Dimitrov Krishnan - VP & Head, Volvo CE India
Mr. Dimitrov Krishnan,
VP & Head
Volvo CE is enjoying a very strong 2017
As the Indian government continues to push forward its ambitious plan to improve infrastructure, we are confident that it will facilitate further growth in the economy and the construction equipment industry. This will be a major growth driver as developers are in need of more powerful machines to meet construction deadlines. Additionally, coal mining activity is also picking up. Therefore, the outlook for the Indian construction equipment industry in the short to medium term remains good. At Volvo CE, we are enjoying a very strong 2017 and we remain the leading global brand in this country.
Volvo is an aspirational brand, so people strive to own our machines
The Volvo brand is one of the most respected in the world, so customers know what they are getting with one of our machines. Infact, we are fortunate that ours is an aspirational brand, so a lot of people strive to own our machines. At the same time, this means there’s a lot of responsibility on us as a company to maintain that reputation. Benjamin Franklin said that “it takes many good deeds to build a good reputation and only one bad one to lose it”, and that’s something we’re very conscious of at Volvo.
Our success at Volvo CE comes down to three things. First is the productivity and fuel efficiency of our machines, which allows customers to do more – and earn more – with us. Second is the reliability of our machines. If customers get continuous good performance from a machine then they become very attached to it. And third, it is customer support. We know there will always be issues where we need to support our customers. Doing that as quickly as possible and minimizing any disruptions, is another priority for us.
Volvo CE machines among the best when it comes to Total Cost of Ownership
We are confident that Volvo CE machines are among the best when it comes to Total Cost of Ownership. This is reinforced by the fact that India is home to some of the most sophisticated equipment buyers in the world, and our strong market position here reflects the higher levels of return on investment we are able to bring to customers. Our superior fuel-efficiency, combined with high levels of productivity and excellent reliability all contribute to better profitability for owners. Generally speaking, customers know that if they invest in a Volvo, they’ll enjoy higher overall profitability across the lifespan of their machine.
Volvo’s pursuit of electrically-driven vehicles could be a game changer
Recently, our company unveiled the world’s first fully-electric compact excavator, the EX2, which is equipped with electric drive systems and electromechanical linear actuators. While it is too early to say if there will eventually be a shift towards electric engines, Volvo CE believes that going electric is the future of our industry. The EX2 prototype shows our determination to provide zero-emissions machines in the future which will have the same power and force as conventional equipment.
We have also presented our HX1, a prototype autonomous, battery-electric load carrier. It is one element of a project that aims to electrify a transport stage in a quarry – from excavation to primary crushing and transport to secondary crushing. It has already picked up industry awards for innovation.
Good after-market services are just as important as products
Volvo CE’s nationwide dealer network is a real differentiator here, offering industry-leading parts and service support to machines that have a reputation for superior reliability. In addition to our extensive and experienced dealer network, we offer a wide range of unparalleled Customer Service Agreements.
The most comprehensive is the Gold Customer Support Agreement, and this option is hugely popular with mine operators. It offers preventive maintenance, inspections and repairs carried out at the earliest opportunity by trained Volvo Service Technicians and gives companies the best possible peace of mind.
At Volvo CE, we believe good after-market services are just as important as the products themselves. We make sure our customers are well taken care of and are the focus of our business. In the long- run, it is these fine margins that determine how valuable our products are.
Connectivity in construction equipment will grow in future
Volvo is well-known for bringing the latest technologies and innovations to the CE industry, allowing customers to get better productivity, reliability and efficiency from their operations. It’s clear that connectivity in construction equipment will grow in future and it’s actually something we already offer as a manufacturer in the form of our CareTrack package.
CareTrack is a telematics system that gives equipment owners access to a wide range of machine monitoring information that can help save time and money. The system generates a wide range of reports with data on aspects such as fuel consumption, operational hours, geographical location and more. These reports are available via a web portal or can be received via SMS or email alerts.
CareTrack can also be used to manage machine servicing and wear parts. This allows fleet managers to reduce fuel costs, optimize machine and operator performance, as well as proactively manage service and maintenance to maximize uptime.
Volvo has a clear focus on electromobility, intelligent machines and total site solutions
At Volvo CE we are driving change in the industry in relation to smart technology and how it can be utilized in construction. We have set ourselves four key technology challenges that we call Triple Zero and 10x: zero emissions, zero accidents, zero unplanned stops, and 10x higher efficiency. To help us achieve our goals, we have a clear focus on electromobility, intelligent machines and total site solutions. We believe this will help us achieve our ambitious goals and pave the way for a sustainable construction industry. Our “zero” targets are:
Zero emissions: This will help make customers’ businesses more environmentally sustainable.
Zero accidents: This will come from pioneering safety innovations where machines could instinctively avoid accidents – generating a completely safe working environment.
Zero unplanned stops: This will create a world without machine breakdowns, where machines predict and plan their own maintenance – making unplanned stops a thing of the past.
Meanwhile, our 10x higher efficiency goal is directly connected to the electrification of construction equipment and site optimization, which we believe, will dramatically reduce energy consumption.
New at Excon 2017
Volvo CE will feature a wide spectrum of industry-leading products at Excon 2017, the largest Construction Equipment Exhibition in South Asia this year. We want to highlight our strength in both the mining and road building sectors at this event, and will have specific areas on our stand dedicated to both these industries.
In addition to new machines (which we will be announcing shortly), one of the most exciting products on display from Volvo will be the EC950E. This 90-ton heavyweight is the largest excavator in the Volvo line and is sure to be one of the biggest machines on show in Bangalore. It is ideally suited to the mining industry with its outstanding productivity by helping mine operators move more material in less time.
In road building products, we will showcase the P6820C ABG tracked paver; the DD90B asphalt compactor; and the SD110BA soil compactor. The P6820C ABG offers paving widths of upto 10 m and comes equipped with a 142 kW-rated Volvo engine. Its paving output can reach upto 700 tons per hour.
The DD90B and SD110BA are two relative newcomers to the Volvo family as they were both launched last year. The DD90B is a 9-ton double drum asphalt compactor which delivers a smooth finish in fewer passes for greater efficiency. The SD110BA is an 11-ton class single drum compactor for earthwork compaction. Both are manufactured at the Volvo plant in Bangalore.
NBM&CW December 2017
