Wirtgen Set to Introduce Locally Manufactured Vogele Pavers
Last year, Wirtgen India started manufacturing Hamm range of products from its new technical facility in Pune. What has the market response been to its Vibratory compactors? How are these products rated in terms of quality and their advanced technical attributes imparting your company an edge over others in the market place?
Hamm is the global market leader for tandem compactors and No 2 in field of single drum compactors and also winner of several awards for innovations.
With the start of our manufacturing facility in Pune, we offer the single drum Compactor for the Indian market. Also our current offering of HD90 tandem rollers would be replaced by a new tandem roller in the second half of 2013, which would be produced in the Pune plant.
The HAMM Single Drum Compactors manufactured here, have the same high standards of quality of the Wirtgen Group, as a team of engineers and technicians from India and Germany have developed this product. The Vibratory Compactor is available in three variants: in the standard version with rear-axle drive as the "311" model, the "311D" model with additional driven drums and the "311P" model with padfoot drums.
The 3 point pendulum articulated joint gives the machine excellent driving and steering characteristics, as well as unsurpassed directional stability. In addition, there is a modern display to simplify operation and keep the driver informed about the machine's condition. The market for Compactors in general had decreased by 5-8% in 2012 and also in the last 5 years more players have entered into the field. It is a matter of time before the market would again pick up for compactors. In the first full year of operations, we have achieved 4% market share.
What would be the company's manufacturing strategy for Vogele Pavers and Kleemann crushing and screening plants?
The groundwork for the Vogele pavers, designed for the Indian market, and to be manufactured at our Pune facility has started. These pavers would soon available in the market by next year.
For the Kleemann range of Crushing and Screening plants, we have started marketing the fully imported product as the first step and at an appropriate time, we would look at localizing option.
As a new entrant in the crushing and screening segment, what are your product positioning plans, the areas you would focus on and USP of the products?
We would position ourselves as the most productive and reliable manufacturer of crushing plants on tracks, with No 1. standing on quality and innovation. We would be going for a step by step approach in India like we did in other countries. For example, after we started, in Germany, we are the market leaders for mobile plants in 5 years, and have 25% market share in France.
Please brief us about your Workshop's technical facilities to refurbish used equipment. Will your company be raising its pitch for REMAN as being done by other MNCs in the country?
Wirtgen India has invested in a new highly advanced workshop where as many as five machines can be overhauled at a time. The Workshop has four bays to refurbish 4 machines at a time including Paver and Surface Miner. The workshop is fully equipped and modern which matches German standards. Last year, 15 machines were refurbished at this facility and the target for 2013 is 20 machines. We would start REMAN by 2014.
A word about your surface miner's line range available. How many such units are operating in various projects in the country and how these products help to achieve economy, get more extraction and reduce logistic costs?
We have the widest range of surface miners in the global market and have a 70% market share. In India, we have over 100 surface miners in operation and 25% of Coal produced in India is with Surface miners. It is an environment-friendly method for Mining with comparatively lower cost and more extraction.
What are the technical services and training facilities placed in the company?
The new facility is also equipped with a state-of-the-art training centre with high end multimedia system and two generously dimensioned training rooms. At least four batches of 20 trainees a year, are trained with hands on learning experience on the machines.
What is the company's assessment about CE market picking up in the next 2-3 years and what are the main concerns of the CE companies about its current slowdown phase, is it a transitory phase?
There is a slowdown in demand for the CE market and the market is down by 20 to 30% over 2011 levels. This is a transitory phase and we expect the next 2 quarters to be better than the last two quarters and we see some sign of slow revival.
Considering the above fact, do you think the CE companies need to tweak their business models in terms of being more proactive on brand promotion and marketing, re-visit their distribution network, fine-tune their manufacturing operations to contain manufacturing costs. Any specific measures at company's end to contain impact of slowdown within the company and outside so as to keep business sentiments high?
In a slowdown, all the steps,mentioned here would be undertaken, but we are all looking forward to growth as, many manufacturers like us have built capacities and would like to use them.
Wirtgen India's plans to participate in the second edition of bC India in Mumbai next year with new products and services expected to unveil at this CE event?
At bc India 2013, we have a 2006 sqm stall space where as many as 18 machines from our 4 brands – Wirtgen, Vogele, Hamm and Kleemann would be on display, including new products launches and introductions for the Indian Market.
We are showcasing our Complete delivery range available for the Indian market, including the new Vogele 2100 dash 3 paver, the new Wirtgen Recycler WR240, and the Kleemann crusher MC 110 Z.
This show would also be a platform to interact with our existing and potential new customers and also an opportunity for customers to have a hands on experience on the products on display.
NBM&CW February 2013
