At Bauma CONEXPO, we showcased our range of comprehensive product solutions and other Caterpillar brand equipment highlighting the latest offerings, aftermarket services and financial solutions. The exhibit featured technology-driven solutions designed to improve the productivity, efficiency, safety, and profitability of the customers. The wide range of products that were displayed includes hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, backhoe loaders, skid steer loaders, attachments and generator sets along with our subsidiary brands SEM, Hindustan and FG Wilson.

Caterpillar is committed to supporting India’s growth and helping customers succeed in with our innovative products, services, and digital-enabled solutions.

The government expects the market to double in size by 2024. How do you look at it from a business standpoint?

According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) India’s economy is expected to grow at 6.8% in the current fiscal year, making it one of the highest and fastest-growing large economies in the world. With the increasing population and income of the people, the development will happen multi-fold.

The Government of India through initiatives like Prime Minister Gati Shakti, National Infrastructure Pipeline is significantly increasing its investments in the construction of infrastructure, including roads, railways, ports, airports, affordable housing, and urban planning (smart cities), among other things. Also, there will be technology-driven progress in the future keeping in mind the demands of young tech-savvy customers.

Based on the Government’s renewed thrust toward infrastructure-led growth the Indian construction equipment industry continues to remain upbeat about growth prospects in the mid to long term.

We are focused on developing and providing comprehensive solutions that help make our customers more successful with technology, financing and aftermarket offerings designed to increase the value proposition of Cat equipment.

The government intends to promote biofuel and electric vehicles. Do you see it as a challenge or an opportunity?

We view it as an opportunity. Thus, we must transition to alternative energy sources, electric or biodiesel. We are the industry leader when it comes to advanced technology and sustainable solutions. Our aim is to help customers reach their sustainability goals and lowering emissions with a variety of solutions that includes machines running on alternate fuels and technology that increases fuel efficiency to help customers build a more sustainable world and realize our commitment and contribution to a reduced-carbon future.

We are providing our customers with engines driven by blended fuel i.e., ethanol and petrol. Caterpillar is committed to sustainability by offering integrated and differentiated solutions and leadership in technology by offering cutting-edge facilities that challenge the status quo.

Is there a change in the purchasing behaviour in India today, given the price-sensitive Indian market? How are your products and services helping meet the changing needs of the customers?

Yes, I believe the market is changing and most projects are now becoming time-bound. Customers are incentivised to complete the job on time or even ahead of schedule. It makes sense for them to go for more reliable, efficient, and productive equipment, allowing them to finish the work in less time.

Caterpillar provides not only machines and equipment but also a wide range of related services and technology solutions throughout the product lifecycle.

To help customers protect their investments, Cat Financial offers various financing, and leasing options as well as extended protection packages. Cat Financial can support customers in making the best choice to support their business, no matter how big or small, whether it be for new or used Cat machines or for repair/rebuild options to keep their current machines operational.

Customer Value Agreements’ (CVAs) can support hassle-free service to customers at any point in the machine lifecycle to help maximize machine performance and utilization. A CVA includes dealer technician support using genuine Cat parts for certain planned maintenance and fluid health management to help identify issues before they cause unexpected downtime. It is an ‘all in one’ plan to support the machine’s health and keep machines running longer with genuine Cat parts, and to make owning equipment easier for Cat customers. Customers can contact their dealers to know more about CVAs and other offers. Long-standing Cat dealers, Gainwell Commo Sales India Pvt Ltd (GCPL) and Gmmco Ltd have all the technical information, training, and access to the latest updates to provide reliable services to our customers.

Caterpillar machines perfectly match the customers’ demand for low ownership and operating costs. To further customer advantage, our machines come with simple, easy-to-maintain robust systems to keep the machine up and running all day, every day. At Caterpillar, we continually look for opportunities to broaden our product and service offerings, address our customer’s needs and help them to succeed in their business.

Please explain how your equipment is powered by digital technology.

Our machines and equipment are supported by technology and solutions designed to improve the productivity, efficiency, safety, and profitability of the customers of the Indian construction equipment industry. The following are the advanced IT solutions making us the most intelligent iron in the world:

• Cat® Product Link™, along with GPS connect, which not only helps improve traceability and visibility but also enables the systems to observe, identify and understand different facets of heavy machinery operation without human intervention and improve the maintenance and operation of machines.
• Cat® Grade with Assist for excavators uses machine position sensors and operator-defined depth and slope parameters to automate boom and stick movements for more accurate cuts with less effort to help increase operator efficiency. Cat Motor Grader equipped with AccuGrade™ Grade Control System enhances grading accuracy and virtually eliminates the need for survey stakes. The revolutionary Caterpillar solution is factory integrated, sensor-independent, and features a suite of products which includes cross slope, sonic, laser, Global Positioning System (GPS), and Automatic Total Station (ATS) technology etc.
• With more than 1.4 million connected assets capturing and reporting machine operating data, customers are now availing solutions like Cat Productivity and VisionLink® to help increase uptime and maximize profitability. VisionLink connects customers with a comprehensive overview of their entire fleet to optimize equipment performance and gives the customers confidence in their operation and access to actionable information.
• Cat Productivity, a cloud-based productivity management tool helps to deliver real benefits for customers such as fuel reduction, cost reduction, improved productivity, optimized efficiency, improved utilization, and payload reporting.
• The improved analytical and service capabilities such as telematics, inspections, SOS Services, as well as eCommerce platforms like parts.cat.com, and other dealer-specific mobile applications are making it easy for our customers to own, operate and maintain the equipment at a click of a button.

All these features represent Caterpillar’s commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to improve the sustainability of products, services, and solutions for its customers. Every product and service get one step closer to fulfilling the purpose to help customer build a better world.

How do you see equipment rental picking up?

The rental business in India is not an organized sector. However, 50 to 60 percent of construction equipment owners, particularly in the retail area, rent machines like backhoe loaders and mini excavators, to other customers for their projects. India already has a sizable informal rental sector. There is an opportunity for people to have an organised rental ecosystem. Our dealers, GMMCO and Gainwell offer a range of rental fleets for customers across India for specific requirements.

For more details visit: https://www.caterpillar.com/