Our product development philosophy is focused on making India self-reliant.

- BKR Prasad

Head - Marketing & Product Development, Tata Hitachi

What are the key solutions showcased at Excon? How is the response?

On display is an extensive line-up of Tata Hitachi's range of compact, infra, and mining equipment, including the recently launched CEV-IV compliant Shinrai backhoe loaders, and the TL340H PRIME series of hydrostatic wheel loaders, apart from the new launches.

In the 20-tonne hydraulic excavator category, our flagship model Tata Hitachi EX200LC has more than 25,000 installations across the country and is also the most successful running model in the Indian CE industry. To strengthen that portfolio, we have launched the new variant called Tata Hitachi EX200 Super+.

In the mini-excavator segment we have three models that we sell successfully. We have unveiled at Excon an indigenously developed, 3-tonne hydraulic excavator Tata Hitachi NX30.

Our wheel loader portfolio has been further expanded with the launch of a 5-tonne payload capacity wheel loader Tata Hitachi ZW225. Also on the display is our CNG-powered Tata Hitachi Shinrai PRO backhoe loader.

We have also showcased our prowess in hi-tech digital innovation with our state-of-the-art telematics solutions, ConSite for Tata Hitachi's ZAXIS GI series of hydraulic excavators, and the next-generation version of InSite for our EX Super + series of hydraulic excavators and wheeled products. We have also launched the InSite app which brings convenience to the palms of our customers. eDost, our newly developed digital platform designed for real-time connection with our customers and other stakeholders for all their needs, garnered a lot of interest from the visitors.

How do you meet the customer's needs and requirements?

Customer requirements keep evolving continuously. Earlier it was a reliable product that works trouble-free with minimum breakdown and parts readily available as and when required. But over the period, customers have started making well-informed decisions with intense competition in the background. This is triggering a lot of demand from the customer for improvements in the product in terms of increased productivity, profitability, and enabled with the latest digital technology. Also, the cost of operation and maintenance should be the lowest.

We have worked extensively on saving the fuel for the customer which has been greatly appreciated. We have also been working continuously in terms of savings in maintenance costs, viz, extended change intervals of hydraulic oils, engine oils, etc. All these are greatly contributing to their profitability.

All our machines are now equipped with a telematics package which ensures smooth connectivity between the man and his machine.

What are your expansion plans in domestic and export markets?

We have a defined territory of operations as India and the SAARC countries. We have been actively pursuing our business in all neighbouring countries. In other countries, we have contract manufacturing, where we manufacture machines at our Kharagpur plant and it gets supplied through the Hitachi network.

We are expecting the market to get back to its growth path because there is no dearth of projects. The government is also actively pursuing work in terms of land clearances, and project clearances, and getting them on the fast track. So, we are expecting a healthy pipeline of projects. In terms of manufacturing capacities, we are fully geared up; we have two plants, one in Dharwad and the other in Kharagpur to meet the demand. We are expecting sustained growth for the next three to five years.

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