V. G. Sakthikumar, Managing Director, Schwing Stetter India. In an Interview with B2B Purchase

During the Technovation Fest 2022, Sakthikumar, Managing Director, Schwing Stetter (India) Pvt. Ltd., speaks exclusively to B2B Purchase Magazine, for a walk through of their global manufacturing facility. He also shared Schwing’s plan to boost domestic manufacturing and exports in the coming years.

Can you talk about the upcoming Technovation Fest 2022? 

India is currently preparing to meet the GDP target of 5 trillion by committing to investments in infrastructure, which has now gone up by another 1.2 trillion dollars. We already see a lot of investment, with site requirements for concrete batching plants, pumps, piling rigs, and cranes going up.

The year 2021 was much better than the year 2020 for the construction industry. The growth graph has improved in 2021 as the figures we achieved were similar to the business we did in 2018.

At Technovation 2022, we reached out to many customers as construction activities are getting on a bigger scale with high-speed delivery. To achieve this, we need technology, innovative products and solutions, new skill sets, and appropriate skill training requirements. So, Technovation 2022 is a knowledge sharing platform that brought experts across the construction and infrastructure segment to lecture on technology and innovation on topics like concrete, 3D printing, shotcreting, piling rigs, material recycling, managing steel fibre in concreting, utilisation of micro-pores in construction, dry mortar rental business, and the future mechanisation prospects for optical fibre cable laying. There was a tremendous response to the event, and orders were placed beyond our expectations. This is definitely a positive sign, as this event was to offer an enhanced customer experience and we didn’t expect any orders through this event.

Client Testimony: Schwing Stetter’s reliability and durability make them distinct

Can you please share some information about your global manufacturing facility in Chennai, in terms of its capacity and investment? 

Our global manufacturing facility in Chennai was built to offer a wide range of machines and equipment locally as well as globally. With this facility, supply chain management has become efficient due to the proximity of the various vendors, and the challenges earlier faced have become redundant.

Talking about the further evolution of Schwing Stetter India, we believe it will change even more with time. Our primary focus has been to build capacities and develop products, processes, and systems in preparation for a larger leap in the coming days.

Schwing Stetter has invested around ₹350 crores in the Chennai Global Manufacturing Hub and is planning to invest additionally. The investments made so far are as per the requirements prescribed by the Global Investor Meet (GIM) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Tamil Nadu government. With this facility addition, Schwing Stetter has become the biggest subsidiary in the group and its parent company.

This facility is rolling out products of world-class standards where innovation and upgradation are an ongoing process. Customised products as per customers’ requirements and complete packaged solutions are Schwing Stetter’s forte. In 2021, Schwing Stetter was recognised to have an in-house R & D entity by the government of India. With this, we do have huge plans to innovate on new products and equipment.

What about the global expansion of your footprints by catering to the international market?

About that, I believe 2022 will be a big year for us as we already have orders in the pipeline from Europe, the East, and the US, and soon we will initiate our services in these locations as well. Furthermore, all these countries will soon have 50-metre boom pumps that are “Made in India.”

How is shotcrete equipment gaining momentum? 

Schwing Stetter India has been exporting shotcreting equipment for quite some time. Our shotcrete machines are being used in countries like Dubai and Brazil. These machines are manufactured at our global manufacturing facility and are exported to other countries globally. Also, the government has announced an investment of ₹ 2 lakh crores in the hydropower tunnels, road tunnels, and more. This development projects further call for the extensive application of shotcreting machines, and Schwing Stetter is the only company to offer it.

How do you approach hybrid or electric vehicles? 

There are certain sectors in the construction industry where electrical and hybrid systems can be a part of the construction equipment, but there are many challenges such as optimum battery available in mass quantity, power to weight ratio calculations, price constraints, mass production constraints, and technology know-how transfer from peers.

Schwing Stetter is continuously innovating and we are looking to bring out a fully built electrical version of our shotcreting pump very soon. When this EV version is launched, it will remove the effects of operating a fuel-based vehicle in tunnels.