
What is the Business intention behind TIPL's formation?
TIPL, the hundred percent subsidiary of Tractors India Limited (TIL) was formed during April 2010. TIL has been a Caterpillar Dealership since 1964 and marketing CAT's products. The new establishment would help to market entire range of CAT's products across the value chain more effectively in India. The key business portfolio of TIPL is to offer customized service support package for entire range of CAT's products including earthmoving and road construction equipment, mining machinery and power systems.

The new entity comes in the backdrop of strategy to strengthen its business extending its product portfolio in the country. This is so because equipment requirement are becoming larger in terms of volume and assorted in character based on sound demand fundamentals. Moreover, there is a vital emerging need of equipment integration for timely completion of projects. The business arm would be looking to promote CAT's advanced technologically driven products supported by our customer support to provide extended life for the equipment during its course of application at various job sites.
Can you spell out the range of overall Caterpillar products sold and serviced by TIL in India. What are the capacity range of excavators, wheel loaders, haulers and other earthmoving machines in terms of tonnage being marketed by TIL?
TIPL dealership covers entire range of Caterpillar products such as Excavators, Wheel Loaders, Motor graders and other earthmoving and mining machines, as well as Diesel and Gas based Power systems.
What are the new Caterpillar products being proposed to be marketed by TIL particularly those belonging to CAT? Geographically which are the areas in India being served by TIL?

TIPL covers at a macro level the Northern and Eastern parts of India including Bhutan and Nepal through its subsidiaries. To get closer to customers and serve them better, TIPL was restructured into 4 (four) territorial dealerships recently – TIPL East, TIPL South- East, TIPL – North and TIPL – North Central. By doing so, the responsibility is far more focused and accountability completely linked to customer engagement.
When did TIL entered into a distribution tie up with SEM for marketing its wheel loaders in India? Is this tie up meant for manufacturing or distribution? What are the features and capacity of SEM wheel loaders?
TIPL got into an agreement with SEM a few months back. This is a new avenue, given the brisk activities that exist in what we call the mid-tier segment. We have tied-up with SEM as their dealer for the Northern and Eastern parts of India and we are confident of our success in the segment which is cost effective, competitive and challenging. Apart from an excellent product from SEM which is a 100% subsidiary of CAT, we are committed to extend unmatched product support to our customers.
What about providing enhanced equipment uptime?

Under the new formation of TIPL, we would continue to collect and integrate data from CAT's global knowledge pool on character of equipment performance. CAT's knowledge pool would essentially provide data base on performance of its machine in various working conditions globally at different job sites. Inputs from the knowledge would be supported by our own inputs based on our experience of equipment performance. Thus allowing us to provide advanced and total customer support for operation of the equipment.
Equipment uptime would also be provided through our "Connected Work Site Programme." Data generated through the programme would pertain to information on scheduled oil changes, components performance, importantly engine performance under various working conditions. The comprehensive data generated would help in preventive maintenance of the equipment.
Would you provide certain details on TIL's Connected Worksite Programme for enhanced equipment uptime for Caterpillar and other new products marketed by TIL?
The "Connected Worksite" program of Caterpillar has been identified as one of the key thrust areas in its business strategy. The key theme of this program is to provide Value Added Solutions to customers by leveraging on technology that makes them more competitive in the market place. Accugrade is one such prime example which is being offered to the core industry customers and especially to those who are in the Heavy and Highway Construction segment. There are other technology solutions in the pipeline covering a larger cross-section of the construction segment. Our association with SITECH, distribution arm of Trimble a global leader in the Technology solutions area, will give us greater access to acquire and market latest solutions to our customers.
Timely availability of parts and components would add further value to "Connected Worksite" programme through support from our pan India warehouses comprising three hubs located in Kolkata, Sahibabad and Asansol and 42 sales and service outlets.

Can you elaborate on better equipment availability through operators training?
TIL has been well-known for gathering customers' feedback. We would look to gather customer feedback in an increasing manner in terms of equipment operation through various advanced tools. Based on the feedback received, we would look to fine-tune operators training programme. There would be specialized operators training through regular customer interaction based on requirements. Broadly, we would look to provide advanced training support in terms of best practices shared by us synthesized CAT's operators programme.
Please share some details of training programme.

After about 3-6 months of imparting training to operators, our representative revisits the customer and assesses by means of a survey the Customer benefits.
The customer feedback we have received is very encouraging and today the result of this endeavor shows improvement in customers' machine utilization, productivity and fuel consumption after we trained their operators. With the benefits of operator training clearly visible, Customers have signed contracts with us to train their Machine and DG set operators on a regular basis to reap the rich benefits of operating Caterpillar machines.