Volvo Eicher: Geared up for Robust Demand
What demand is the company anticipating in FY 2023-24 and from which infra construction sectors?
We expect the current robust demand for tipper trucks to continue in the coming fiscal; demand will be mainly driven by the road construction sector, which is seeing major expansion plans by the Government. We expect demand to also remain bullish in the irrigation and surface coal mining sectors. Demand will be more for tipper trucks with a larger payload capacity of 20, 35 and 40 tons. We expect sales of the trucks to reach 54,000 units up till March 2023 and 64,000 units up till March 2024.
How is VECV gearing up to meet the projected demand?
VECV will leverage its manufacturing strengths to target the mining and road construction industries. Accordingly, we will position our 8x4, 35-ton tipper trucks which come in 19-18-23-26 cum box body variants, and our 6x4, 28-ton trucks with a 16 cum rock body designed for haulage of overburden materials, limestone, and other aggregates.
Our premium class of trucks are powered by the 350 hp Volvo engines. The powerful engines enable the trucks to deliver high productivity, while giving fuel efficiency. Our 6x4 truck is being targeted at the road construction sector for transport of aggregates, granular sub-base materials, and other construction materials. We are also targeting quarry owners for transporting crushed aggregates and manufactured sand from the crushing plants to the jobsites.
How are VECV tipper trucks meeting the challenges at crushing and mining sites?
Crushing plants in India are increasingly being located at remote areas that have poorly developed access roads with extremely undulated surfaces and gradients. Mining sites are also not easy to access. Hence, the requirement of trucks with a powerful engine, a shorter turning radius, and a reduced hub height is emerging.
VECV tipper trucks in the 6x4 and 8x4 categories have all the required features, making them highly productive at the mining and crushing sites. Their shorter turning radius and high power to weight ratio helps in faster turnround of the trucks – an important feature for the removal of overburden and haulage of aggregates for big road construction projects. Advanced suspension and a reduced hub height ensure safer movement of the trucks, even on undulated quarry mining sites, while advanced hydraulics enable safer tipping of the truck body.
How is VECV lowering the owning and operating costs of its premium range of tipper trucks?
VECV’s 6x4 and 8x4 trucks under the company’s ‘Eutech’ series come with electronic engines designed as per the new emission norm. To lower their high purchase cost, VECV has integrated systems that enable a lesser number of gear changes, which reduces fuel consumption and lowers their operation costs.
The company has further lowered fuel consumption with the M-Booster technology, while an innovative fuel coaching system monitors the driving behaviour of the drivers, taking into account their gear changes, acceleration, etc. Drivers are given scores based on the monitoring and incentives to reduce fuel consumption by improving their driving skill. VECV is also planning to introduce CNG and LNG powered trucks.
What support is VECV offering its customers?
The company’s end-to-end support for its trucks include onsite maintenance, training, and timely parts supply. It offers an annual maintenance contract to both small and large fleet owners.
The company is providing onsite support to its active population of 3600 tippers that are being operated by over 110 customers across 130 sites. It provides preventive maintenance support through VECV’s ‘My-Eicher App’, which sends reminders to truck operators/owners on the maintenance scheduled. Support is also rendered by VECV’s 167 dealers with 600+ touch points and the company’s own 200+ touch points.
NBM&CW JANUARY 2023
