Our customers are never too far from professional product support.

- Deepak Shetty

CEO & MD, JCB India

How do you view the importance of hydraulic excavators in Indian infrastructure development activities?

Excavators form a very important part of the value chain on the worksite. These machines are today vital in the completion of large infrastructure projects in time. JCB has a wide range of excavators from the 3-tonne mini excavator to the 38-tonne mining excavator. There is a machine for virtually every application. Our state-of-the-art factories manufacture these machines to One Global Quality, not only for the domestic market, but also for various countries around the globe.

What is the current market scenario of hydraulic excavators? How is the demand-supply scenario?

There has been a sustained focus of the government towards building infrastructure. This has created opportunities for growth in the construction equipment sector. JCB with its wide range of products looks forward to leveraging these opportunities. The recently constituted Gati Shakti programme, the focus on irrigation, power and projects in rural India are going to be the lead growth drivers for these products, including excavators. The pandemic has also highlighted the need for a robust health infrastructure across the country. Thus, going forward, this will also be one of the areas where construction equipment will play a significant role.

How is technology evolving in excavators in terms of: productivity, fuel efficiency & operational efficiency?

As excavators become advanced and smarter, there exists the need for a real-time interface of the machine, the user, the customer and the dealer. Today, JCB excavators are connected in real-time through our advanced telematics technology called Livelink. This technology gives real-time updates on the Service, Operations and Security of the machine. It also enables to ascertain the quantum of work that has been done through a period of time, in addition to Geo fencing and time fencing of equipment.

The operator of the machine can also assess the performance of the machine through the ease of display with the help of a digital monitor. IntelliControl on NXT series on 14T-21T makes it easy to get the required performance with 10 power modes in eco, power & power plus bands, ease of display of operating & health parameters with a new digital monitor. Easy mode selection as per work requirement, large 7-inch display to understand information and health alerts in text, are other features. 

JCB also has an exclusive quarry range of excavators that are built specifically for quarrying and mining applications. This range consists of the JCB NXT 145 to the JCB NXT 380 variants. These machines are designed to perform difficult and arduous applications. We have the JCB NXT245HDLR with heavy duty long reach attachment for well-digging application with 40 ft dig depth. Also, the JCB NXT145, JCBNXT215LC & JCB225LC are available with the Quarry Master variant with heavy-duty structures and undercarriage, protective structures on the operator cabin to make these suitable to quarry application.

Our whole new range of next-gen mini excavators is also made in India to perform in multiple excavating applications in areas where there is a restriction in terms of space. They are designed for Indian duty cycles to perform in Indian work conditions. These machines also come with a wide range of attachments which make them capable of diverse applications across power, buildings, construction sites, plantations and solid waste applications.

What are the key market challenges in terms of input cost, technology adoption and buying trends?

The industry is currently going through a challenge in terms of the availability of semiconductors, rising commodity prices and also stress in terms of logistics. We feel that as the industry grows, these issues need to be addressed as soon as possible. Commodity prices, which include steel, is currently an area that requires support.

However, with the quantum of infrastructure projects that have been announced, the future certainly looks extremely promising for the construction equipment industry. The development of infrastructure is vital for the economy to move forward. In addition to attracting foreign investment, improved infrastructure is also directly linked with the quality of life of the people. Infrastructure development also has a cascading effect as it creates growth opportunities for allied industries and additionally also helps in creating jobs.

How is JCB adding value to the Indian excavator market?

JCB excavators are today helping build a new India. With their technological advancements, the machines in India are on par with anywhere else in the world and have proven themselves over the years. With the industries finest and largest product support network, our customers are never too far from professional product support. Also, with the influx of digital technology in our industry, customers can today order parts online, locate their machines with the help of the Internet and also effectively manage their equipment fleet.

The JCB range of machines also come with our advanced telematics technology called Livelink. This revolutionary technology gives real-time updates on the service operations and the security of the machine. These connected machines give critical information on the productivity of these machines and immensely help in fleet management for our customers. Livelink gives the opportunity for continuous monitoring of the health of the machines and proactively engage with customers to maximise the equipment uptime.

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