CE industry is witnessing rapid growth in technology adoption

How do you see the⁣ present performance of⁣ the roads, highways and⁣ bridges construction in⁣ India? ⁣ What are the new technology⁣ trends witnessed currently?⁣

Roads have always been vital⁣ infrastructure for a country as they⁣ enable efficient transportation of goods⁣ and people. With higher thrust on⁣ infrastructure development over the last⁣ couple of years, the road construction⁣ industry in India is undergoing a⁣ paradigm shift. Robust demand, higher⁣ investments and significant policy⁣ support are changing the face of the⁣ sector. India has the third-largest road⁣ network in the world. India’s rate of⁣ road building has accelerated since⁣ 2010s. From an average 12 km per day in 2014–15 it reached 30 km per day⁣ in 2018-19 and is targeted to build 40⁣ kmof highways per day. The present⁣ government, recognising the importance⁣ of the sector, has significantly increased⁣ the award of projects to construct new⁣ roads and highways.⁣

The Indian construction equipment⁣ industry is witnessing a rapid increase⁣ in technology adoption. It involves⁣ technology in individual equipment and⁣ also project management technologies.⁣ Ammann India is making its best efforts⁣ to bring the latest technologies of all⁣ the road making machines and asphalt⁣ plants, adapting the same in its state-ofthe-⁣ art facility, which focuses on ‘Make⁣ in India’ concept, concentrating fully on⁣ green and digital technology.⁣ ⁣

What is your take on the cost and⁣ material efficiency for road making⁣ process?⁣ ⁣

India has to construct millions of⁣ kilometres of roads, be it expressways,⁣ national highways, state roads, rural⁣ roads, boarder roads, port connectivity⁣ etc. Thus, constructing these roads in a⁣ cost-effective manner with innovative⁣ technology is of utmost importance.⁣ There are many ways by which the⁣ cost can be brought under control. For⁣ example, the road making process, the⁣ machines used for road building and the inputs that go into road making.⁣ We as an equipment manufacturer⁣ can contribute in all the three areas. To⁣ name a few, bringing in the latest stateof-⁣ the-art equipment of the highest⁣ efficiency, lowest fuel consumption, use⁣ of attachments and accessories for use⁣ of recycled material etc, which can bring⁣ down the cost of road making. Ammann⁣ India has to its credit, introduced⁣ some of these techniques both in its⁣ asphalt plants as well as the other road⁣ machinery technology which consumes⁣ less fuel and attachments to make use⁣ of recycled material. Another area where⁣ the cost of the machinery can come⁣ down is developing local components and⁣ aggregates, indigenisationin India rather⁣ than importing, which will substantially⁣ reduce the cost of the machinery. Now,⁣ the biggest cause of concern for us is⁣ increasingsteel cost. The steel price has⁣ gone up substantially from `42/kg in⁣ November to `72/kg in June 2021. With⁣ this kind of steep increase in steel price,⁣ the input cost of all the machineries have⁣ gone up substantially. The result is that all⁣ the equipment have become expensive⁣ and the construction cost will go up.⁣

As projects are growing bigger with⁣ shrinking execution timelines, how is⁣ Ammann coping up with this scenario?⁣

When the projects are growing bigger⁣ and execution times are lower obviously,⁣ you need more mechanisation, use of⁣ higher capacity machines and equipment⁣ that have higher productivity, trained⁣ and skilled manpower etc. Even though⁣ the MoRTH does not specify the capacity⁣ of the asphalt plant to be used on⁣ the NHAI projects, many reputed big⁣ contractors go for higher capacity plants⁣ of 180 and 260 tons. Obviously, they will⁣ have higher productivity and once they⁣ have necessary balancing equipment like⁣ pavers, rollers etc., they can substantially⁣ increase the rate of road building and⁣ thus finish the projects faster. We have⁣ already produced and supplied plants of⁣ 260 tons capacity in India and if required⁣ we can also bring even higher capacity⁣ of 400 to 600 tons/hour plants, as we⁣ have these designs already available in⁣ our Group’s product range which can be⁣ replicated in India.⁣ ⁣

What has been the major challenges⁣ for your company when it comes to⁣ road construction?⁣

Our major challenges especially when⁣ it comes to supply of asphalt plant is⁣ insufficient time available with us for⁣ execution of our orders. It becomes⁣ even more tricky when the size of the⁣ plant is bigger and we have dependency⁣ on certain imported components.⁣ It is very difficult to produce such⁣ huge capacity plants and keep it in⁣ stock, since if not delivered on time,⁣ it occupies too much of space in our⁣ manufacturing facility. In addition to⁣ this, till the last moment, we do not⁣ know what type of fuel ultimately the⁣ customer is going to use, as we have⁣ to make the burner suitable for the⁣ fuel. At the time of commissioning, we⁣ also have the challenges to adjust the⁣ burner, as many a times the fuel is too⁣ much contaminated. All these make it⁣ sometimes difficult for us to erect and⁣ commission the plant at a reasonable⁣ time, leading to unnecessary wastage⁣ of manpower, cost and customer⁣ dissatisfaction.⁣ ⁣

What are your expansion plans as the⁣ government is targeting to complete⁣ 40 km roads per day?⁣

We don’t think constructing 40⁣ kilometers of road per day is a tall⁣ target. In the recent past one of our⁣ customer M/s. Rajpath Infracon Pvt.⁣ Ltd. – Maharashtra, created a record of⁣ laying 39 kilometers of road in a single⁣ day. This was achieved with one single⁣ Ammann Plant of 140 ton capacity. So⁣ we are quite ready to support all the⁣ initiatives of Government in targeting⁣ higher achievement of constructing⁣ roads per day.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣