Ammann Apollo: Leadership Through Delivering Cost-effective Equipment

"Production and operating costs have always been the key factors in the purchase decision making process of the customers. We are focusing on this area from the beginning with high investments in R&D. The major reason for our leadership status is on account of delivering equipment with the lowest operation costs. And our efforts to do even better will continue," says Mr. Asit Patel, M.D., Ammann Apollo India in an interview with S.A.Faridi.

It is now almost one and half years when you announced Ammann and Apollo Joint-venture; how has the JV performance been in India and overseas?
The performance of the JV has been in line with our expectations both in India and overseas.

How has the market response been to UG260 asphalt batching plant launched early this year? What is the element of localization you did to make it affordable?
The response to UG260 has been very good. Customers who visited our in-house Tech-Xage in October 2014 to have a first-hand feel of UG260 are totally convinced on the technology and features. Currently, the key components like thermo drum, controls, bag filter cleaning mechanism, vibrating screen, burner, and mixing unit are from Switzerland. With the advanced manufacturing process adopted by Ammann and Apollo, we are able to offer UG260 at a competitive price in India. In fact, when you talk of capital cost on per ton output basis, UG260 will be the lowest priced product in its league.

Besides initial investment, production and operating cost play a big role while going for capital investment; what innovative technologies/systems are placed in your asphalt batching plants which ensure minimum operation cost?
Production & operating costs have always been the key factors in the purchase decision making process of the customers. We are focusing on this area from the beginning with high investments in R&D. The major reason for our leadership status is on account of delivering equipment with the lowest operation costs. The innovative technologies adopted in ANP, UG 260 or any other asphalt batching plant from Ammann Apollo, ensure the minimum operation costs for the customers through its fuel efficiency, higher output, high uptime and low maintenance costs. Not just the operation costs but even the product life cycle costs of our Asphalt Batching Plants are the lowest in the industry. And our efforts to do even better will continue.

Government's recent announce- ment has infused a fresh air into road construction equipment manufacturers but due to tough competition it would not be easy to sell equipment; how Ammann-Apollo is strategizing its sales & marketing to retain its market leadership in 2015?
Yes, the current mood of the industry is very buoyant and surveys indicate that the industry will have a CAGR of around 6-7% in the next 4-5 years. An upbeat market sentiment will naturally mean tough competition. Our sales & marketing strategies are simple:

• Be close to the customer, understand the changing needs and act on it quickly. In short, offer such a product that will meet the total needs of the customer.
• With a combination of value engineering and first time right manufacturing practices, offer the product at a competitive price.
• Offer the best after-market support in the industry, in terms of spare parts, service support.
• Keep working with the customer in line with our philosophy of "Productivity Partnership for a Lifetime."

While selecting a plant, operators' training, after-sales service, spare parts availability, and after-market are the main factors that play a big role; what initiatives are you taking to strengthen these areas?
You are right-these are key areas. We have a structured training program for the operators both in our facilities and at the sites. We have offices in all the key locations in India fully equipped with spare parts and service personnel. Setting modesty aside for a moment, we can say that we provide the best after-market support in the industry and will keep doing so.


Despite slowdown in the infrastructure sector you have maintained your position in the road construction equipment business; how do you rate your performance in this tough time?
We would rate our performance as satisfactory. The customers, with their faith and patronage, have helped our company in maintaining the leadership status even in tough times. We realize the responsibility this faith and patronage places on the company. We as a team keep working not just in order to meet the customer's expectations, but also to walk that extra mile to achieve customer's delight.

Could you please tell us about your newly launched products Ecobatch 80 and Counterflow continuous hot mix plantCFD 90?
It is a well-recognized fact that to ensure good quality of asphalt mix which is fundamental factor to ensure good quality road, use of batch type asphalt mixing plant is a must. In the hilly terrains on the northern and north eastern border and other areas, transporting and erecting a normal asphalt batch mix plant is a challenge and hence many a times out of compulsion one is required to use a normal continuous drum mix plant. To eliminate such compulsion now, we have a compact and modular asphalt batch mix plant which can be easily dismantled and transported into the vehicles that are allowed on such terrains.

Similarly for the maintenance work of highways, one needs a small capacity but easily transportable plant. There has always been a debate whether to use a mobile batch mix plant or an easily portable modular batch mix plant on steel foundation. In India, it is difficult and more expensive to get only the horses to pull the mobile plant chassis. The initial investment in a mobile plant is also higher due to road worthy design of chassis, axles and other drive gears like brakes etc. Secondly, due to the design limitations of accommodating such a complex plant onto few chassis, compromises are usually made in maintenance approach and operational approach to all the sections of the plant.

To cater to such requirements a compact and easily portable batch mix plant model Ecobatch 80 is conceived and introduced.

Besides this, Ammann Apollo has launched a new technology in continuous hot mix plants for the first time in India 'counterflow continuous hot mix plantCFD 90,' putting the knowledge and experience of Ammann's global teams and of Apollo together.

With this plant one can achieve fuel-efficiency, low carbon foot print, environment protection and RAP using facility.