With large-sized construction projects underway, India’s construction equipment (CE) industry has the biggest opportunity for expansion. Ajay Tripathi, Technical Director, Nilang Asphalt Equipments Pvt Ltd, elaborates more on the trend.

How do you look at the current equipment industry scenario?
In the current scenario, it is important that buyers put weightage on value for money, thus prefer quality equipment with advanced technology and customisation. Here, I would like to share my experience of why customers prefer manufacturers that are ready to accept challenges pertaining to customisation. One of our customer L G Chaudhary & Sons in Ahmedabad, came to us after discussions with some plant manufacturers as they wanted to buy batch mix plant with modifications due to space limitation. We took that challenge and supplied the plant with the necessary modifications and installed in the available space. The customer is quite happy now. We have also provided batch mix plant having capacity of 60TPH for the first time in India, to another customer who had to complete a project inside the city.

The steadily growing road repair and construction business across the globe will be accelerating product demand over the forecast time span. Asphalt batch mixing plants are widely used in bridges, tunnels and road construction projects. Further more, booming automobile industry in Asia-Pacific is placing greater demand on country’s roads. Raw materials in asphalt mixing plants pose substantial environmental threats. The environmental pollution caused depends on the type of process (batch and continuous) in asphalt mixing plants. Major companies including us are adopting environment-friendly and sustainable green technology to tackle pollution-related issues.

What are the key challenges faced by the industry?
Indian CE industry faces multiple challenges. The emergence of foreign CE manufacturers, including Chinese companies, has forced domestic players to embrace advanced technology that meets global standards. While this ensures better efficiency, it is also reducing the need for skilled labour. Competition among key domestic and foreign players is set to intensify in the coming years.

How do you look at the future of CE market in India?
Despite the challenges, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Foreseeing large construction projects underway, CE industry will see boom in the coming days. The increased size of projects and steadily declining availability of manual labour, favour the demand for work mechanisation at construction sites. More construction activities in highways, railway, bridges and ports are on the cards and hence, CE industry remains bullish about the long-term prospects.

Increased size of projects and steadily declining availability of manual labour, favour the demand for work mechanisation at construction sites.
Ajay Tripathi, Technical Director, Nilang Asphalt Equipments Pvt Ltd