Escorts Kubota

We are showcasing innovations focused on energy efficiency, operator safety, automation, and real time monitoring. All our new products are CEV V compliant and CEV II Safety legislated.
Sanjeev Bajaj - Chief Officer, Escorts Kubota

What cutting-edge innovations in your products is the company offering to address challenges in the construction of large-scale infrastructure projects?

India is poised to become the third largest economy by 2030 with India’s share of global GDP to be 5.1% from current 3.5%. This will be at a CAGR growth of ~9% during this period. This growth will be part of our endeavor of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and infrastructure growth will be the cornerstone which will bring great opportunity for the CE sector.

This opportunity comes with its own set of challenges and responsibilities. We understand that our products must deliver high duty cycles, enhance productivity and economy, ensure safety for the users and people in the vicinity. They must be highly durable and ensure a cleaner environment. All these aspects are at the core of our design and manufacturing goals, and we are confident that with each new development we are delivering superior products.

Our equipment range can address the changing needs of construction and is evolving constantly. Load safety is linked with telematics so that it is well monitored at large infrastructure sites. IoT is also helping us to make smarter machines, providing connectivity and productivity.

How is the company meeting demand for sustainability in construction?

Sustainability is critical to human life, and we are focused on this aspect right from the way equipment are designed for lower fuel consumption per unit of work done. The choice of materials used both by us and our suppliers comply with all the guidelines and good practices. We are actively adopting energy-efficient technologies in our equipment to reduce environmental impact and also enhance operational safety, for example compliance to CEV stage V is an important step towards reducing carbon footprint. Our new products are more fuel efficient compared to outgoing models due to innovative solutions provided in our hydraulic and engine systems which reduce the overall energy demand. Our manufacturing facility is energy and water efficient, generating our own solar power and harvesting water.

How is Escorts Kubota positioning its products in the highly competitive global market?

By understanding the needs of global customers, we are providing upgraded products with the latest level of emission and safety; this is increasing the acceptance of our products in the global market. The gap between the products from developed markets and developing markets is gradually reducing and new products are more acceptable due to lower cost base from India.

For example, our newly designed backhoe loader has features like extending dipper, rock breaker, multiple bucket options, AC and HVAC. It can operate in extreme subzero climate. It is strengthening our position in global markets. Our distribution is now spread to more than 20 countries.

How is your company optimizing its manufacturing process?

Our plant has been rapidly adopting efficient operations through the KPS (Kubota Production System) implementation. This also resulted in improved capacity to handle the future demand and to deliver high levels of quality, while minimizing wastage.

Our supply chain has gone through a complete procurement assessment program and supplier quality upgradation for uniformity of processes and delivery. There is a Kaizen Community comprised of experts from Kubota Japan; it works on the theme-based projects for cost efficiency, productivity, better and superior operations at our suppliers end.

Capacity enhancement for critical suppliers is also undertaken and there are investments being made to meet the levels projected in the times to come.

How is Escorts Kubota supporting the MSME sector to ensure high-quality component production?

To help the MSMEs in producing high quality components, we are closely working with these industries. We provide technical assistance to them through establishing our standards, processes, and by promoting the adoption of international quality standards like ISO 9001 and TS 16949. This can help MSMEs establish a reputation for quality and reliability, making them more attractive to OEMs and other buyers. By adopting the best practices, they can improve their production processes and enhance their product quality.

We also encourage the MSMEs to engage with government agencies and industry associations etc. through various events organized by the ICEMA / CII, so that they can learn about the latest developments in quality control, lean manufacturing, and use of advanced technologies. We are also driving the Make-in-India initiative that aims to promote manufacturing in India and encourage MSMEs to participate in the global supply chain.

How can the government and industry work together to ensure that components are manufactured locally, and that vendors have the technological and financial capabilities to meet international quality benchmarks?

Government’s continuous focus on CE industry and faster response to industry issues through ICEMA has created an environment where innovative products and solutions are serving the customers. Government’s vision on energy and self-sufficiency and climate change is driving the industry to develop fuel efficient and carbon neutral products.

While there is a need for the manufacturers to invest in these technologies, it is imperative that these efforts are supported through targeted PLI or other incentives to encourage the pace of investment. Adoption of carbon neutral technology will also need external environment support, and this would require initiatives from the Government as well as industry.

How can an industry-government partnership help streamline business operations and foster innovation?

The industry and government have been partnering in many ways and there is a visible evolution in the industry. But there are challenges that we should recognize and address given the scale at which our country is advancing in infra development.

One such way is to bring uniform standards across different types of equipment used, in terms of emission, safety, registration laws, etc. There should be a roadmap, for say a decade, which will give directions for manufacturers to plan their capacity and capex requirements.

The infrastructure industry is facing a growing challenge on skilled manpower availability. Though efforts are being made by various government and private agencies to meet the demand on numbers and quality, the efforts need to be more coordinated and the outcome must meet certain standards.

What innovations are you showcasing at bauma India 2024?

Our participation in bauma CONEXPO INDIA 2024 aligns with its theme ‘Innovation for Nation Building’ where safety, productivity and efficiency remain our top priorities. We are introducing innovations focused on energy efficiency, operator safety, automation, and real time monitoring. These advancements reflect our commitment to supporting India’s infrastructure growth, safety and sustainability.

All our new products are CEV V compliant and CEV II Safety legislated. They have various innovative features to serve the diverse needs of the customers, be it captive usage or rental applications. Our product range represents 55% of the CE industry by volume and we will continue to focus on bringing advanced technologies and solutions for our customers.