The CE industry is heading towards electric powertrains, greener fuels, and advanced technologies, and we are also aligning our product innovations with these green concepts and sustainable practices.
CASE Construction Equipment - Puneet Vidyarthi, Head - Marketing & Business Development (India & SAARC)
As a global corporate (CNH Industrial), we recognize our responsibility towards fostering a sustainable future and are committed towards it. Our decarbonization goals and strategies are geared towards lowering our environmental impact, advancing sustainable technology, and supporting India’s climate action plan.
Sustainability goals
As part of our global sustainability goals, our focus is on reducing the emissions that our products generate during their operational lifetime. We are also curbing our operational emissions through investments in energy efficiency and solar power, which have increased our operations’ use of renewable electricity to 60%.
Our manufacturing facilities have increased their recovery of waste (materials, water, energy) to 96.5% at a global level, through efforts such as our painting processes that are reusing over 50% of their water consumption. In the year 2022, we managed to recycle 51% of water and recovered 97% of the waste at our plants through initiatives such as conversion of underground water pipelines to aboveground systems, waste reduction, and waste disposal management projects. Furthermore, 9.3% of CNH industrial spare parts’ sales were generated from re-manufactured components in the same year.
Aligning product innovations with green concepts and sustainable practices
We are focusing on developing innovative solutions that promote sustainability and contribute to a greener future. Our range of smart construction equipment boasts of highly fuel-efficient engines that comply with the latest emission norms in the country as we have adapted to the BS-CEV IV emission standards and are preparing for the upcoming transition to BS-CEV V standards by April 2024.
Our foremost objective is to integrate fuel efficiency and productivity with strict adherence to emission norms in our construction equipment, thereby offering solutions that minimize energy consumption and make a significant contribution to a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
We consistently pursue innovations and enhancements in our products, aligning them with green concepts and sustainable practices. For instance, our CASE 952EX soil compactor has up to 5% improved fuel efficiency along with a new diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) system for exhaustive after-treatment. Similarly, the CASE 770NXe Loader Backhoe offers three working modes: ECO, STANDARD and POWER. The ECO mode delivers the best fuel efficiency with a working reach of up to 22% and a lower maintenance cost of up to 12%. The STANDARD mode gives a perfect balance of fuel efficiency and productivity, while the POWER mode offers increased productivity.
Advancements in sustainable construction equipment
On a global scale, we are at the forefront of sustainable technology with initiatives like Project TETRA, featuring a Wheel Loader Concept that is powered by methane. Additionally, we have introduced the groundbreaking CASE 580 EV, the industry’s first fully electric Loader Backhoe, which operates with zero emissions. These advancements showcase our commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable construction equipment.
We recognize that the construction equipment industry in India may require a gradual transition period to fully embrace electrification. However, we firmly believe that the industry is heading towards a future defined by electric powertrains, greener fuels, and advanced technologies. We will introduce such advanced products to India as and when the time is right.
We continuously explore and invest in research and development to introduce new sustainable technologies in our machines. We actively seek innovations that further enhance energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve overall sustainability in the industry. By embracing these technologies and features, we aim to set new benchmarks for eco-friendly equipment and contribute to a greener future.
Establishing standards and certifications to ensure environmental benefits
Connected equipment is quickly becoming the norm at job sites around the world. The adoption of telematics and artificial intelligence (AI) has made machines smarter, enabling functions such as monitoring, usage tracking, enhanced safety measures, operator convenience, and improved fuel efficiency. These tools are instrumental in detecting any potential issues with the machines, minimizing the risk of operating faulty equipment. They also reduce the dependency on additional human intervention, making the machines cost-effective and highly efficient in various applications. These advancements have significantly improved project efficiency and productivity, facilitating timely project completion within specified timelines.
Encouraging such technologies, it is important to establish industry standards and certifications for connected machines as it can provide assurance of environmental benefits. These standards can focus on energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and sustainability criteria, giving construction companies a benchmark for selecting environmentally friendly equipment. Manufacturers, technology providers, and construction companies can collaborate to develop and implement connected machine solutions. Joint initiatives can drive innovation, share best practices, and demonstrate the environmental advantages of these technologies.
Initiatives to foster sustainability
As part of our larger sustainability goals, we have installed solar panels at our state-of-the-art Pithampur manufacturing facility that help provide up to 25% of the plant’s energy through a natural source. This reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and decreases carbon emissions.
We have adopted a pond near the plant as part of our Jal Sanchay Water Conservation Project, as a step towards water conservation and ecological preservation. The plant also participates in initiatives aimed at implementing conversion of underground water pipelines to aboveground systems and collection and reuse of rainwater for building construction projects.
