Recent past sees significant IoT development for remote and health equipment monitoring

BKR Prasad, General Manager – Marketing, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery

LiuGong unveils enhanced 95-ton 995F excavator in U.S

LiuGong introduces robust 995F excavator in U.S

LiuGong introduces 936F excavator for heavy-duty digging

LiuGong's 936F offers 24-ft dig depth and a 2.3-cubic-yard bucket.

“We work very closely with mining companies.”

BKR Prasad, General Manager – Marketing, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery, speaks on the types of mining equipment offered by the company.

On a high growth path

The government's focus on infrastructure development is expected to drive the demand for mini construction equipment.

On a high growth path

The government's focus on infrastructure development is expected to drive the demand for mini construction equipment.

Mini excavators are in high demand due to rapid urbanisation

E. Moses, Executive Vice President, Division Head, Kobelco Construction Equipment India, speaks on different models and specifications of mini equipment offered by the company.

Hyundai launches Largest Capacity Wheel Loader

Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas has introduced its largest-capacity wheel loader, the HL985A

Hyundai's largest capacity wheel loader unveiled at ConExpo

The HL985A model has a standard 9.1-cubic yard bucket capacity

Hitachi displays completely redesigned next-generation wheel loaders

The loaders feature a unique payload weighing system

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.

Hyundai’s new largest loader unveiled

Hyundai rolled out its new HL980A recently at World of Asphalt, representing the company’s largest wheel loader. The loader weighs 69,120 pounds and has a 7.3-cubic-yard bucket capacity.

Companies all over the world are turning to digital integration to increase efficiency in the mining process.

In recent years, mining companies have adopted a growing range of digital solutions. Many have mechanised their operations, moved from the physical to the digital realm by adding equipment sensors.

Fully loaded with opportunities

For a construction site to function without a loader may be impossible. Add to this the fact that the awareness to use the right tool for the right job is growing. The future of loaders looks bright despite the recent slowdown. The influx of new technology is ensuring that they are ever versatile and profitable to operate.

Wheel loader market is dominated by 120-150 HP range equipment

In the current context, users prefer wheel loaders that deliver higher productivity at lesser operating costs, along with enhanced servicing of their machines across their work cycle.

We expect the demand to grow for hydraulic excavators

Arvind K Garg, Executive Vice-President and Head-Construction & Mining Machinery Business, Larsen & Toubro

Kleemann screening plants for iron ore mining in Odisha

Orrisa Mining Corporation (OMC) has awarded its iron ore mining contract to Kalinga Commercial Corporation (KCCL) for its Gandamardhan Hill top mine located at Keonjhar.

Volvo CE EC210D powering up east java quarry in Indonesia

Over the past decade, Indonesia has made huge leaps forward as it overhauls its infrastructure and with it demand for cement and minerals like gypsum and limestone have skyrocketed.

Volvo CE EC210D powering up east java quarry in Indonesia

A rental and general contractor company in Surabaya, East Java, already relies on some of the leading machines from Volvo Construction Equipment, as it excavates limestone to meet Indonesia’s infrastructure demands. But four new additions are taking the company’s work to the next level.

SDLG launches LG953 wheel loader in Indonesia

SDLG launched the LG953 wheel loader for the Indonesian market at the end of 2020. With its ability to handle tough working conditions and its durable build, this medium to long wheelbase wheel loader is designed for use in the country’s construction sites, factories, ports, and mines.

Mining reforms have brought the confidence back

Souma Ray, Director, Haulotte India shares his thoughts on the AWP market outlook and the company’s activities.

Wheel Loaders: Loaded with Opportunities

Wheel loader market in India is looking at the emerging opportunities after the fresh momentum that is going to prevail in the market post-COVID pandemic after the government’s pro infrastructure policy initiatives.

Supporting Indonesian Housing Development

Property developer PT Tanggamus Niaga Tama is using the newly launched SDLG E660FL mini excavator to build homes in Sumatra, Indonesia.

SANY launches new ultra-large excavators

SANY announced an expanded product portfolio for the ultra-large excavators.

HYUNDAI 85A SMART

Hyundai Construction Equipment (HCE) India has recently launched 85A SMART hydraulic excavator.

Coal Mining Made Easy

Indonesian contractor PT Bangun Olah Sarana Sukses is using A60H articulated haulers and EC480DL crawler excavators from Volvo Construction Equipment to save cost and increase efficiency at its coal mining site in East Kalimantan.

SDLG excavators support Wuhan's hospital build

Four SDLG excavators - three E660FL and an E6500F - helped expedite construction of two hospitals in Wuhan, China, as part of the government's effort to treat patients with coronavirus infections and ease the shortage of hospital beds.

Allen introduces fully electric track and wheel buggy

Allen Engineernig Corporation announced the debut of the all-new fully electric track buggy and wheel buggy.

Hyundai 130 Smart

The 130 SMART hydraulic excavator is an upgrade from Hyundai Construction Equipment India that comes with improved fuel efficiency and enhanced operator comfort.

Allen introduces all-new fully electric wheel buggy

Allen Engineering, a leader in concrete finishing equipment, announced the debut of the all-new 2020 AW16E fully electric wheel buggy.

SDLG excavators support Wuhan?s hospital build

Four SDLG excavators ? three E660FL and an E6500F ? helped expedite construction of two hospitals in Wuhan, China, as part of the government?s effort to treat patients with coronavirus infections and ease the shortage of hospital beds.

Making dreams come true

The EC350D crawler excavator from Volvo Construction Equipment is supporting an Indian contractor realise his dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur in Gujarat.

Star Blue Metals adds SDLG wheel loader

Star Blue Metals, an Indian metal supplier, recently added a 4 t rated L946 wheel loader to its fleet.

SDLG launches biggest wheel loader yet

SDLG has introduced the new Stage III L975F wheel loader to market - the OEM's biggest wheel loader to date. SDLG has developed the wheel loader with a focus on durability, fuel efficiency and improving productivity on a job site

SDLG launches biggest wheel loader yet

SDLG has introduced the new Stage III L975F wheel loader to market ? the OEM?s biggest wheel loader to date.

Bringing high cooling efficiency to Indian port

Golden Shipping & Trading is using seven SDLG wheel loaders to efficiently run operations in Visakhapatnam Port in India.

SDLG showcases latest wheel loader at Philconstruct 2019

SDLG showcased its LG946L wheel loader at Philconstruct 2019, which was held from November 7 to 10 at the World Trade Center in Manila, Philippines.

SDLG launches two mini excavators in Indonesia

To support the expanding industries in Indonesia, SDLG recently introduced two compact excavators - the E660FL and E690F.

SDLG launches two mini excavators in Indonesia

To support the expanding industries in Indonesia, SDLG recently introduced two compact excavators ? the E660FL and E690F

Delivering strong ROI

The SDLG L956F wheel loader is giving fast return on investment to a road contractor in Indonesia with low fuel consumption and reliable operations at the quarry.

Supporting Mental Health Awareness

The machinery and plant hire company partnered with Volvo CE's exclusive Australian distribution partner CJD Equipment to paint the excavators blue in support of better mental health awareness in the workplace.

Snow Management Made Simple

Gleason Johndrow Landscaping and Snow Management chose 12 SDLG wheel loaders for its snow removal needs, noting the value proposition of the machines and SDLG's retail snow program.

First Liebherr R 936 excavator delivered to Elboka

SOMTP Belgium delivered the first of the new R 936 compacts in Benelux to earthmoving company Elboka N.V, in last August.

SDLG to launch new wheel loader

SDLG will be unveiling a new 5 t-rated wheel loader in India during bauma CONEXPO INDIA 2018.

SDLG unveils concept electric compact excavator at bauma China

he E660F-EX was among the 25 construction machine models that SDLG exhibited during the event.

SDLG's new wheel loader

At the largest agricultural event of Australia, AgQuip, SDLG unveiled the L958F wheel loader to over 100,000 attendees.

Looking for a Turnaround

SDLG launches L958F wheel loader in Australia

At the largest agricultural event of Australia, AgQuip, SDLG unveiled the L958F wheel loader to over 100,000 attendees. Replacing the older 5 t-rated LG958L, the L958F will support various construction activities, including material handling, land clearing and general earthmoving, according to the company.

Helping in cement production

Five SDLG wheel loaders are helping to load mud and petroleum-contaminated soil onto trucks every day at an oil field in Sumatra. The material is then taken away and recycled into cement so that nothing is wasted.

Improving efficiency of agri soil plant

Agriculture in Qatar was strictly limited due to the country's harsh climate and lack of arable land. But in 2011, Khulaifi Al Nuaimi began producing agricultural soil composed of sand, silt and clay that has proven to be 80 per cent more effective than the country's previous soil solutions.

Bringing river back TO its ORiGINAL FORM

Close to a decade after one of the most volatile volcano eruptions hit the Central Java region, a Volvo excavator is helping to return the Pabelan River back to its original form.

Challenging flooded waters

In North Sumatra, Indonesia, it rains more often than it doesn't. The city of Medan regularly records 2.2 m of annual precipitation, and so the locals often joke that there is no such thing as a 'dry season'.

Volvo rocks at Quarry operations

For over 30 years, Traralgon-based Matthews Quarries has built its reputation on an ability to deliver aggregates on schedule. With rising momentum in new road and rail projects in Australia, the company has now added three more Volvo machines to its fleet-an EC750D excavator and two A45G haulers-to meet growing demand and ensure it maintains its hard-earned reputation for reliability.

The big movers

Being the major equipment class in the infrastructure development activities, Earthmoving equipment sees further demand growth in future owing to an anticipated growth in construction activities.

SDLG unveils Tier-IV Final wheel loader at BICES 2017

SDLG launched one of its most environmentally friendly wheel loaders at the 2017 Beijing International Construction and Machinery Exhibition & Seminar (BICES) in China. The SDLG L959F is the company?s newest Tier-IV final wheel loader, and it serves as a reflection of the company?s commitment to more environmentally friendly engine technology powering its construction equipment. The new loader will help customers meet the strictest emission standards in regions around the world.

Excavators Excel

Driven by the infrastructure development activities in the country, hydraulic excavators recorded a sharp growth in 2016 compared to the previous year. The positive trend is continuing this year also with a 26 per cent growth in the first four months.

SDLG to launch F-series wheel loaders, operator skill programme at CTT Moscow

For the 18th edition of Moscow?s famed CTT construction trade show, SDLG will introduce an all-new trio of wheel loaders for the Russian market that feature updated technology and improved productivity. The company will also launch Top Driver Russia 2017, a contest to determine the country?s most respected machine operator.

SDLG launches F-series wheel loaders in Southeast Asia

SDLG has launched three new F-series wheel loaders in Southeast Asia: the L956F, L958F, and the L968F. Immediately available through SDLG dealers in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines, these wheel loaders are suitable for the moving of stockpiled materials in environments such as quarries, batching plants and coal mines, according to the company.

In Eco-town Construction

About 40 machines from Volvo CE including excavators, haulers, and motor graders are being used to build a luxury, gated 533-acre township in Malaysia.

SDLG to launch new compact wheel loader at ConExpo 2017

SDLG will debut a new compact wheel loader - the SDLG L918F - at ConExpo 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company will occupy Gold Lot Booth G3890, an outdoor booth at the show, which runs from March 7-11.

Product SHOWCASE

BAUMA CONEXPO INDIA 2016 was the right platform for the exhibitors to unveil their cutting-edge products, technologies and solutions. Many exhibitors launched their new technologies and products at the expo, while others showcased their industry leading solutions.

SDLG to launch new compact wheel loader at ConExpo 2017

SDLG will debut a new compact wheel loader ? the SDLG L918F ? at ConExpo 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company will occupy Gold Lot Booth G3890, an outdoor booth at the show, which runs from March 7-11.

New Escorts Backhoe Loader - JUNGLI

Benjamin Disraeli, once famously said, ?the secret to success is constancy of purpose?. This, in one line, sums up the spirit of our business. Be it pick-n-carry cranes, vibratory compactors or backhoe loaders, Escorts has, from time to time, introduced path breaking products/technology.

How to Choose an Ideal Backhoe Loader

While buying a backhoe loader, one needs to pay attention to various factors. Before buying a backhoe loader, it is important to understand and differentiate between the different specs offered by the various variants. Knowing what features are most important to a customer as per the work required will help him in the longer run.

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.

Back on Track!

The Indian mining and material processing industry, along with other bulk material handling operations like coal loading or bulk handling at ports, and aggregate processing in roads, is already on a fast track growth trajectory in India, thereby driving the demand.

Bauma 2016 - the biggest trade show on earth

Bauma 2016 - the biggest trade show on earth - spread across over 608,503 sq m (1.5 lakh acres) exceeded expectations this year with a participation of 3,423 exhibitors from 58 countries and the presence of about 580,000 visitors from 200 countries.

Large Miners Forward

While the global mining industry is on the decline, India is witnessing a reverse trend. Many international mining equipment manufacturers are showcasing their products at BAUMA 2016, Germany, in a big way, at a time when Coal India

Front-end Loaders Dominate Rentals

Market information on rental industry is extremely fragmented. No accurate or authentic data is available in the industry to support this activity. Having said that, as per available information gleaned from various sources, the industry size for 2-3 cu m bucket capacity front-end loader is estimated to be in excess of 20,000 units in India.

BHL Market to Grow

It?s a fact that the backhoe market has been reduced to one-third of the actual market size, and currently, supply is more compared to demand, and the industry is not very hopeful for a turnaround, especially in this financial year.

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.

DesignED to Rule

Movers & shakers

LiuGong to export Guangxi Cummins powered wheel loaders

LIUGONG has started exporting wheel loaders, equipped with the brand new Guangxi Cummins L9.3 engine. ZL50CN, 855N, 856 and all other LiuGong Tier II, 5 tonne wheel loaders are the first to be equipped with the L9.3 engine manufactured by Guangxi Cummins Engine Co.

Our products have features that directly boost productivity to the customer.

The LeeBoy 523 is the result of intensive first-hand dialogue with customers and other stakeholders, to not only enhance productivity and operational efficiency, but also deliver a product that surpasses customer expectations. The findings from the customer dialogues enabled us to focus strongly on meeting three key expectations shared by the customer a reliable and rugged product, effective Post Sales Care (PSC) and lower running and maintenance costs. These have been kept in mind at all stages

We are launching the world popular F series 5T and 6T wheel loaders.

Capital equipment purchases are done after carefully examining all these costs, like lifecycle costs, cost per tonne of material handled. All offerings keep these in mind and our machines are designed to improve the overall lifecycle and keep the operating costs low so that are able to offer better economics to the customer, says Abhijit Gupta, Managing Director, CASE New Holland Construction Equipment. Excerpts from the interview.

Liugong India launches wheel loader

The CLG836BSIII wheel loader, manufactured at Liugong's plant in Pithampur, Indore, will provide more benefits to the customer in terms of performance, reliability and convenience in serviceability.

3DXcellence

Backhoe LoaderThe new ?JCB 3DXcellence? Backhoe Loader is regarded as the most fuel-efficient Backhoe Loader on earth. This machine provides the best return on investment to our esteemed customers.

JCB bullish on African market

JCB expects the African construction equipment market to grow 50 per cent by 2017, according to its Managing Director of Sales, Ian Sayers. JCB showcased a raft of new machines at the exhibition, including the 20 tonne JS205 excavator.

Raising the Innovation Bar

JCB India redefines excavation with the launch of its JS205LC tracked excavator. Developed and manufactured in India, this machine has best-in-class fuel consumption and ergonomically designed operator controls.

Wheel Loader TL210

TL 210, equipped with 160 hp BS III Cummins engine, is an absolute and powerful loading equipment that offers wide range of loading functions in varied loading applications based on user industry requirements.

50 Years of Enduring Relationships

Telco Construction Equipment Company (Telcon) launched three new models during Excon 2011 viz, TL 333HZ ? India?s first hydrostatic wheel loader, TATA 315L ? the loader version of the most powerful backhoe loader and TM 08 ? the transit mixer.

A World-class Excavator for India

Hyundai launches its heavy-duty excavator RC 340L in India. Hyundai Construction Equipment India (CEIPL), a subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korea, launched its R340LC-7 heavy-duty excavator at Excon 2011.

Liebherr is investing in skilled personnel and adequate warehousing

Our prime focus is on R9100 which is a 100-tonne class excavator which we will launch here in 2012. For large mining excavators from 26-42 cu m, we will be waiting for a perfect opportunity to launch in India, says Koenig Holger, Director, Liebherr India. 1 - - 23450 14 162 2012-01-01 00:00:00.000 Equipment India We see huge potential for tower crane business We are not only improving the productivity efficiency and effectiveness of the tower crane domain, but also improving the safety aspect on a human angle," says Rajesh Sharma, Vice President, Marketing, Escorts, in an exclusive chat with Equipment India. Excerpts from the interview.

How do you look at the performance of the Indian construction equipment market in 2011?
Definitely, 2011 is a growth year if you compare it with the sales in 2010. In 2010, the industry size all put together was about Rs 16,500 crore and in 2011 it is about Rs 18,500 crore. In that way growth has happened. Now the growth will not be seen for all kinds of equipment. Equipment market is a derived market. It depends on the activity. If there is a particular kind of activity which suits particular kind of equipment then that equipment will sell more in that year. So I would say that the growth rate has been in the range of 10-25 per cent across the equipment spectrum.

How did Escorts perform in 2011?
Our fiscal is from October to September, during which, we have grown by 41 per cent. The growth has been across the product spectrum. If look at it all the num?bers have grown and growth has been achieved holistically. If take individually, compactors segment has remained stagnant and very limited growth has happened because road activity was slow. All the rem?aining segments have grown beautifully.

Could you describe the partnership with Linden Comansa?
This partnership is an year old now. Last year, we had signed exclusive distribution agreement with them for Indian market. They are the mentors for tower cranes and our strength of distribution and developing skills in the market matched quite well.

What made you to venture into tower cranes?
In terms of growth opportunity we see a huge potential for tower crane business both in the real estate segment as well as industrial infrastructure. Real estate inve?stment is $16 billion which we think will go up to $24 billion by 2015. And industrial infrastructure is largely on the power side. A lot of activity will happen on nuclear power plant and hydel plant and these kinds of cranes are required. The usual small cranes cannot do the job. So believing this and looking at what happened across the world we thought there was huge potential for this and is why we entered tower crane business.

We are partners with Linden Comansa because they are the most technologically innovative company around. There was a lot of gap between what is available in India and what the world was using. Currently, the use of tower cranes is much lower and much basic in terms of technology. Flat top is what the world is getting towards so this was the right product to get into.

You said this partnership is not just for business sake but for solution providing. Kindly explain.
As a responsible supplier who has been known to be a pioneer in some field or other, it is our responsibility that we always try to push technology datum enveloped in the industry towards upward. This is one step towards that direction. We are not only improving the productivity efficiency and effecti?veness of the tower crane domain, but also improving the safety aspect on a human angle.

What kind of business are you looking at in the coming years?
We have already taken sizeable chunk of high-end market in the very first year. But the numbers have been really low like the size of high end market is small. By 2015 we want to sell about 200 machines. Construction equipment industry in the last ten years has been doubling itself every fourth year. Even if you see 250 numbers doubling to 500-600 numbers and we are aspiring for 200 numbers is not out of sync.

What is the advantage of these cranes as far as investment is concerned?
It is a product which has a very long life of 30-35 years which is exceptional in the construction equipment, so you can amo?rtise your investment over a longer period of years. The kind of rental market for tower cranes hardly exists in the country. But, if other assets get about 4 per cent a month, this will get 6 per cent rental a month in the market. Return on investment for a small hirer who is buying this equip?ment also makes it an economic case.

What are your plans to take this initiative forward in the coming years?
As far as the Escorts-Komansa tie-up is concerned, we need to focus more on communicating the technological adva?ntage and translating the equipment advantage into real perfo?rmance. That will happen by training people. That is why I declared that from December onwards we will be having a new training vertical in our school in Bengaluru which will be focussing only on tower cranes. Other products are happening but the new verticals will be open for tower cranes where we will be training people for operation maintenance and the optimum utilisation of the asset which is very important. We have already sent people for training and they have been trained by them and these are the people who will train them further.

How important is trained manpower?
We have emphasis on training. It is not only done for leveraging the marketing but also helping the industry and the country. Every business runs on what you are doing for the customer. If you are distributing well and you are having trained manpower in the country you have done great service to the customer. Equipment hardware is very easy to make. These two aspects are very important.

How do you see the competition in tower cranes?
There are already 12 players for tower cranes. But most of them are competing for the lower segment of the market. To be a player of a high segment, you need technological depth which they do not have. They have seen a Chinese crane and they made it and are selling in India. That is not going to do much favour in the long term. In the long term you need technological depth and innovativeness in terms of creating a shift from product selling to solution selling. This is entirely about solution selling.

How is the rental market for these cranes?
Hiring segment in the country is very decentralised and fragmented. Only two companies of large size are operating in India but they are not very effective. We have large populous of customers who are buying one or two equipment and are working in the close proximity and locality. They are not pan-India players. So Indian hiring industries are not organised as what we see in Europe and the US. When you have such a scenario people tend to invest in those
assets which are not high in value. Tower crane hiring will take some time to come around.

The high initial cost and then it is giving returns for 30 years and they are not mobile equipment. So these small hiring companies may no tend to get into it immediately. But as the time comes it will increase more and more. They buy assets depending upon what is demanded by the market.

What are your plans for 2012 and beyond?
Last year we achieved about 40 per cent growth and this year we are aiming at bettering that. We are very hopeful that we will be able to do that. We have a lot of new products in our armour both on the manufacturing and training site and I am sure we will be able to do that.

Are you planning to venture into other equipment segments?
We have a lot of opportunity in the verticals what we operate in. In crane side we almost have everything. On road construction side we only have compaction equipment and now we have added motor graders. There are many more we can add in that segment. Similarly moving north side we have backhoe loader. There are many products where we are not there and we can get into that later.

Terex Raises the Bar

Demonstrating its commitment to Indian infrastructure development, Terex in India has launched its new world renowned products - the TL 210 wheel loader and PT 200 mini dumper. TL 210, equipped with the 160 hp BS III Cummins engine, is an absolute and powerful loading equipment that offers a wide

Globally, LiuGong produces 40,000 wheel loaders annually

With strengthened component, world-class ZF axle and ZF transmission and Cummins engine, wheel loaders from LiuGong are easy to operate even under rough terrains, says Sunil Sapru, President, LiuGong India. 1 - - 16081 14 165 2011-06-01 00:00:00.000 Agith G Antony Eaton solutions are extremely rugged and durable

?Eaton is the world's leading producer of heavy-duty and synchro-mesh medium-duty transmissions. They not only offer best-in- class system performance, but also help the industry to customise solutions based on customer requirements,? says Krishnakumar Srinivasan, Managing Director, India Truck Division, Eaton Corporation. In an exclusive chat with Agith G Antony, he elaborates on the changing trends in the automatic transmission systems and talks about Eaton's strengths and capabilities.

Has revival of market sentiments been reflected in the demand-supply for commercial duty fully automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems in the automotive industry?
Demand for construction equipment (CE) is bound to grow with the government speeding up the process of contract awards and working towards the removal of impediments of execution. The prospect of investment in the CE industry is encouraging, with the government's push for more private participation. To remain competitive in such a scenario, it is necessary to have efficient equipment with optimised utilisation. Automated solutions help the fleet owners to not only reduce operating cost but also help in significant improvement in asset utilisation. Automatic transmissions are relatively new technologies that are making way into the construction, mining and earth-moving equipment. These technologies are delivering the benefits which have been eluding the mining and construction companies for sometime. For example, the mining industry has recognised the benefits of having automated transmissions on their trucks : reduced driver fatigue and safety, in addition to more fuel efficiency. So, as the benefits of these technologies are being evaluated, we are seeing a rise in demand and in the last few months, the pace has increased.

What are the major growth enablers of this industry?
The growth drivers for the CE industry include the current and proposed financial outlay in road infrastructure, housing, power, irrigation and segments like ports and airports. All these are major growth enablers of the CE industry because they not only use large construction equipment but also generate secondary demands in cement, steel and mining which all require large number of earthmoving and construction equipment.

Could you throw some light on the comprehensive range of transmissions on offer from Eaton for mining, off-road construction and heavy haulage applications?
Eaton caters to all segments of this industry, with products especially designed to suit these end-customer needs. Eaton can offer products suitable for 900 to 3,000 Nm torque requirement, and has very robust and rugged solutions in 6 to 18 speed manual and automated manual transmissions (AMTs). We have a number of modular construction designs for our heavy-duty transmissions. We can offer our AMTs in 10, 11, 13 and 18 speeds, with overall ratios ranging from 15.5 to 36:1. Then, we can give a level of optimised vehicle performance to a broad range of applications which we believe is unparalleled in the industry. Eaton has specifically developed Line Haul, Vocations (off-road and mining) and a multi-purpose series of transmissions with varying speeds and torque capabilities to suit specific requirements within the segment. Specific features have been developed considering the application requirements so as to bring efficiencies to the fleet.

Could you tell us about the overall market potential in terms of size and value.
The Indian CV market and in particular, segments relating to infrastructure growth, have been growing very rapidly and we expect a robust and consistent growth for at least next 8-10 years. Putting a size and value is difficult due to the rapid growth rate of close to double-digit figures but if the momentum continues, we may see it breaking into double-digit figures soon.

What is the range and capability of Eaton transmissions?
Eaton offers AMT as a complete driveline solution provider taking care of complete system efficiency including the clutch and transmission. Eaton solutions are extremely rugged and durable with best-in-class performance and efficiency. Eaton AMT solutions are also built with top safety features. The solutions offered by Eaton help improve fuel efficiency and hence optimise on running and operating costs.

What are the advantages of using Eaton transmission?
Eaton is the world's leading producer of heavy-duty and synchro-mesh medium-duty transmissions. Eaton not only offers best-in-class system performance, but also helps the industry to customise solutions based on customer requirements. Eaton transmissions can offer a wide range of speeds in various overall ratios and torque ratings. Our research and innovation have enabled us to use aluminium-based castings that make the transmissions lighter, hence vehicles become more fuel-efficient. Computer-designed constant mesh helical gearing ensures quieter operation and greater gear strength.

How do you rate your success of penetration in the Indian CE segment? What are the challenges Eaton faces there?
Eaton has excellent products for the CE segment and well poised to grow in this segment. We have developed our understanding of the conditions that this segment demands and now upgraded the products to best suit the market needs. Our automated transmissions have excellent inbuilt features to succeed in the CE segment in India.

Tell us about the evolution of transmission technology and the R&D spend.
Every market and customer segment has very unique requirements. The success is to have products designed and developed to suit those requirements and market needs. Eaton has developed an extensive engineering capability in India. Our engineering centre in Pune is the largest integrated engineering and research centre in Eaton. Our engineers collaborate on global projects for across the world as well as for India, to develop right products meeting the respective market requirements. We have also set up a big Test Lab to test and validate products designed and produced in India. Many OEMs have made India the hub of their R&D and that speaks about the potential and volume of investments that are being diverted towards India.

How do you look at the competition in this segment? What differentiates Eaton from the competition?
We are a diversified company and a global market leader in the segments we operate in. Our presence in the hydraulics segment has ensured a strong foothold in the CE industry and we are well aware of the conditions and needs of the segment. Eaton has been supplying the trucking industry with products designed to improve vehicle performance and power, and increase profitability for over a century now. Our length and breadth of experience in the industry positions us as the leading supplier taking care of the customer needs. The fact that we have our heritage of a hundred years of innovation gives us a headstart to provide the right products to the right segments. This way, Eaton has been successful in understanding the end-customer needs and expectations and has been successfully delivering the value.

How do you look at the capabilities of the supply chain?
Suppliers are one of our key stake holders for the company in India as well as globally since we operate in diverse countries and regions. The fundamental requirement of any supply-chain organisation is to reduce costs ? not just direct material costs, but costs such as logistics, services, inventory, and other indirect costs. We have a full-fledged supply-chain team with specialisation in various technologies like castings, forgings etc, supporting our Indian and global operations. Eaton in India has excellent supply-chain capabilities with quality suppliers at globally competitive pricing. We are attempting to ensure that most of the products manufactured and sold in India have a significant level of localisation.

Brief us about Eaton's manufacturing facilities. Do you have further plans on investment?
Eaton Corporation's truck transmissions plant is its first greenfield manufacturing facility in India. The plant was commissioned in 2007 and began its production in 2008. It's a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with heat treatment, assembly and testing facilities. The second phase of construction for the plant was started in April 2008 and is operational as of now. We recently invested in an integrated test lab at our Ranjangaon facility that will help to test the products developed in India resulting in significant time saving. We plan to regularly invest to meet the growing market requirements.

What was the total turnover in the last fiscal, and what is the expected growth this fiscal?
All I can tell you is that we have a positive growth outlook for our business in India.

Excavators Settle In Comfortably

The market potential for hydraulic excavators in India looks to be most promising, as a large number of players have entered the scene. What's more, the boom is expected to last for quite some time. Agith G Antony digs up the facts.