JCB India Ltd is a one stop shop for various construction equipment, and the latest ones are innovative and intelligent range of machines that exhibit the blend of technology and digital innovation to meet the demand for world-class machines to build India’s Next Gen Infrastructure. On the occasion of bauma Conexpo, Jasmeet Singh, Head – Corporate Communications and Corporate Relations, JCB India Ltd, introduces the products that will be showcased, and comments on the Indian equipment sector. Excerpts…
How do you view the current market for construction equipment? Which infrastructure segment(s) or project(s) is driving demand for your offerings at present?
The Indian Construction Equipment sector has grown considerably in the last two years, owing to the Government’s thrust on building world class infrastructure. All product categories are seeing an increased demand. 2017 was a record year for JCB India and 2018 looks to be promising as well. The majority of growth has happened in the Roads and Highways sector which has been generating consistent demand for our products. Lately, sectors such as Irrigation and Water Conservation are gaining momentum.
A significant area of opportunity is to have more demand drivers for our industry for sustainable growth. Sectors such as Railways, Airports and Housing have shown potential and we are hopeful that they will start driving demand in the coming times.
Due to this increased demand we are seeing an uptick in all our product categories, especially in larger product categories. At present, JCB offers over 50 products in eight product categories. Our Backhoe Loaders continue to remain the preferred choice for customers; but we have also diversified our product range and introduced revolutionary products in the Material Handling range i.e. Telehandlers, Skid Steer Loaders & Super Loaders and Premier Line range which includes our Excavators, Wheeled Loaders and Compactors. All these products are aimed at maximising productivity and profitability for our customers. Excavators as a product line is exciting as the current opportunities have increased the demand for this category.
Considering that you would be a exhibitor at bauma Conexpo this year, briefly introduce us to the products that you are showcasing (existing range). Any new launches?
bauma Conexpo is a noteworthy exhibition which takes place once in every two years in India. It has garnered a lot of interest from the industry as we see many leading players showcasing their latest range during the four-day event.
JCB showcased and introduced a wide range of larger excavators among other products during the last edition of BCIndia in December 2016. This year too, JCB has planned an exciting line up of machines which will exhibit our commitment to innovation and technology. Our objective is to reinforce our position as a Full Range Infrastructure Equipment Partner by showcasing class leading product solutions which exhibit innovation in design, performance, efficiency and safety including Telematics.
We will also showcase the entire range of our world class JCB products starting from the compact range such as Mini Excavator, Skid Steer Loader to mid- range machines such as Backhoe Loaders, Telehandlers, Super Loaders to larger Excavators, Compactors and Wheel Loaders. All these products have been designed and engineered to cater to the changing needs and increasing demand across different segments.
The focus will also be on showcasing the integration of advanced digital technologies in our entire product range. Many first in the industry technologies in various world class products will be showcased. For instance, JCB India is the first manufacturer in the industry to offer an in-built Compaction Meter which ensures uniform compaction as the operator exactly knows where to stop and the number of passes that are required to achieve the desired density. This leads to a uniform compaction density and savings in Fuel as well as time. It helps in reducing the number of passes and also avoids over compaction.
Also, in order to make compaction operation as efficient as possible, JCB India has come up with a new concept known as ‘IntelliCompaction’ in JCB116, another Industry first from JCB India. It provides Relative Compaction value which helps in achieving consistent and uniform compaction throughout the patch. The digital display shows High/ low frequency and amplitude values for compaction control. This versatile system is suitable for both Asphalt and Soil Surface.
Additionally, with the advent of digital technologies, users can now control their entire fleet in real time and all the critical machine information is available on their smart devices in the form of digital applications such as JCB Livelink app, JCB Smart Serve App and Smart Machine Diagnostics app. All these innovations are aimed at giving our customers a world class ownership experience with our machines and as we go ahead, we will continue to utilise these smart and revolutionary technologies to offer unmatched benefits to customers and end users.
JCB utilises such platforms to connect with customers and showcase the entire range of class leading products and services. Moreover, it gives an opportunity to reiterate our commitment to the Indian market and plays an instrumental role in bringing the entire industry together.
How do you determine your buyers’ requirement?
One of the key concerns for the buyer being project execution, tell us about the technologies in your offerings that will help in speedy project delivery. Each product introduced by JCB is a result of market analysis and customer feedback sessions. Right from designing to engineering to manufacturing, JCB believes in keeping the customer at the centre of every product. All our offerings, be it our range of world leading products or the after-market support, are focused on ensuring customer satisfaction.
At JCB, we continually innovate to ensure our customers received the best- in-class equipment. Latest from JCB is the innovative and intelligent range of machines that exhibit the blend of technology and digital innovation to meet the demand for world class machines to build India’s Next Gen Infrastructure.
For instance, the iconic JCB Backhoe Loader comes with 30 new innovative features, including 15 industry firsts, and five World’s first including an AMT which is an Automated Manual Transmission called Easy Shift. The machine also comes with as an SOS switch, Economy and Power Mode, Guide me home, and Smart App machine Diagnostics.
Additionally, the JCB 116 Soil Compactor is a first in the industry to have IntelliCompaction integrated with Livelink. It ensures uniform compaction by optimising the overall compaction process. Similarly, the IntelliLoad in the JCB455ZX helps in real time monitoring of individual weight of loaded bucket, Total Accumulated Weight, Tare weight, and Number of loaded buckets. This is also a first in the industry from JCB India. All these world class products are backed by class leading technology and after sales support.