Mr. Dimitrov Krishnan, Vice President and Head of Volvo CE India
What is your outlook on the growth of construction equipment industry in the wake of government’s focus on infrastructure developments?
We are very excited for the growth prospects in India over the next two years. We expect high levels of activity particularly in mining and road-building. The government has set a target for the mining industry of one billion tonnes of coal per year by 2020, while the road ministry is hoping to see 30 km of new roads constructed each day during 2016. The government understands that having the right infrastructure in place will be essential for the future growth and development of India. So long as this commitment continues, we see solid demand for productive and profitable equipment.
Is the CE sector fully geared to usher in GST regime from April 2017? How do you see the impact of it on the industry?
At Volvo CE, we have been working hard to ensure we are prepared as a company. As a system, GST is not new to us. It’s a taxation that we have to incorporate into our business in many other countries.
Within the wider industry is another matter. The introduction of any new tax system is bound to require a period of adjustment and I’m sure that will be the case in India. Broadly speaking, the introduction of GST should simplify the business process and bring greater transparency to operations, which is a good thing for our industry.
The market is maturing from basic equipment to more sophisticated ones. What technical improvisation are you bringing into your existing products?
Volvo CE machines already represent the most advanced designs this industry has to offer. As a company, Volvo CE will continue to focus on improved quality, safety and environmental care for all our products. As part of that, you can expect to see fuel efficiency continue as a major focus for us. This will not only deliver environmental advantages, but also help our customers get better usage from their machines.
Strong after-sales services and spare parts availability are also becoming one of the key selling points. How is your company strengthening its positions in these areas?
At Volvo CE, our after-sales business has been growing in line with increased activity levels. We provide one of the most comprehensive customer support programs in India, in conjunction with our nationwide dealer network. The growing machine population, increasing work levels and a smarter approach to working ways increases across the board for customer services, from parts and maintenance, to training, documentation or other equipment planning. We are continuing to develop our nationwide dealer network and continuously improve our parts and service support.
What would be the company’s focus during its participation at bauma Conexpo India 2016?
In particular, we will be focusing on products that are suited to the road building and mining industries as these industries are seeing the many activity at present. Volvo CE is known as one of the most innovative manufacturers in the construction business, so we will be using the bC India event to talk about how our industry-leading technology delivers higher productivity to customers, which helps them to drive more success from their own businesses. We also remain at the forefront of sustainability leadership in this business and we will be highlighting our credentials in this area also.
What products and services will be launched/displayed at the show?
We are introducing two new compactors for the road building industry, the DD90 and SD100. Both have been engineered to suit the needs of customers in India and are built at our factory in Bangalore. We will also have two excavators at the show from our advanced D-Series, the EC210D and EC250D. These models feature the latest in design and technology, to provide our customers with greater productivity and profitability in their operations.
Maintaining the strong focus on road building at the show will be the P5320B ABG paver which is appearing at a trade show for the first time, having launched earlier in 2016. Like the new compactors, this advanced paver is also built at the Bangalore factory and delivers exceptional paving quality and productivity, as well as easier operation and outstanding fuel efficiency. It offers excellent versatility across both medium and large-scale projects where paving widths range from 2.5 m to 7 m.
Aside from the products on show, Volvo CE will be running a variety of activities over the course of bC India 2016, making it a must-visit destination for attendees. To underline the company’s industry-leading customer support program, there will be a dedicated area showcasing the aftermarket products and services available from Volvo CE. Visitors can also pitch their skills against others, in the Mini Operator Championship, using Lego models of its trademark machines.
To facilitate a one-stop solution for customers, Volvo CE and Volvo Financial Services will be launching competitive financing schemes and on-the-spot credit approvals during the show.
NBM&CW December 2016
