DIGITALIZATION IS NOW USHERING IN THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, KNOWN AS INDUSTRY 4.0, IN THE COUNTRY.

The government is taking various initiatives for developing infrastructure in the country with national infrastructure pipeline outlay of Rs 111 trillion during the period 2019-24. How do you view this?

The revival of the infrastructure sector was one of the major focus points during this year’s Budget. The government’s efforts to expand road and highway projects to 7,400 new projects is a positive step that will pave the path to recovery for the infrastructure sector and the construction equipment industry. The announcement of the Development Finance Institution, which would provide 20,000 crore to establish the National Asset Monetization Pipeline to fund new infrastructure projects, will further augment the sector’s stability.

Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari recently set a target to expand about 60,000 km of National Highways (NHs) by 2024, followed by a slew of announcements on highway projects in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and Assam which are expected to provide the industry a much-needed boost. The government’s plan to invest Rs 1.97 trillion in the manufacturing sector over the next five years will also concurrently benefit the industry.

In addition, the upcoming eight-lane Delhi-Mumbai expressway worth Rs. 98,000 crore is also anticipated to generate employment opportunities across the sector giving it an additional push towards recovery. The ambitious project will not only improve connectivity between major economic hubs in the country but would also give a boost to resorts, food courts, restaurants, fuel stations, logistics parks, facilities for truckers etc. that would be part of wayside amenities.

Simultaneously, numerous initiatives to secure vaccination, livelihood assistance, and other benefits have been implemented for contractors, daily wagers, and other people who are heavily dependent on the construction sector to help them overcome with the repercussions of Covid-19.

With all these efforts in place, we are optimistic that the infrastructure and construction industry will be the main growth drivers for the Indian economy beyond the pandemic.

How significantly will it impact the ambitious infrastructure project currently underway?

As a result of the Government’s efforts to support these industries, ICRA has predicted the industry to grow by 15-20 per cent despite 39 per cent decline due to Covid-19 in FY20-21. Therefore, it is expected to have a significant impact in enabling them to function effortlessly and contribute to the overall growth of the economy.

The important part of the equipment in infrastructure projects at different stages? Tell us more about the same?

Road construction is typically divided into 3 stages. Earthmoving, Grading & Soil Compaction and finally Asphalt Compaction. CASE is a full range player and provides construction equipment for each stage of Road construction. For earthmoving, we have world renowned Crawler Dozers (CASE has recently been awarded – the Best Crawler Dozer Brand of 2021 in an award ceremony held by industry experts). This is a specialist machine and compliments the mighty CX220C Crawler Excavator to tackle the toughest earthmoving challenges.

For the second stage of soil compaction and grading, we offer multiple products such as the 1107 EX Soil Compactor and the 845B Motor Grader. There are multiple variants to choose from as required by the customer depending on terrain and other considerations such as comfort, safety, power etc.

For the final stage, we offer tandem compactors – like our 752EX – an award-winning high-performance machine. For versatile general movement of obstacles, loading of trucks, grading or dozing in smaller patches – we have a versatile range of BS4 compliant backhoe loaders. These are excellent machines which can handle the toughest challenges – they feature industry leading components and a powerful new FPT engine. We have also completely overhauled the cabin for this machine to provide better safety and operability. Our service intervals and maintenance costs are the best in the industry and we deliver our service to customers through a robust network of dealers and authorized service centers.

The equipment industry and infrastructure projects a constructive bond. How can they grow together?

India’s infrastructure industry is critical to the country’s overall growth. As a result, it is the primary driver of the Indian economy. India competes against the rest of the world in this industry, which is backed by significant government efforts and large investments. The demand for raw materials and other commodities is projected to rise as the government focuses more on infrastructure and increases investment. To develop infrastructure, the infra companies will rely significantly on construction equipment suppliers. Increased number of infra projects will lead to increased demand for equipment. Therefore, while the economy is recovering, both these industries must work in tandem to ensure everything is in place to achieve the long-term goals, both economic and sustainable.

CASE has always emphasized on the smart manufacturing equipment that can boost production while reducing downtime. This not only makes the equipment more efficient, but it also benefits the environment because less time means less fuel is used. For example, the FPT engine, which drives our equipment, is a strong and dependable engine that allows our machines to offer optimum performance while consuming the least amount of fuel in a variety of construction and mining operations. Similarly, the recently launched BS-IV engine will offer better performance and mileage while reducing PM emissions, which is a main constituent for outdoor air pollution, by over 80% in diesel engine vehicles.

What new developments can we see in the days to come in these sectors jointly?

Digitalization is now ushering in the fourth industrial revolution, commonly known as Industry 4.0, in the country. Companies in the industry have grown more adaptive and foresighted to prosper in the future. Some of the driving trends include the incorporation of newer technologies such as IoT, AI, and automation in the construction equipment sector to develop smart tools and factories for the future. Furthermore, sales will be driven by equipment that are user-friendly and assist in effectively completing jobs on time. Similarly, in the construction sector, these technologies have ushered in an upward trend that benefits both suppliers and end users.

At CASE, we have always prioritized implementing cutting-edge technology at every level, whether it’s in the internal production process or in offering innovative features as part of the equipment to end customers. Each of our products comes with a slew of features aimed at boosting productivity and efficiency. For instance, the CASE Intelligent Hydraulic System in the CX 220C Excavator offers higher breakout forces, improved swing speeds and greater swing torque, resulting in faster cycle times and 5% increase in productivity, the unique ‘Multi-radius moldboard design’ in the CASE Graders, a bigger pump for more flow and speed in Backhoe loaders, enhancements in engine power, torque and auxiliary hydraulics in the Skid Steers, FPT engine which powers our equipment range, and is a powerful and reliable engine that helps our machine deliver maximum performance with minimum fuel consumption in multiple construction and mining activities. Additionally, the Hydraulic system and quality of engines in our machine also help in achieving greater efficiency.