Budget 2024: Key highlights

Key highlights of Interim Budget 2024

A Resounding Success

Gujarat Conex 2023 served as a gathering hub for prominent figures in the industry and policymakers, engaging in discussions aimed at advancing infrastructure development in Gujarat.

Mining opportunities and challenges

Ritabrata Ghosh, Associate Head, Corporate Sector Ratings, ICRA writes on the mining scenario in India.

We have the widest range of oils to meet all requirements

GS Caltex India is a 100 per cent subsidiary of GS Caltex, which is a 50:50 joint venture between GS Energy of South Korea and Chevron Corp of USA.

Riding on infra push

Pick-up in infrastructure spending and construction activities is expected to drive the demand for tipper trucks in the coming years.

Equipment companies exhibiting at bauma CONEXPO INDIA 2018 speak!

Indian CE Market Overview

The market for construction equipment will follow an upward trend in the next five years.,

On a Smooth Path

As roads and highways construction continues to be on the top gear, more mechanisation is taking place in rural roads with motor graders finding more traction in the coming years.

Managing risk in a highly competitive industry

With a strong but volatile outlook for the mining sector, the industry is focused on future growth through expanded production, without losing sight of operational efficiency and cost optimisation.

Equipment insurance sector will continue to grow

Considering the current scenario of infrastructure developments, there isa substantial growth potential in equipment insurance.

GS Caltex's offerings for Infrastructure Sector

Nearly every business in construction sector is under increasing pressureto lower operating costs and increase efficiency. This often means doing more with fewer people and using equipment for longer duration.

Indian CE Market: AN Overview

Strong domestic demand generated by ongoing infrastructure development projects resulted in the construction equipment market rising to an all-time high of 72,197 units in 2011.

Digital Platform for efficient CE Sourcing

With markets being overcrowded and competition more intense than ever, coupled with a flurry of information in this digital age creates a lot of distractions.

GS Caltex's offerings for Infrastructure Sector

Nearly every business in construction sector is under increasing pressure to lower operating costs and increase efficiency. This often means doing more with fewer people and using equipment for longer duration.

Ultimate reliability lubricants

OEMs have been under considerable pressure to offer engines that are more durable, more fuel efficient and produce less emissions than before.

Ingersoll Rand launches new rotary screw air compressors in India

Ingersoll Rand, a global leader in compression technologies and services, introduced new models to its line of Next Generation R-Series oil-flooded rotary screw air compressors, which provide a more energy-efficient solution for customers with high capacity air requirements.

Metallurgy Trends in Construction

Steel and metals play a major role in the construction industry. Alireza Moghaddam explains on the use of metals in construction and the new trends and the emerging market opportunities.

DhOLA-SADIYA bridge will propel intense development of the region

The making of Dhola-Sadiya Bridge across the River Brahmaputra was a different task altogether, considering the location and an unpredictable flood situation. This mega structure was constructed by Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd.

We have a long term vision for Indian market

On a global level, we have come out with two product categories: drum cutters and grapples. We want to be careful with what we do in India because we have a long term vision for this market. Considering the GDP prospects, most players are entering India but it is a demanding market.

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.

Buoyant Future

An unprecedented and the highest-ever, $1 trillion has been earmarked for investment in infrastructure development by Government of India in the current Five-Year Plan period (2012-17). Speeding along the guidelines set forth by the government, the infrastructure construction activity is rapidly growing in roads and highways, bridges, airports and power, while realty sector is yet to catch up.

Mining, Construction to Lead Growth of Tyres

The current market for mining and construction is growing and with the initiatives taken by the new government, it is poised to gain momentum in the coming years. Continental India foresees this as a key growth enabler for tyre industry.

The Road Ahead

The need for better infrastructure is pressing with India?s rapid urbanisation and burgeoning middle class. Some 590 million people will live in cities by 2030, and could account for 70 per cent of Indian GDP, according to a McKinsey report.

We provide quality filtration solutions across the industry

We commend the ?Make in India? campaign by our Prime Minister and hope to see a lot more quality Indian filter manufacturers that assist development across the various industries in which filters play a role, says Ravinder Singh Anand, Proprietor, New Era Engineering

Lifting Solutions

The future trend in material handling systems will be towards lighter, higher-efficiency equipment. The power consumption, material of construction, operating noise levels and eco-friendly features of this equipment will play a big role while introducing

Asphalt Recycling

Millions of tonnes of asphalt have being wasted in the country, when these could be properly treated and recycled for rehabilitation of road projects and new pavements.

The Road Ahead

The need for better infrastructure is pressing with India?s rapid urbanisation and burgeoning middle class. Some 590 million people will live in cities by 2030, and could account for 70 per cent of Indian GDP, according to a McKinsey report.

Piling Deep for Solid Growth

In a highly competitive market space hitherto rigged with challenge, the piling industry has responded positively by developing and launching advanced rigs. The piling technology with latest monitoring features could help increase productivity and reduce overall cost of a project.

Growth comeback a far cry?

The HSBC India Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for April 2014 was at 51.3, unchanged from the previous month. The PMI is based on data from monthly survey of purchasing executives in over 500 manufacturing companies. What the PMI fails to reflect is the growth in new orders in the month of April. This may not point at a pick up in demand, or the return of growth.

We plan to customise products for our Indian customers.

In China, XCMG is the market leader in wheel loaders, with a yearly output of 40,000 wheel loaders from its recently set up facility. We can make available any model the customer wants, right from 1 tonne to 12 tonne class, says H V Kulkarni, Director - Marketing, XCMG Machinery (India). Excerpts of the interview.

It is our combination of hardware, software and application knowledge that makes us leaders

We will be investing around $2.5 million purely on the manufacturing set-up. Since we are focused on technology and engineering, our investments are primarily on engineering and technology

Cashing in on opportunity

Irrespective of the current slowdown, most companies have plans to develop their market further in India by setting up new facilities or expanding existing ones, introducing innovative marketing strategies,

We have an advantage with our products and service support

The slowdown has helped us approach most of the rental companies. We have increased our footprint in services and reach, and we have initiated health checks for the machines.

2013 was a tough year but it is behind us. We must now look to the future

The year 2013 was a forgettable one for the construction equipment as well as the concrete equipment sector. With construction at a virtual standstill, the demand for concreting machinery fell by 15-20 per cent year-on-year

The growth of road equipment sector depends on a good mix of BOT and EPC projects

Currently, the road equipment sector is experiencing a slowdown, due to a number of road projects being stalled or going slow. Also, the depreciation of Indian rupee by over 20 per cent in the last quarter has made imported machines more expensive

Servicing and after sales support has always been a priority for us

Terex Finlay is fully geared up for the future demand with a balanced product portfolio to cater both aggregate as well as mining sector. We have focussed consistently upon improving the quality standards of our equipment.

Our major focus is on high quality and highly efficient product support

We are here for the long haul, and we know the need to be patient. We have a warehouse in Bengaluru and 13 dealers and 36 branches across the country. We are developing our support systems, spares availability, dealer network and such so that once the market bounces

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

Manufacturing will be the Key

The worst may not be over yet for the Indian manufacturing sector. Lack of growth in the manufacturing sector continues to be the Achilles? heel of the Indian economy, according to Finance Minister P Chidambaram. Emphasising the need to focus on manufacturing and exports, Chidambaram announced a goal to increase the share of manufacturing in GDP to 25 per cent and to create a hundred million jobs over a decade, in his interim budget speech.

Tata Motors will continue to develop new products and upgrade its existing ones.

At Tata Motors, we strive to enhance our customers? experience, offering the unmatched benefit of a Tata truck, with best lifecycle cost, longer service runs and enhanced levels of driver comfort, resulting in best-in-class profitability and lowest payback period for operators, says Vinod Sahay, Head (Sales and Marketing), Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors. Excerpts of the interview.

Road 2 recovery

Despite the present day gloom in the market, the future for the construction equipment sector, especially for the road equipment segment in India, still holds much potential as this sector has a profound and immediate impact on the country?s economic growth. Off-Highway Research is optimistic about the growth in demand for road equipment and forecasts growth at a CAGR of 12.67 per cent over the next five years. Agith G Antony finds out more about the positive vibes in the industry.

We are positive about the near future

There will always be competition regarding rates and credit. Then again, how effectively you will be clear and open to the customer in understanding his needs and matching it with your schemes are key components,

Concrete moves

Despite the Rs 2,500-crore concrete equipment industry registered nearly 40 per cent fall in the market and is under severe pressure, there is tremendous growth opportunities in the long term.

Our marketshare has improved substantially in the last six months

When it comes to capacity, product range, manpower and servicing, we are quite comfortable and all geared for the upturn. For the past two years, the situation was really bad but we suddenly witnessed a spurt in demand; orders which used to take months and months for closure were getting finalised faster.

We have the best products, the best services and of course, the best quality

Putzmeister has been in India for more than seven years and we are here to stay. We are committed to India, its people, its future and we are continuously developing new products for our valuable customers

Our products meet the stringent off-road Tier-4 emission norms.

We position ourselves as a premium player offering the lowest environmental impact and total cost of ownership with the help of technology, added with durability and reliability, says S Prabhakaran, Vice President - Industrial & Marine Power Systems Volvo Penta. Excerpts from the interview.

Intelligent Lifting Solutions

Steel industry has the toughest and most demanding operating conditions. Equipment India finds out intelligent lifting solutions offered by major players. Lifting equipment in the steel industry is subject to the roughest conditions like extremely high and variable ambient temperatures, difficult and heavy loads

Our cranes have some of the best safety features.

Demag is probably the only company among crane manufacturers with the largest field force. Our services include installation and commissioning, warranty and post warranty services and support through parts, says Vidyakant Miraje, Business Head - Process Cranes, Demag Cranes and Components (I). Excerpts from the interview.

German companies are planning more investments in India.

German investors are taking a positive long-term view of Indian market and continue to invest in their operations to tap growth opportunities. Maharashtra, with around 39 per cent share of German investments, remains the most attractive destination, says Rajesh Nath, Managing Director, VDMA India. Excerpts from the interview.

Realising the mining potential

Looking Ahead with Optimism

Despite the economic slowdown and contrary to initial apprehensions from the major stakeholders, Excon 2013 turned out to be a success, with OEMs and aggregate and components manufacturers launching a new range of machines and components, and some of them even announcing further investment to augment capacity, in order to meet the expected demand spurt in the coming years.

The Rupee Impact

The depreciation of the Indian rupee has had its adverse impact on the manufacturing sector, especially OEMs who import various components. To the extent possible, OEMs are trying to localise production, but that is just a part of it. What the industry is looking is for concrete measures that can bring life back into the economy and trigger growth in a sustainable way.

We offer the best quality tower cranes and passenger hoists.

Our main focus has always remained on service support to every customer; we offer project -specific and very economical solutions till the completion of the project, says PV Ramdev, Managing Director, Everest Engineering Equipment. Excerpts from the interview.

We are coming out with newly designed cones and jaws by March 2014.

We are gearing up to offer 500 tonne/hour at our plant by 2014 March. We expect a sea change in the crushing industry and we are hopeful that India will soon see large crushing plants, says VP Mundra, Director, Core Crushing Equipments. Excerpts from the interview.

We expect a huge spurt in demand for construction equipment from Q4 2014.

Low downtime of the machine is a major factor under consideration while buying new equipment. We have a very strong and focused after sale service with a very efficient and trained service staff. We are also looking into new initiatives like SAP enable part support in all our design and mobile service, says Anil Bhatia, Director Sales and Marketing

We are introducing a coal burner to enhance the hot mix plant's fuel efficiency.

The slowdown has made us more focused on servicing existing plants and we have taken on the operation and maintenance of hot mix plants, says VP Mundra, Director, Basic Engineering Equipment. Excerpts from the interview.

Staying close to our customers is our priority.

We have a very strong research and development team that is striving to provide break?through technologies on our equipment. Our focus is now on providing solutions to our customers to keep the operating costs at the minimum level. I will consider this as our value for money proposition in hard times, says Viraj Parthi, India Country Leader

We plan to launch multi-functional man and material handling hoists at Excon 2013.

Spartan has always been a trendsetter in bringing hoists with world class designs and internati?onal safety features. Our multi-functionality approach to hoists has put us in the big league of innovative, value added products, says Vikram Mehta, Managing Director, Spartan Engine?ering. Excerpts from the interview.

SAES promises utmost quality products with upgrading range to meet growing market.

We are keen to expand our business and find new opport?unities. One of our main obje?ctives is also to become a dealer or franchise for some of the top companies at national as well as an international level, says Vimal Shah, Chief Executive Officer, Shah Auto Earthmoving Spares (SAES). Exce?rpts from the interview.

Our focus is to be a solution partner rather than the mere supplier of a plant.

Development of products is a part of our manufacturing pro?gramme to suit to the changing needs of the construction and mining industry. Our focus is on sand plants, quality sand production machinery, says V Venkataramana, Vice President (Marketing), Puzzolana. Excerpts from the interview.

The group will invest over EUR one billion to further strengthen and expand ZF's position.

ZF is a leading worldwide autom?otive supplier for driveline and chassis technology, with 121 companies in 27 countries. In 2012, the group achieved a sales figure of EUR 17.4 billion with about 75,000 employees. ZF was founded in 1915 for the development and production of transmissions for airships and vehicles.

The new generation of Dash-3 pavers from Vogele will be launched at Excon 2013.

n addition to production, we are also focusing on optimising our process, improve efficiencies in operations and at the same time, stepping up investment in sales and service network for the future, says Ramesh Palagiri, Managing Director and CEO, Wirtgen India. Excerpts from the interview.

Exhibiting Confidence

India, along with China and Brazil, is poised to be one amongst the three large and growing CE markets globally. As per reports, in the next few years the size of the Indian CE industry, by volume, is expected to reach that of Europe. This huge potential has led to various new players entering the industry, which is in turn

Stalled but Hopeful

In spite of the present slowdown and resultant sluggishness in the CE market, the long- term growth prospects are still intact; and experts view the huge infrastructure deficit as a major growth driver and prudent steps from the government can bring India back on the growth trajectory.

Anand automotive to invest Rs 1,200 cr over 5 years

Anand Automotive said it will invest Rs 1,200 crore over the next five years on new product development and capacity expansion. The company is also looking to enhance its exports to cash in on opportunities arising out of rupee depreciation. The group has 47 different manufacturing locations across India

The kind of service we provide ensures that we get repeat orders

We work closely with our customers and provide the best technology and integral consulting solutions for their projects. Our timely after sales, operation and maintenance services all keep us close to our customers, says Rajeev Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Friends Equipment.

An upward trend

Over the years, the manufacturing sectors have made remarkable progress in integrating the latest and most advanced systems of material handling into the manufacturing process. There is a perceptible shift towards third-party logistics providers, increased focus on integrated supply chain

Escorts represents fassi gru, Italy, for its complete range of knuckle boom cranes.

Escorts have had the advantage of first mover. The consequent visibility of Escorts-Fassi cranes are high and the quality of these cranes are extremely good, bringing in the good reviews and repeat business. Our current range of cranes includes cranes from 0.8 Tm to 195 Tm in over 60 models and more than 30000 configurations

EXCON 2013 - A catalyst

The recovery of Indian rupee against the USD over the last couple of weeks has been a clear indication of the confidence building up in the economy. No wonder, the industry has been expecting a reduction in the repo rate by the RBI that could have signalled that the growth would be back on track.

BHL Continues to Rule the Roost

The world over, construction practices and methodologies determine the selection of the type of equipment, to a great extent. However, in India, backhoe loader (BHL) controls the lion's share of the total equipment sale; it is wheel loaders that dominate the Chinese CE market and crawler and mini excavators that control the European and American markets.

We strive for low levels of emissions and optimum fuel consumption.

We have incorporated the optimum engine working temperatures to minimise emission. These engines are fitted with high pressure rotary type fuel injections, IEGR, turbocharger and heavy-duty silencers to keep the emissions low, says Anil Bhatia, Director Sales and Marketing, Case India. Excerpts from the interview.

We will soon expand our product range for high-end customers.

We expect fuel efficiency will be the prime driving force behind the demand for BHL in the near future, says Sunil Tiku, Senior Director - Sales & Marketing, Terex India. Excerpts from the interview.

JCB constantly keep upgrading the machine to meet the growing requirements.

The JCB backhoe loader continues to be the most widely used equipment in India and we constantly keep upgrading the machine to meet the growing requirements of our customers, says Vipin Sondhi, Managing Director and CEO, JCB India.

RINL expects to double its export revenue to Rs 1,200 cr

On the rupee's depreciation and an increased thrust on overseas shipments, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam (RINL) or Vizag Steel is expecting its export revenue more than doubling around Rs 1,200 crore in the near future.

Sops to boost export of auto components

The government is considering incentives to the auto component industry to boost exports. The Ministry of Commerce and the Department of Heavy Industry is conducting a joint assessment of the sector.

We work very closely with OEMs.

In the economic slowdown techno?logy plays a role where one becomes more profit conscious and looks for someone like Shell. Our solutions are based on delivering value, says Akhileshwar Jha, Vice President-Technical, Lubricants, Shell India Markets.

We are one of the first major players in India to get into cold forging.

We were the first company in India to successfully develop a fracture split connecting rod and this was a major breakthrough at that time. Our engineering capability is what differentiates us from others because of which we can produce very high quality and high precision products for the customers, says Viraj G Kalyani, Executive Vice President, Kalyani Forge. Excerpts from the interview.

We plan to develop new products like jaw crushers, cone crushers and mobile plants.

We do not sell standard plants as we consider each crushing or screening task as different from the other. We aim to offer custom-built plants which will make us a cut above the others. Also, we are tapping export markets in certain areas, which keeps us busy in the present market conditions, says VP Mundra, Director, Core Crushing Equipments.

Speco JV with the basic group will have a manufacturing set up in India soon.

Speco is the only company which is constantly upgrading the techno?logy by introducing an air automised burner to reduce the fuel cost. The new design dryer has reduced maintenance. The new vibrating screen design ensures good quality, says VP Mundra, Director, Basic Engineering Equipment.

We have positioned ourselves as a true infrastructure partner rather than a lender

More projects, faster enviro?nm?ent and forest clearances, support in land acquisition and a general clarity in policy are the key. Any infrastructure project takes time and stability of policy is a must to ensure that investment flows, says DK Vyas, CEO, Srei BNP Paribas.

Navigating through turbulent times

Overall slowdown in demand for new equipment, absence of new channels for the deployment of equipment compared to the overall availability, plummeting value of currency, lack of clarity on private coal blocks, highly depressed rental rates - all seems to have had its negative impact on the equipment finance segment.

What's up doc?

At the 3rd Equipment India conference in September 2012 when I was sharing my views with the equipment captains over coffee, they were apprehensive and I was optimistic.

In search of a strong foundation

Absence of big ticket projects such as greenfield power and steel plant projects, crashed out rental rates and surplus of idling equipment, and the cash flow crisis - the overall scenario of the foundation equipment market from the micro point of view seems to be grim, even though from the macro point of view few metro projects seem to have given a bit of relief to the industry.

Towering high

Our estimate pegs the total demand for tower cranes in India at approximately 600 units. Of these, 85-90 per cent of the demand is from the real estate construction sector, while the remaining 15 per cent comes from power, steel and cement.

Intelligent compaction

Road construction experts as well as OEMs, vouch for the efficacy of intelligent compaction technology lauding the way it has led to improved roads. It is one of the most significant technological developments for the road construction sector

RINL set to mine low-grade iron ore in Rajasthan

The Rajasthan government offered the letter of intent (LoI) to state-owned RINL, which is also called Vizag Steel, to develop low-grade iron ore mines in Bhilwara district. The mine, which is spread over 900 hectare and with an expected reserve of 230 million tonne, would be the first captive mine for RINL. So far, the firm sourced iron ore

High Tech Generators

Powering construction sites, hospitals, shopping centres and homes, generators currently fill the gaps and stand in during the frequent power outages that the Indian national grid can't contain. With such poor reliability, generators are an essential source of power for the Indian community. Douwe Hilarius throws some light on the matter.

SEFC has already attained the most prominent position in the CE finance space

We have drawn a three-year plan and in the first tranche, we are well on track. The next three years will be a mixed bag of challenges and opportunities and we will capitalise on the same and consolidate our position to be one of the largest NBFCs in this segment, says Akshaya Nayak, Head Administration and Legal, SEFC.

We are seeking a growth of 200 per cent this year

We have a major focus on our after sales service. The Friends Equipment team is a sales and service provider for heavy machinery and totally dedicated to the construction industry.

Case leads the vibratory compactors market with proven models

With over 3,000 units working in a variety of applications ranging from bituminous roads and runways to concrete pavements, the Case 752 model leads the market, says Anil Bhatia, Director Sales and Marketing, Case New Holland Construction Equipment India.

Providing tailor-made solutions

Apollo Tyres believes in providing tailor-made solutions rather than creating general application products. OTR tyres have huge potential but the current economic conditions indicate a moderate growth this year.

OEMs are confident in our technical capabilities to deliver cost-effective solutions

We are working overtime with our OE customers and media supplier's to develop new high-efficiency and high-capacity filters which are a must for new generation engines as reduced clearances to meet stringent emission norms are putting extra pressure on much better contamination control,

Our products set a benchmark by way of enhancing safety and fuel efficiency

Our fully integrated and purpose built manufacturing facility at Kolkata delivers state-of-the-art design, manufacturing and product technologies. TIL distribution network offers mobile cranes: industrial cranes, truck- mounted canes, rough terrain cranes, and all terrain cranes, lattice boom crawler cranes, and lorry loaders

On a recovery mode

The construction equipment industry is experiencing a slump due to the slowdown in the mining industry as well as delays in infrastructure projects and governmental clearances, shortage of funds, environmental concerns. EQUIPMENT INDIA interacts with some of the major players to get the pulse of the industry.

India is developing as an attractive manufacturing base for export of CE

In view of the infrastructure development needs in every sector and the government's massive and investment plans, Off-Highway Research forecasts the Indian construction equipment market will grow to over 100,000 units by 2017,

Super Solid Tyres

Trident International specialises in the design, development and supply of solid industrial tyres for construction, quarrying, underground mining, port and material handling equipment.

We continuously offer new technologies to our customers.

Gates products typically offer two to three times the safety factor, efficiency and durability to the SAE/EN specs, as compared to others. Our products offer efficiency improvement and our services ensure that the customer get the full benefit of dealing with the worlds.

CEC may discuss re-allotment of mining lease

The proposed re-allotment of mining lease areas in the Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka may be discussed by the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) soon. The mining lease may be alloted through international competitive bidding which may fetch several thousand crore rupees to the state. Meanwhile, the panel discussed reclamation and rehabilitation (R&R) plan for mining regions in these distr

VSDs to save electricity cost

A new report from Siemens Financial Services illustrates the enormous cost saving potential in industrial sector through the use of energy-efficient technologies. Industrial enterprises could save crores of rupees on their electricity bills by implementing variable speed drives (VSDs)

The CE market is set to grow to over 100,000 units by 2016

The cumulative sales of backhoe loaders, crawler excavators and wheeled loaders have been growing at a CAGR of over 20 per cent for the last ten years and will continue to grow at an impressive rate.