In India we expect electrication and digitalisation will help the industry go green and open up new opportunities for innovation and technological development
Budget 2024-25’s focus on infrastructure is set to boost India's concrete equipment market. How do you foresee this shaping the industry's future?
The focus of the 2024-25 Budget on infrastructure is poised to significantly shape the future of India's concrete equipment market. This emphasis will characterize the growth in construction over the next few years, particularly in infrastructure projects and affordable housing projects. As the demand for constructing world-class infrastructure increases, we expect a stronger commitment to maintaining quality standards, leading to the utilisation of superior grades of concrete.The scale and speed of these developments will also influence the availability of manpower for construction projects, thereby necessitating greater mechanisation and automation within the industry.To navigate these evolving requirements, technology must adapt to meet India-specific requirements. Additionally, the integration of connected devices will further drive innovation in the sector. As we look ahead, sustainability and affordability will be key across construction equipment manufacturing. We expect an increased adoption of environmentally-friendly concrete solutions suited to meet the shifting demands of the Indian market.
India’s infrastructure has grown rapidly. How has your company capitalized on this, and what has your growth been over the last three years?
Putzmeister has been growing at a 20% – 30% CAGR over the past couple of years. We have achieved this by focusing on the requirements of the expanded customer base and addressing these in our products and service support. The BSA Classic Stationary Pump range offers customers a budget friendly concrete pumping options. Sany Truck Mounted Concrete Pumps on the other hand offer customers a feature rich pumping experience. We are supporting the growing penetration into rural areas with scalable service support solutions – we have set up best-in-class service centres and small location/ site-specific presence that can be moved to different projects based on customer requirements. Our digitally enabled equipment offers customers the ability to monitor and optimise key machine performance parameters of equipment deployed around the country conveniently. Upskilling and developing our workforce to adapt to changing job roles and requirements as a result of rapid tehnological changes is critical. To address this, we recently launched the Putzmeister Knowledge Centre to help us and our customers develop teams and equipment operators regulary and effectively. We are also in the process of setting up a welding training centre to develop an industry-ready workforce.
What is your take on the challenges facing concrete manufacturers, government policies, and the measures needed to boost the concrete equipment industry?
Awareness and regulations around the quality of concrete being used for large infrastructure and housing projects remain weak. World-class construction requires an adherence to the highest quality standards, not just in the equipment and processes, but also in the materials being used. Increasing awareness through education and stricter regulations will help prevent disasters like the spate of bridge collapses that have recently made the news. In terms of green energy and electric vehicles, clearer direction will help companies focus on developing solutions aligned with the Government's sustainability initiatives.
Which new concrete equipment have you launched in the last two years? Can you share their features, including safety, sustainability and technology advancements?
Putzmeister products are characterized by technological superiority which translates to high reliability, best-in-class performance, longest service life and highest resale value. We reviewed our product mix, and identified customer needs that Putzmeister is best suited to fulfill. Our BSA Classic Stationary Concrete Pump range is designed for simple operations and efficient performance. We have introduced 30m and 40m class Sany Truck Mounted Boom Pump including SY37 Gold and SY43. Supported by the Putzmeister service network, these boom pumps offer customers higher performance and value. Our Transit Mixers P7 +, P8 PTO, P9 PTO and P10 PTO offer customers higher carrying capacity to help maximize fuel efficiency. Our Batching Plants MT 1.5 and 2.0 are characterized by longer mixer life and higher productivity.
With green and advanced concrete equipment making the market more competitive, how do you plan to grow your market share, and which sectors will you target?
The Putzmeister Group has placed sustainability at the centre of our innovation strategy. In India we expect electrication and digitalisation will help the industry go green and open up new opportunities for innovation and technological development. We are focusing on offering customers a choice between electric and fossil-fuel powered construction equipment. And we are developing digitally enabled construction equipment and after-market solutions to help our customers get the most out of our equipment. Our smart solutions (for example, EOC on Putzmeister boom pumps) offer the highest fuel efficiency in the industry. With iONTRON, our range of fully electric and hybrid products available in international makets since 2022, we have introduced the next generation of concrete solutions to the industry. We are in the process of introducing iONTRON to customers in India. We are field testing a CNG-powered Mobile Line Pump for the Indian market. To help customers manage their carbon footprint and to capitalise on the existing fleet of our equipment in the field, we introduce solutions to extend the life of their machines. Customers with an aging fleet can give their machines a new life with our refurbishment services. We also introduced Pro-Choice, certified used Putzmeister equipment.
What role does R&D play in your product innovation, and have you entered into any strategic partnerships, collaborations or tie-ups to advance these efforts?
At Putzmeister we believe in consistently delivering value to our customers. We attribute our success to our ability to offer the best of German engineering adapted to local needs and backed by outstanding local service. Backed by decades of experience and R&D, our products are characterized by high productivity, quality, reliability, durability, and safety.
What are the after sales and financial services you provide?
Our focus has been on being closer to our customers’ business. We have rolled out several initiatives to enhance our service to customers. We have opened new service centres in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai and NCR. We have enhanced our parts network and availability to ensure efficient service and quicker turn-around times. We enhanced our parts availability, and support customers through 5 Service Centres, 45 Service Locations, and 23+ Parts Warehouses. Customers can call our recently introduced toll-free number 1800 267 2678 for all service support requirements. Our machine refurbishment service helps customers extend the life of their existing fleet. Pro-Choice Putzmeister certified used equipment gives customers more cost-effective options. With Putzmeister Cockpit, we offer customers the ability to monitor their equipment remotely. Customers can keep track of all key operation parameters, and get alerts for potential issues, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance tips. We offer Life Cycle Service (LCS) for the more challenging projects – customers can free up vital resources and leave the output and maintenance to our team of experts.
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