PMP Industries New Facility to be Operational This Year
In your last interview with NBM&CW, you had mentioned that PMP Industries was setting up its production unit in India; what is the status of that unit and products to be rolled out in the beginning?
In 2012, we established the first assembly line in India starting with our world known PMB, solid and reliable mixer truck gearbox. In a rented premise in Pune, we have sales office and warehouse to meet our Indian customers' needs. During the last year we kept looking for the best location for our future production unit, considering the logistics and suppliers location. In the end we decided to go for Chakan, Midc territory where we had to find the designers and the builders able to meet our expectations. In the beginning of 2013, we can say that the project is at an advanced stage of development and we plan to have the unit fully operational in the second half of the year. We will then have both further assembly lines and complete production cycles.
PMP has its presence in the Indian market since 2003; could you please give an overview of your company progression since then and its important business areas serving the infrastructure & construction industry?
In 2003, we started serving customers in India directly from Italy and in the following years, PMP analysed the Indian Market to understand the market potential and the business opportunities to serve it on-site. In those years, we experienced and understood that PMP products have the best chances of meeting India markets needs. In 2010, we decided to establish our own company in Pune viz PMP DRIVE SYSTEMS INDIA.
What about your products being in high demand in India?
The slow development of the infrastructure system in India is a weak spot of the Indian economy and it is clear that it affects the general economic growth of the country. The development of the infrastructure sector is therefore regarded as strategic and urgent. The government is indeed planning huge investments in the sector wherein a vital growth can be clearly expected in the years to come.
PMP believes in investing heavily in its R&D; a word about your R&D wings. Also brief us what is your current focus on Innovation for the future.
Investment in R&D is a part of PMP Philosophy. Also in hard years like the ones we are living, where the performance of the economy is unpredictable, PMP always invests heavily in the development of new innovative products. In the last 10 years, PMP has designed and developed an impressive range of new products characterized by high technology and high innovation rate. The company has protected these investments registering several patents worldwide. With a specific eye for the India market, several products have been studied to meet customer technical requests and market specific needs. The very compact mixer truck gearbox PMBec, 55% shorter and 50% lighter than the traditional one, is a striking example of this commitment. Another example is the patented valves designed for excavators that improve the driving and operation experience and allow longer life of the critical components.
What is the market size of the products being promoted by the company in India?
In 2020, the construction market is estimated to be the third in the world, after China and United States with an estimated turnover of €750 billion and PMP works hard to become one of the main future players of this market.
How do you see the demand trends of your products in 2013-14 in view of government's more proactive approach to infrastructure development in the country?
We expect a high growth rate of PMP products demand in the Indian market due to proactive government approach to the infrastructure sector and since we have the right innovative solutions, we can tailor on customer needs. This is not the end of story but we also expect a high growth rate because we work hard to become the leader of the market we are in now.
Having its presence in the world markets; how do you see Indian market different from those the company has witnessed with abroad and what propels a buying decision in the country-the price, the value addition, the brand, or the efficient back up services?
India presents undoubtedly technical aspects that are specific of that market. Our specialists are working hard to design hightech and innovative products to meet Indian market specific expectations at competitive prices. This is a part of our philosophy. More than in other markets, in India innovative and tailored solutions are needed, products easiness of use and reliability are essential. Since a further key feature enhances the capacity to promptly reply to the markets requests, being on site near the customers is a decisive factor and this is the reason we are investing in this direction.
What are the technical pre- and post-market services provided by the company? Do you think that offering effective customer support services help to vivificate your business?
PMP offers a full support to the customer that starts from the definition of the best products to offer, pass through the support in the installation phase of a new product and continues with the creation and development of the after sales network to support customers' needs and requests. As already stated, in India even more than in other countries, the customer support is a key factor to win the market.
NBM&CW February 2013
