Sanjay Suerliya, Managing Partner, Uniter Engineering Products. In an Interview with B2B Purchase

How has COVID time impacted road construction in India compared to projections? Covid time has had a significant impact all over the world, affecting almost every domain. Road construction is highly dependent on fieldwork, and it costs our customers lots of manpower. As per the norms shared by the government regarding curfew and lockdown, a significant number of road projects have been put on hold lately. Considering road construction manufacturing data for the years 2017, 2018, and 2019, it shows stable growth in the industry after many years, and that eventually declined over 2020 to date.

What kind of technology trends are being witnessed currently? What equipment is transforming to meet the current construction demands? Recently, the government came up with the idea of using the Bharat Stage-4 Engine (BS4 Engine) for asphalt paving machinery having wheels or tracks with rubber-coated for the operations and travelling. The government is taking such value-added steps towards getting environmentally friendly operations and noise emissions under control as it combines with the goal of the manufacturer to provide ecofriendly machinery for the betterment of society

Customers’ preferences have shifted toward paver machinery that is maintenance-free, eco-friendly, has safety features, and is reasonably priced for the quality it provides. Nowadays, hydrostatic paver machinery is preferred more compared to mechanical paver machinery as it has lower maintenance costs that lower the road construction costs as well as technology value addition by paver manufacturers, providing reliable paving solutions. Hence, it’s a win win situation for customers as well as manufacturers.

How will new-age designs, technologies, machinery, and equipment play a role in carving a concrete future for roads and bridges in India? It’s high time for India to lead and become advanced in terms of growth in roads and bridges. Customers’ preferences have shifted toward a dependable paving solution, as has the manufacturers’ mission to provide quality paving and, in combining operations, eco-friendly defines the significant change in India’s vision.

Indian road construction machinery manufacturers have the potential to be market leaders worldwide. The adaptability of the domain is changing. The focus of customers is shifting from traditional products to tech-based products. Involvement from senior management at a national level is required, which will help in achieving quality paving and industrial growth worldwide.

How does your product run parallel to the industry’s growth and upgradation in government policies? We believe in the government’s vision. Our UWP series offers a BS4 engine with an up-gradation of technology, adding safety features and low-maintenance operation. This eventually helps our customers to minimise their project costs. Our R & D department has worked one-to-one with the norms specified by the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), and our machinery is approved by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). We are satisfied with the up-gradation we brought to our product, and receiving customers’ positive feedback makes us happy. This is how we serve the nation’s growth.