Case India stands by Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan started by the government. We already have a world class manufacturing plant in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, where we’ve been locally producing our construction equipment range says Puneet Vidyarthi, Brand Leader, Case India.

How do you see Atmanirbhar Bharat to impact your sector?
The Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan campaign will help OEMs in the Construction Equipment sector by generating a local component sourcing base for the construction sector and facilitating collaboration with the MSMEs which could further lead to better R&D, infrastructure, logistics, delivery and subsequently a more robust product line in the country. This initiative will help in bringing down the cost of parts which will subsequently lead to the low cost of the final product allowing for improved margins. 

The improved logistics and infrastructure will also ensure speedy delivery of parts to the dealers and customers and is going to create better coordination with the local vendors. Local manufacturing will also result in upskilling of labour and will play a huge role in creating a better eco-system. This initiative can turn India into a manufacturing hub which can attract more foreign investment thus generating jobs and strengthening the market further.

Case India stands by Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan started by the government. We already have a world class manufacturing plant in Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, where we’ve been locally producing our construction equipment range. Products from our plant are also exported to the markets of Africa, South East Asia, Russia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Middle Eastern countries.

In terms of your equipment range market dynamics, what will be the new state of the affair after 2020?
At Case, we launched our first ever excavator last year at Excon. The 22-ton excavator is specially designed for the Indian terrain and delivers faster cycle times and higher productivity. Currently, our focus is on introducing the machine in the Indian market, for our customers’ use. The CX220C is available in both standard and long undercarriage and hosts a range of fuel-saving features, advanced telematics and robust structures making it a suitable workhorse for tough Indian working conditions.

How the pandemic will catalyse the R&D for the development of future machines for this industry?
The pandemic affected all walks of life and disrupted the way we work. With it, it brought the need to be more technologically adept and less dependent on people. We saw companies changing their processes and drafting new protocols overnight to accommodate safety along with efficiency and technology had a huge role to play in it. 

Technological advancement has always been an essential part of the CE industry, and now even more so. Currently, digitalization is also bringing the fourth industrial revolution aka Industry 4.0 in the country to create smart and intuitive products for the future with higher efficiency and productivity and low downtime. 

Case has always been a technology-first brand. Globally, we have introduced a lot of product concepts which are loaded with advanced technological features like project TETRA and our autonomous tractor concept which is completely driverless, remotely controlled equipment which can increase a working day to a full 24 hours thereby increasing productivity. 

R&D is an important part of any advancement and this pandemic will drive the need for superior machines to increase the sustainability of businesses overall.

What kind of infrastructure upgrade initiatives should the government focus on to ensure the construction sector remains in robust health?
The government has announced a lot of measures and several projects to revive the construction sector. NHAI has identified 1,500 km of road projects to boost coastal connectivity which will provide the sector with immense opportunities. Additionally, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has hinted towards incoming of more projects in the `111 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline. The total of 7,000 projects has been identified under the National Infrastructure Pipeline projecting investment of `111 lakh crore during 2020-25. We are confident that these measures will prove beneficial for the sector and will bring it back on track.

What are the equipment financing options and technology support you have made available for your customers?
Through our financial arm CNH Capital, we have made it easy for customers to buy equipment. We have boosted our capital availability and introduced a 48 hours loan approval policy to facilitate easy and flexible loan service for our customers. We have also introduced new buying schemes for our customers, for instance, one of our schemes enables them to buy equipment and pay for it 90 days later. We’re hopeful these initiatives will help in alleviating any liquidity crunch and prove beneficial for our customers.

We’ve been engaging with our customers through multiple online platforms and are also creating new avenues to interact with them. We’ve been in touch with them digitally and even in these times, we’ve taken care of their servicing and other needs. Case Sitewatch is also monitored by Case After Market team, to ensure that timely action can be taken in case of any potential disruption in working. At Case, we care about our customers and never shy away from going the extra mile for them.