The construction equipment industry should focus more on adding efficiency to their equipment. Here, Alok Jha, Director – Sales & Marketing, India & SAARC – CASE Construction Equipment, believes that adoption of CEV Stage-V/Trem norms will act as a catalyst to increase our exports in the market of Europe and North America”,

CASE Construction Equipment has a 180-year legacy of producing world-class, cutting-edge products. Our machines are equipped with various features built with customers’ needs in mind, including performance, security, ease of use, fuel efficiency, and equipment monitoring. For operator ease and safety, CASE products include prominent features such as comfortable rotating seats, RH pillar mounted GVAC control, open and lockable storage spaces on the RH cluster for operator comfort and AV system for quick information, engines designed with lockable hoods, and rear-view visibility for maximum safety of the operators.

Can you talk about your product range’s quality performance and monitoring features?
Various smart features are also present in all our products that help in quality performance and monitoring. One of these is our renowned Telematics system for monitoring. It provides information related to the machine’s maintenance, tracking, utilisation, and security. It sends real-time SMR alerts on fuel usage, battery life, geo-fencing, etc. This exclusive SMS alert feature helps the user with the controlled safety of the machine and self-detects the imminent need for repair, thereby reducing the inefficiency or threat caused by an unfit machine.

Furthermore, CASE excavators are outfitted with an in-built CASE Intelligent Hydraulic System (CIHS), which improves fuel efficiency and provides smooth control over the machine. The advanced hydraulic system offers higher breakout forces, improved swing speeds, and greater swing torque, resulting in faster cycle times and a 5 percent increase in productivity.

We have been a market leader in the vibratory compactor segment and have sold over 20,000 units in India. We also provide best-in-class loader backhoes with more than 50,000 units sold in India.

How is the equipment industry coping with emission standard challenges?
In India, construction equipment [CE] OEMs are doing their part to lower environmental carbon emissions by complying with the BSIV standards. While it has resulted in a cost increment for customers, we have tried our best to absorb as much of the cost increment as possible. The challenge now for CE OEMs is to move to BSV in the next two years by April 2024. Once the new regulations go into effect, construction equipment prices are sure to decrease. When the final BS criteria were put in place in 2021, the sector saw a decline in sales. The  construction equipment industry will benefit from implementing the new emission standards (CEV-Stage V/ Trem) as it will open doors to more developed markets in Europe and North America for increased exports. It is essential, therefore, to swiftly transition into BS-V engines once they come into effect.

How is fuel efficiency related to the ROI of equipment?
Fuel is one of the major consumption factors in projects. Strict monitoring and control are needed for the increase in profitability. As a result, implementing an efficient fuel management programme is essential for lowering the operational costs of construction equipment.

It is one of the elements at the core of  CASE products’ design. For instance, our FX series of soil compactors are  equipped with an advanced FPT engine, designed for precisely controlled fuel injection and optimum power and torque delivery, offering better drivability and fuel efficiency. Additionally, the new auto-idle feature improves fuel efficiency by 3 percent. The CASE 952EX soil compactor has up to 5 percent improved fuel efficiency and a new Diesel oxidation Catalyst [DOC] system for exhaustive after treatment.

Do you notice any shift in the procurement pattern?
With a renewed focus on the manufacturing sector and various government programmes aiming to make India the preferred global  manufacturing hub, we see more and  more equipment companies choosing to localise their products. Procuring parts and raw materials from within the country has helped tackle the global supply chain issues affecting various aligned sectors. CASE produces 75 percent of its products in-house for the domestic market and over 75 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. India is recognised as the best-cost source country for us at CASE. Our Vibratory Compactors and Loader Backhoes are over 90 percent localised, and we plan to increase sourcing from India to 1 billion dollars in the next two years.

How does your range of solutions complement sustainability?
All CASE products are designed with sustainability in mind. Our products include features that contribute to reducing our carbon footprint by focusing on fuel efficiency. CASE products are equipped with engines designed for precisely controlled fuel injection for optimum fuel usage.

In our recently introduced FX series of loaders and backhoes, we use FPT engines, which provide powerful performance and fast response time. Boasting a BSIV engine and a class-leading operator station, the FX Series is a revolutionary step towards extended care for the people and environment. The new series is powered by an advanced hydraulic system along with VVP that helps provide fuel savings of up to 14 percent.

The newly launched 770NXe Loader Backhoe offers three working modes – ECO, STANDARD, and POWER. The ECO mode delivers the best fuel efficiency with a working reach of up to 22 percent and a lower maintenance cost of up to 12 percent. The standard mode gives a perfect balance of fuel efficiency and productivity. The POWER mode offers increased productivity.

Can you talk about the initiatives in your organisation to reduce, reuse, and recycle?
Globally, our parent company, CNH Industrial, has achieved a gold medal in the Sustainability Yearbook 2022, published by S&P Global in 2022, for sustainability initiatives. We were one of 56 firms that received CDP’s AA score out of a global pool of over 13,000 disclosing companies and were included in the CDP climate change A-List and the CDP Water Security A-List. Our initiative in India to reduce crop stubble burning through crop residue management has been awarded the best CSR Initiative at the “CSR Times” Awards, the Global CSR Excellence Awards, and the “Indian Tractor of the Year” awards.

As a part of our sustainability goals contributing to reducing carbon emissions, the company has installed solar panels at CASE’s Pithampur plant that will help provide up to 25 percent of the plant’s energy through a natural source. We have also adopted a pond, Sanjay Jalashay in Pithampur, as part of the company’s Jal Sanchay Water Conservation Project.