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Cos gear up for Excon 2000

Janaki Murali

BANGALORE, Dec. 11

THE big battle between heavyweights begin tomorrow at the Excon 2000, for who will rule the Indian construction sector. At stake is the Rs 3,000-crore industry, and the plum contracts for several infrastructure projects.

Excon 2000, an international exhibition and conference on construction equipment beginning here from December 12 to 16, is aimed at providing cost effective solutions to the country's growing infrastructure requirements and will also showcase the latest equipment and techniques for the construction industry.

With competition hotting up from the multinationals and with the threat from Korean dumping, the domestic sector has to pull up its socks, especially if it still wants to be in the reckoning.

CII which is organising Excon 200O, calculates that with the need for mechanisation in construction hovering around 15-20 per cent, as compared to international levels of 60-70 per cent, technology-related issues need to be addressed, which is what the c onference section will aim to do.

With domestic players crying themselves hoarse about Korean dumping it is to be seen whether this issue will dominate the conference.

The conference has been split into two sessions, one addressing technology and the other financing. The technology section will cover topics such as status of Indian equipment, R&D, technology development, and operation and maintenance. The financing sec tion will cover innovative options, banking/rental options, tax implications and information technology.

With customs duty going up to 50 per cent sometimes on certain components, domestic players' grouse has been that the higher tax structure has put them at a disadvantage vis-a-vis the Koreans, who get away with lesser import duty on completely built unit s.

As a precursor to the big show on Tuesday, big as in huge, especially with all the heavy equipment on display, several companies have already pressed their public relations wing into service, to vie for top of the mind recall with their products.

The Swedish multinational, Volvo, in fact has been the first to call a press conference and announce the launch of a range of products in the sector.

Mr A.M. Muralidharan, General Manager, Volvo Construction Equipments, told Business Line, that the motor grader which had been test marketed in India had now been launched with minor adjustments to suit Indian conditions. Volvo's range of construction eq uipment being launched today, would be both available on road and off road.

Although the products would be costlier than those coming from the domestic competition, the Swedish MNC hopes to make good in reduced operating and production costs and lesser fuel consumption.

Although the company will be bringing its products as completely assembled units for now, it plans to assemble these equipment here in the last quarter of 2001.

Under the Volvo Construction Equipment umbrella, the products launched include articulated hauler, motor grader, wheel loaders, mini excavators and excavators. All the products launched comply with Euro II norms on air pollution and European dynamic nois e level standards on noise pollution.

Tatra Udyog, a joint venture between Czech company Tatra AS and Venus Udyog, which came to India some three years ago, meanwhile plans to showcase its products from coal carrier, cement mixers, crane to Tatra tractor trailers. Tatra AS has a tie up with Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) as far as its sales to the defence sector is concerned.

Tatra Udyog's multi-axle trucks, says the press release, can function in demanding ambient conditions ranging from +50 degree celsius to -50 degree celsius.

Other exhibitors include Ashok Leyland, BEML, Caterpiller India, Escorts Construction, Greaves, Ingersoll Rand and Telco.

Pic.: Mr Ravi Uppal, Managing Director, Volvo India, Mr Keith Ellis, President, Asia Markets, Volvo Construction Company (VCE), and Mr A.M. Muralidharan, Deputy General Manager, VCE, at a press conference in Bangalore on Monday.

Picture by Saggere Ramaswamy