SCHWING Stetter makes concreting easier [Feb 2012]

Right from introducing new products to analysing its compatibility in the market, SCHWING Stetter follows stringent standards to execute and market its products
The construction equipment industry was very small in India some 10 – 15 years back. Only earthmoving machines like excavators and backhoe loaders were being produced back then. However, after the liberalisation process, construction equipment industry has grown with overseas and European manufacturers setting up shops in India. The concept in construction equipment industry is also growing since the last several years and every 4 years it is growing manifold. In 2010, the level was about 3.2 billion dollars and is expected to grow to 6.5 billion dollar by 2014 and 12 billion dollar by 2017.
The majority of construction equipment industry is classified into 4 major categories earthmoving, road plant equipment, concreting equipment, material handling equipment etc. The major portion is covered by earthmoving industry which is about 65-68 per cent. The concreting equipment industry contributes 10 per cent, material handling contributes 13 per cent and about 7 per cent is contributed by road building equipment manufacturers like asphalt plant and the rollers, vibrators rollers etc. whereas balance 3 per cent is of other related equipment.
SCHWING Stetter’s contribution to the Indian marketThe contribution of SCHWING Stetter India was less than 1 per cent of its total growth which is changing and today it contributes almost 23 per cent of the total turnover. The parent company, Stetter,  is looking at the Indian market with respect to introducing new products and strengthening other support functions like design, production, planning, ERP etc.
“Within a span of about 11-12 years, we have supplied more than 16,000 truck mixers whereas Stetter, our parent company took 50 years to supply 50,000 truck mixers. India is growing at a high speed and we have sold more than 50-60 per cent of truck mixers in the last 4 years” said Anand Sunderasan, MD, SCHWING Stetter India.
“SCHWING Stetter is not unknown to the Indian contractors, it’s known before we started our operation in late mid 99, most of our big contractors knew us because they have used this equipment either for world bank headed projects in India or for their projects abroad and this is the reason why we are able to sell such huge number of equipment” reported Mr. Sunderasan.
After introducing a new product in the market, the company analyses if the product can be directly sold in the Indian market or if customisation is required to suit the Indian condition because the Indian construction industry has many restriction and the way of working is slightly different from the European way.
Excelling through introducing new productsAccording to Mr. Sunderasan, “The company cannot localise 100 per cent and in certain key components there is no choice but to import from Germany. Proprietary items which are produced in-house comes from there as the investment for producing these component are really very huge”. However he has agreed that the Indian market also has to justify setting up such kind of facility in India.
SCHWING Stetter exclusively focuses on concreting business, the equipment produced are related to handling concrete only. Moreover, the company has a wide range of equipment that can handle small as well as large capacity batching plants. The entire range is available starting from 18 to 240 cubic meter per hour capacity. Similarly, the smallest concrete pump SP1000 is ideal for some of the projects in India due to small size. The biggest pump which it has manufactured is SP 2800. SP 3600 and SP 4800 are high pressure pumps.
The SP1800HD is a variant of SP1800 with higher volume output meeting the demand of customers to increase the speed of construction. The SP2800 features 145 KW engine and 160 bar concrete pressure is ideally suitable construction sites involved in high-rise construction of a height of around 200 meters. The SP3600 – this twin circuit 160 bar pressure valve is ideally suitable for concrete sites beyond 200 meters height and comes in aesthetic aerodynamic design. The new design will be dedicated for all models trailer pumps in the future.
Citing the need of smaller equipment, SCHWING Stetter India has recently launched a new product – an enterprising mini concrete mixer NIMO. NIMO is a 3 cubic meter mixer, created to meet the requirements of the Indian residential construction industry. This unique mixer can be used during the day, unlike larger mixers which cannot ply within the city during working hours, due to legal restrictions, and where it is not economically viable. Its light weight feature also enables it to manoeuvre through narrow lanes and over softer terrain. NIMO is all of 6500 mm in length x 2400 mm in width x 3100 mm in height.
VG Sakthikumar, Chief Operating Officer, SCHWING Stetter India said, “NIMO will bring about a revolution in the construction landscape with its small size, as it will help negotiate traffic during the day and noise pollution during the nights, and will accelerate the execution and delivery of time bound projects.”
Focusing on Customers’ SatisfactionElaborating the business strategies for Indian market, Mr. Sunderasan said, “We have a certain quality standard in the world followed in every factory. The workers in India are trained in Germany and they immediately work in the factory. We need to adjust to the needs of the country and for the colleagues in India make constant contact with the customers; they develop the equipment necessary to have the right equipment suitable to the needs of the Indian customers. Customers’ satisfaction is our top priority so we work very hard to achieve that everyday”.

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