S Kumar, Business Line Manager(Portable Air Division) - Atlas Copco India

At Excon-2019, Atlas Copco will launch next-gen portable air compressors and highlight the new technology used to enhance productivity. We will also demonstrate our handheld tools and digital service applications to showcase our innovativeness

Excon provides an opportunity for buyers to experience new technolo- gies, innovations and trends in the CE industry.
The construction/infrastructure indus- try is continuously evolving through various innovations in application segments and product ranges. Atlas Copco is the undisputed market leader in the ‘portable air compressor’ segment and we continuously strive to upgrade our product portfolio to provide better product innovation and digital services to our customers.

Excon is a great stage for equipment manufacturers to launch their new products and showcase their existing and new offerings. It’s an opportunity for buyers to experience the launch of technology on a global platform and understand the latest innovations and trends in the industry.

A customer wants value from the product he is buying so we are very focussed on technology advancements in our machines.
In our quest to minimize total cost of ownership and operating costs, we ensure that our portable air compressors are all localised and manufactured in our state-of-the-art factory in Chakan, Pune. We continuously invest in designing equipment which consumes less energy while rendering higher output and we undertake a lot of field trials and invest more than a year in R&D before launching a product.

Atlas Copco also offers the legendary patented HardHat® canopy cover. A shift from powder coated canopies to polyethylene canopy in our new LED HiLight V5+ light tower shows that we are constantly bringing new technologies and innovations for our customers. The HiLight V5+ LED light tower illuminates an area of approximately 5,000 sqm with an average brightness of 20 lux. This LED light tower is the 1st CPCB II compliant light tower in India and it ensures that sites are brighter, safer and more productive.

Digitalization is the new buzzword and we at Atlas Copco are focussed on bringing unmatched service with a strong digital footprint.
We are complementing the traditional way of service engineers by monitoring the health of the machine with advanced digital systems like Fleet Link, which is a connectivity (telematics) solution. It represents all relevant operational and service information of connected machines on the website and dashboards. It offers remote insights in the vital stats of our customers’ portable air compressors on site.

With Atlas Copco electric compressors, there is no fuel usage, resulting in zero emissions, while the most modern engines in our portable air compressors ensure that we are compliant with the new emissions norms.
The new environment legislations to control pollution in India have ensured that states are now actively supporting stable grids. This has resulted in the total installed utility power capacity in the country increasing by 51% and is still growing. With Atlas Copco electric compressors, there is no fuel usage, resulting in zero emissions, while the hood type canopy of these compressors is designed to ensure silent operations on site, making them ideal for usage within city limits.

In fact, all our portable air compressors have a well-designed acoustic canopy which makes operations sound-proof. They are made most fuel efficient with the energy efficient and powerful screw element design. At the heart of Atlas Copco portable air compressors is the new generation screw elements which are energy efficient and engineered to power the best. Our compressors also have a well-designed acoustic sound dampened canopy that makes easy operations in high ambient temperatures and dusty environments. With the most modern engines in our portable air compressors, we are also ensuring that we are compliant with the new emissions norms, which are becoming more stringent.

We have a well-established refurbishment program at our centralised warehouse in Chakan, and at our dealer workshops in Hyderabad, Tiruchengode and Indore.
The CE industry is moving from a manufacturing industry to being service oriented and information cantered, and advancements in technology will continue to impact market trends. Our service quotient is highly trusted with preventive maintenance and onsite breakdown resolution even in remote locations. Our service division is focused on digitalization to enable fleet tracking, monitoring on real time basis with precise monitoring and proactive maintenance. This brings major improvements in inventory management and performance tracking. Mobile apps enable efficient tracking and faster resolution of service requests by our customers.

Our in-built Fleet Link and our 50+ dealer network pan India ensure timely periodic maintenance to extend the life of our equipment on site. We offer a robust and well-established refurbishment program at our centralised warehouse in Chakan, Pune as well as our dealer workshops in Hyderabad, Tiruchengode and Indore, which are well equipped to offer refurbishment options to our customers. With the increased need for refurbishment as a quicker and more cost-effective option, there is growing demand from customers for refurbishment as a means to give a second lease of life to their equipment.

We also measure the MTTR for all calls through our centralised system from our head office in Pune for monitoring. This ensures that our customer’s get service on time and we have more happy customers. The focus today is high on connectivity, and we strive to bring continuous improvements through better features and tracking mechanisms.

With an upgraded portfolio and technologically advanced equipment, Atlas Copco will continue to meet the infrastructure needs of the country.
It is a very positive scenario for the CE industry. Investments are lined up for core infra development of roads, metro rails, expressways, airports and highway expansions, so there is a sense of positivity in the industry. With an emphasis on time-bound projects and the need for 24x7 action for timely completion, reliable lighting at site brings the required support for meeting project deadlines. Undoubtedly, the road segment, is where power equipment such as portable air compressors and light towers are most in demand. Our portable advanced waterwell compressors are deployed in large irrigation projects, and our portable air compressors are being used in quarrying applications, which is a very important segment considering the amount of stone required for infra projects.