Atlas Copco: We’ll keep innovating our Products in India.

Based on the existing and rapidly changing requirements of the Indian construction sector, Atlas Copco will continue to carry out engineering improvisation across its product verticals offered in India. The company will also closely reorient its service support in accordance with the requirements of the equipment users, stated Mr. Giovani Valent, Managing Director, Atlas Copco India in an interaction with P.P. Basistha. Excerpts:

What are the product categories you will carry out the improvisations on to suit the Indian requirements? What about your strength to carry out the product advancements?
We're carrying out engineering advancements and will continue to do so across our product categories comprising hydraulic rock breakers, drilling units, our mainstay compressors. The focus to carry out product improvisations will also be on pavers, rollers, compactors and other range of road construction solutions. The advancements driven in our products will provide us with an edge in the competitive Indian construction sector.

The improvisations are being carried out for ease of operations of the equipment and maintenance. This is being coupled by making our machines safe to operate led by induction of safety features.

Our products come with higher initial costs, they deliver total lower lifecycle costs as compared to competitor products. This has allowed us to maintain a premium position of our equipment, catering to the requirements of the value segment. We will carry out the business strategy further through requisite product innovations which will be supported based on experience, we have gathered from our presence in the Indian construction sector over sixty years. The advancements will also be supported through convergence of knowledge from our global operations.

What will be the role of your product support towards making the advancements acceptable?
Product support will play a crucial role in making the advancements acceptable for the contractors. This will continue to be supported through our dedicated, strong after sales & service engineers and dealers. To leverage our services support, we will appoint more dealers.

Do you perceive driving product innovations in India is beset with challenges as the urge to procure price competitive products is still rife in India among contractors?
I agree. However, carrying product improvisation is imperative for the long run for any brands in order to be competitive. For us, the challenge is to see that business grows and commensurately it generates decent profits through our advanced products. Being manufacturer of premium products, as a reason, we have retained our focus on niche markets in India by placing products that ensure total minimization of ownership costs. The business development strategy has been followed by placing products for the niche segments. For generators, we have focused the mining sector where there is requirement of captive power source, light towers for road highway projects and compressors for big construction projects.