A CONVERGENCE OF TECHNOLOGY EXCELLENCE

Excon 2023 unveiled a world of opportunities and technology excellence in front of the infrastructure industry stakeholders, that has all the answers to how to meet the growing demands of infrastructure creation in the country efficiently and economically.

The 12th edition of the 5-day international exhibition saw participation from over 1,000 exhibitors showcasing their technology prowess over a sprawling 32,00,000 square feet area. The show was inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. In his inaugural address, Gadkari hailed the Indian construction equipment industry for its achievements over the years and the way the industry is growing towards the government’s Make in India programme.

Addressing the construction equipment industry, he said, “One of the reasons I am here is because the industry is doing a lot of research and innovations and working on alternate fuels and biofuels, which is the need of the country. India is the fastest growing economy and infrastructure is very important. Without developing infrastructure, we cannot develop our economy. In the infrastructure industry, your role is very important. Without your development and mechanized equipment, we cannot achieve the goal of quality infrastructure. The Indian automobile industry and construction equipment industry are currently ranked third globally and I am giving you a task that in next five years, we want to make the Indian automobile industry and construction equipment industry number one globally. It is one of the most challenging tasks but I have the confidence that you can achieve this goal.”

The Day 1 has witnessed a number of new products launches by various exhibitors and also industry conferences on key topics. The second day has witnessed focused conferences on Atmanirbhar Bharat, global markets and industry challenges. The second day of CII EXCON centered on India's transition towards self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat), the production of components for global markets, and the current challenges faced by the construction industry.

In collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Builders Association of India (BAI) organized a conference titled, ‘Construction Industry Issues’ to enlighten builders about the latest developments, reforms, and provisions.

A seminar on ‘Making the Indian CE Industry Atmanirbhar Bharat & Global Manufacturing Hub’ was held to explore governmental schemes and future development opportunities in the construction sector, contributing to the success of the Make in India project. The component session delved into the capabilities of the Indian component industry in supplying to the global market.

Future products and technologies

Excon 2023 provided a technology feast to the potential visitors as the exhibitors showcased advanced technologies and solutions at the event. Some of the technologies showcased by the respective exhibitors are highlighted below.

BKT: The off-highway tire major BKT showcased some of its finest tires for construction, industrial, and earthmoving equipment namely the EARTHMAX SR468 and EARTHMAX SR53, along with the newly introduced rubber tracks Multiforce BK T91 for the compact track loaders. BKT’s booth at the EXCON demonstrated ‘Bharat Ka Tire Building Bharat’ world-class, cutting-edge masterpiece tires. The trade fair provided an excellent opportunity to connect and interact with the industry.

CASE Construction Equipment: The company announced their  readiness for BS (CEV) V   compliance by showcasing their marquee  backhoe loader – 770 NX Plus and soil compactor 1107 NX-PD. It also  marked their debut in two new categories in India with the unveiling of  an all new skid steer loader – SSL 175 and compact machines through  mini excavator – CX 35D to its domestic product portfolio. And  upgraded the entire loader backhoe portfolio to the industry’s safest  operator cabin with a host of 22 new features.

Additionally, the brand displayed 10 new and upgraded  products and services, including electric mini excavator and a  range of vibratory compactors, excavators and motor graders  with a host of attachments and the all new FLEETPRO™, a  value line parts offering.

Caterpillar India: The Caterpillar exhibit featured a wide  range of around 20 machines and accompanying work tools. On  display were next-generation excavators, motor graders, backhoe  loaders, generator sets, as well as rebuild machines. Whether the goal is to enhance worker safety, prolong the  lifespan of equipment, or boost productivity while conserving  energy, Caterpillar offers a solution using the latest technologies.

Dana India: Dana Incorporated, a global leader in delivering mobile drivetrain and motion solutions, showcased its innovative products at Excon 2023. The trade fair, focusing on electrification in the construction industry, provided a platform for Dana to unveil customized solutions supporting both conventional and electrified power sources.

Dana’s participation in Excon highlighted its dedication to advancing the construction industry's electrification initiatives. The company underscored its commitment to providing sustainable and innovative solutions at the Excon 2023. Their drivetrain and motion solutions, designed for both  mobile and stationary industrial applications,   aligned with the industry's growing focus on   electrification and sustainable practices.

JCB India: JCB hydrogen machine made its trade show debut when the company unveiled its hydrogen combustion technology at Excon 2023. In its first-ever trade show appearance anywhere in the world, the JCB hydrogen-powered backhoe loader attracted a lot of attention in the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. The JCB 3DX hydrogen machine was unveiled alongside the JCB hydrogen combustion engine.

JK Tyre: At the forefront of technological evolution, JK Tyre launched 11 new Off-the-Road (OTR) tyres at the Excon 2023, in Bangalore. Introduced at the exhibition, the all-new JK Tyre 18.00– 25 40PR Port Champion Plus is JK Tyre's Next-Gen Port Tyre, designed specifically for reach stackers (container handling equipment). Along with the Port Champion Plus tyre, the company has introduced 10 new tyre variants for diverse applications in the construction segment. The 17.5-25 20PR GTL Plus E3/L3 and 13.00-24 16PR GTL Champ G3, with their high traction, are designed to support motor graders operations with their durability on the harshest terrain. Known for its high tread depth, the Hard Rock Champion series’ new addition, 12.00-20 20PR E4, is suitable for the mining tipper trucks functioning in the rough terrain of the mining sites.

Kennametal India: Kennametal India displayed a comprehensive range of innovative foundation drilling, road rehabilitation, mining, and wear protection solutions at Excon 2023 in Bengaluru. The centre of attraction among the displays was the Next-Gen Road King™ tool series for road rehabilitation. Also, on display were tools and cutters for Foundation drilling and surface mining.

Liebherr India: Liebherr presented five exhibits from the earthmoving and cranes product segments. The NC-LH 12-55 tower crane, the LRT 1100-2.1 rough terrain crane, the L 550 and L 566 wheel loaders, and the PR 736 crawler dozer were also being exhibited.

Schwing Stetter India: Schwing Stetter India announced new product line-ups at Excon 2023. The launched vehicles are expected to strengthen the Schwing Stetter ecosystem and help address the pain points of the CE sub-segments – mining, ports, material handling and road & highway infrastructure in India. The company launched 31 new products for mining, shipping, and road & highway infrastructure industries, including port container handling, mining support, and road patching equipment at Excon 2023. Schwing Stetter India displayed over 70 machines in across the categories.

Tata Motors: Tata Motors showcased its trucks and tippers engineered to perfectly suit the construction and infrastructure sectors, along with vehicles powered by green fuels, including Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and battery electric. It also unveiled its wide range of aggregates, including engines designed for industrial equipment, axles and gensets.

Exhibitors speak

Amarnath Ramachandran, Managing Director, ARX Mining & Construction Equipment, says, “Excon is a festive event where the entire industry congregates and display all their best products and what they have to show. For us it was particularly important because we have a very large portfolio developed in a shorter timeframe of over the past three-and-a-half years. We received a very good footfall of a mix of big contractors, construction specialists, and mining companies. There is a huge amount of orders especially in the material handling portfolio. So, it has been absolutely successful for us and we were able to show everything what we developed over the years.”

Ramesh Palagiri, MD & CEO, Wirtgen India, says, “We have not displayed any machines here, what we are displaying here is future technologies which will be coming to India in the next three years. We are planning to bring some of these technologies to India next year, which include inline paver, mobile feeder, waste recycling, and new CR machine. Our theme here is road building and our major focus is road building and mining.”

Sanjay Prasad, Managing Director, Liebherr India, elaborates, “We are displaying our first hydraulic luffing jib crane at Excon. At maximum radius, the NC-LH 12-55 can lift up to 2,550 kilograms at the top. Slim tower system, great hook heights, high output and climbable – this complete package makes the hydraulic luffing jib from Liebherr unique.”

Piero Guizzetti, CEO, MB Crusher India, adds, “In this Excon, we have displayed our fifth product category in Indian market, the HDS product line. This is a shaft screening machine which has essentially shafts inside the machines. These can be interchanged based on specific requirements of customers.”

Puneet Vidyarthi, Head – Marketing (India Region), CASE Construction Equipment, speaks on the new range showcased at Excon, “We have showcased six new products in the 10 exhibits at this Excon. The highlight among these is the skid-steer loaders made in India for the world. We have launched mini excavator which we have showcased here. As a group, we have entered into this entirely new segment in India.”