the growth prospects of the industrial filter market. Excerpts from the interview.

How is Mann + Hummel placed to meet the surging demands in this evolving scenario?
For Mann+Hummel, the year 2010 was challenging and we are proud to inform that we achieved the highest turnover in our filter business for industrial equipment. We are better placed now, eager and ready to face the challenges of 2011 and the years to come.

How does Mann + Hummel look at ending this fiscal?
Our fiscal year is from January to December and we have achieved a record turnover in 2010, a growth of over 60 per cent compared to last year.

What sort of topline growth are you looking at in the next five years?
We are looking at a CAGR of about 30 per cent for the next five years. We see the growth from garnering more of a market share as the market has appreciated the Mann filter for its quality and consistency.

Taking into account the coming emission norms, how confident are you of meeting such stringent norms?
Mann+Hummel has always been in the forefront for introducing innovative and eco-friendly products that help the OEMs to achieve and conform to the stringent emission norms. Such technologies are mature in Europe and Mann + Hummel is already a leading supplier. This helps us to get a jumpstart for such requirements as and when they are introduced in this country. The focus is not only on the emissions but also on ELV directives. A lot of research is underway to look at alternate materials that can be recycled and reused without harming the ecological balance.

What are Mann + Hummel?s core competencies and strengths?
Started in Germany, Mann+Hummel is a 70-year old company, having presence in over 41 locations globally. Our vision is leadership in filtration with vast knowledge that we have built over the years. We are a preferred OEM supplier and have been a development partner for various filtration solution for our customers.

How do you look at the potential from the aftermarket?
The potential is huge and the competition is intense. We are expanding our distribution network and product portfolio to meet the challenges from the aftermarket. Our own R&D facility in Peenya, Bengaluru, gives us an advantage for high quality product development and product range expansion.

How do you look at competition in this sector?
Competition is intense, especially with respect to price. Fortunately, for the industrial customer, the price that he pays for having used a cheap filter is much more than what he can pay for a higher quality filter. This is also well understood in the market and has been the reason for our success. We are competitively priced.

Can you name some of the OEMs Mann + Hummel supply in India?
We are OEM to all major construction, engine and compressor manufacturers.

Brief us about your R&D spend, and also the latest technological trends in the market.
At the global level, we spend about 4 per cent of our annual turnover on R&D. In India also, we have invested heavily on setting up the state-of-the-art R&D centre in Bengaluru.

How successful has Mann + Hummel been in integrating various functions of filtration into a single module with compact design? What is the response from the user industry?
We have had a very good response from OEMs abroad for such modules as it saves lot of space, money, etc.

What was the response to DPF?
In Europe, the response has been very encouraging; it will catch on in India as well.

What is the potential for water filtration systems? Is Mann + Hummel geared to meet the requirements?
The potential is huge. It is a billion- dollar market and we are gearing up for this challenge. We have recently acquired a membrane manufacturing company, Ultra Flo in Singapore, and this will help us in being competitive and in providing customised solutions. We have also taken up some projects in India and some are in the pipeline.

Tell us about your production facility, capacity, and investment plans.
Currently, we have one production facility in Tumkur near Bengaluru. We have already started constructing our second production facility at Bawal in north India for our automotive requirements. This second plant will be ready by early 2012. With this, we will also have the opportunity to serve our industrial customers in the north better, with better logistics and reach.

A Steady Crawl

It?s the dark horse segment. Consider the figures: the crawler crane market constitutes just three per cent of the total mobile cranes sales in India whereas the pick-n-carry cranes control the major chunk, 93 per cent of the total sales.

Mining Equipment: Mining Shows Promising Potential

Mining and quarrying activities have contributed significantly to growth, primarily in the sales of large-sized equipment over the last few years. Equipment India finds out the details from some of the major players in the segment.