The CX220C is equipped with CASE Intelligent Hydraulic System.

Sandeep Mathur, Brand Leader, Case India

“Construction equipment with hybrid technology has the potential to be attractive for Indian customers and conditions, when the total cost of owning and operating the unit is optimal,” says Sandeep Mathur, Brand Leader, Case India. Excerpts from the interview…

What is your take on the increasing popularity of hybrid technology?

Construction equipment with hybrid technology has the potential to be attractive for Indian customers and conditions, when the total cost of owning and operating the unit is optimal. Currently, most of the technology available globally has high cost of acquisition, is not easily available in India and is not well suited for long working hours. It offers  fuel economy but this is not sufficient to offset the overall costs, hence this technology has to evolve more to be a more attractive solution for the  Indian market.

What is the latest developments in the hydraulic systems in your range of excavators?

The CX220C is replete with advanced features and design which set it apart from the competition. This 22-ton excavator is specially designed for the Indian terrain and delivers faster cycle times and higher productivity. This is a long arm hydraulic excavator which does the job with maximum precision and efficiency and is designed for tough applications like stone quarry, road and general construction and earthwork. Its robust design and versatile nature makes it a multipurpose machine, which can finish the job easily and within minimum time. Its advanced hydraulic system offers higher breakout forces, improved swing speeds and greater swing torque, resulting in faster cycle times and 5% increase in productivity.

It develops a gross power of 117 KW (157 hp) and peak torque of 622 Nm at 1800rpm. The gauge function of this excavator ensures continuous monitoring of the fuel consumption which helps in attaining up to 4% better fuel efficiency due to hydraulic system control and 6% better efficiency from the FPT engine. It is equipped with CASE Intelligent Hydraulic System (CIHS) that delivers impressive machine control with unrivalled energy and fuel savings in all cycle time phases. The lower cost of ownership also comes with longer service intervals. Another plus is the easy maintenance from the ground level for user comfort and faster service times.

What is the current demand-supply scenario for excavators and what is your outlook 2021?

According to Off-Highway Research, the sales of excavators were expected to fall to 14,500 units in 2020 due to the adverse impact of Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown in the country. However, against a backdrop of an increase in infrastructure development activities, demand for hydraulic excavators is predicted to grow in the long term and is forecast to reach 25,000 units by 2024.

The revival of the industry has already started. The government is continuing to announce the commencement of new projects to speed up the activities in the sector. Recently, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari had reiterated government's commitment to make India a manufacturing hub. The government has announced an investment of Rs.50, 000 crore for construction of highways for the economic zones to ensure better connectivity. These measures are an attempt to ensure the growth of the industry in the upcoming time and would most likely result in an increased demand for road construction equipment as well.

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