At Ammann, our focus will remain on combining global engineering expertise with strong local capabilities
AMMANN INDIA will be showcasing its solutions across asphalt production, paving, compaction concrete applications and recycling technologies with a strong emphasis on productivity, efficiency and sustainability at BAUMA CONEXPO INDIA 2026. In an exclusive interview to CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES, DHEERAJ PANDA, MD, AMMANN INDIA, details on his company’s products and solutions to be showcased at BAUMA CONEXPO INDIA, aftermarket support, Customer centric initiatives and a lot more.
What key products, technologies, or launches will you be showcasing at BAUMA CONEXPO INDIA 2026, and how do these offerings address the evolving needs of construction, mining, and infrastructure segments such as bridges, flyovers, rural projects and smart cities?
BAUMA CONEXPO INDIA has become an important platform for us to demonstrate how construction equipment is evolving alongside India’s infrastructure ambitions. At this edition, our focus will be on solutions across asphalt production, paving, compaction and concrete applications, with a strong emphasis on productivity, efficiency and sustainability.
A key area will be our recycling technologies. India’s road construction programme is generating significant opportunities to increase the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement, or RAP. Our technologies are designed to support higher RAP utilisation, with our current solutions capable of processing up to 60% RAP and a clear technology roadmap towards 100%. The ValueTec series, for instance, has already demonstrated 60% RAP utilisation on a 94 km National Highway 327 project.
We will also showcase digital and intelligent technologies such as AS1 Plant Control System, A Cloud, Service Link and ACE intelligent compaction. These technologies provide greater visibility into equipment and processes, helping contractors improve consistency and productivity.
The larger objective is to address the diverse requirements of India’s infrastructure programme, whether it is a major expressway, an urban flyover, a bridge project or rural connectivity. Customers increasingly want equipment that delivers predictable performance, lower operating costs and measurable lifecycle value. That is the direction in which our portfolio is evolving.
Please provide details on your emphasis on technology, research, design and innovation? What is your focus on technological up gradation in respect of digitalisation, automation, AI, telematics and predictive technologies to enhance productivity, safety, lifecycle value and overall machine performance for customers?
Technology today has to translate into a tangible business outcome for the customer. At Ammann, our approach to research and innovation is therefore centred on improving productivity, machine utilisation, safety, fuel efficiency and lifecycle economics rather than introducing technology for its own sake.
Digitalisation is becoming increasingly important across our equipment portfolio. Solutions such as AS1 provide real time plant visualisation, remote diagnostics, self diagnostics and error logging. A Cloud and Service Link extend this approach by enabling better monitoring and service support.
On our compaction equipment, ACE intelligent compaction helps operators achieve more consistent results by providing greater insight into compaction performance. Intelligent Eco Mode can reduce fuel consumption by up to 30%, demonstrating how digital technology can deliver a direct operational benefit.
We are also looking at the wider role of automation and predictive technologies. The industry is gradually moving from reactive maintenance towards condition based monitoring, where machine data can help identify potential issues before they become costly failures. The key challenge in India is ensuring that these technologies remain practical and accessible for contractors operating in highly diverse conditions. Our focus is therefore on designing systems that are intuitive, scalable and capable of delivering measurable value.
For us, innovation ultimately means making construction operations more predictable, efficient and sustainable while improving the total cost of ownership for customers.
Tell us about the indigenisation efforts undertaken by the company to meet the market requirements? What is the company’s approach to implementing the ‘Make in India’ drive?
Indigenisation is central to our long term strategy in India because the requirements of the Indian construction equipment market are often very different from those of other markets.
A machine designed for India has to account for demanding operating conditions, varied project environments, high utilisation and the commercial realities faced by contractors. Our approach has therefore been to progressively increase local manufacturing and sourcing while retaining Ammann’s global technology standards.
Our manufacturing presence in Gujarat is an important part of this strategy. The Ditasan facility in Mehsana gives us capabilities across manufacturing, testing and training, allowing us to strengthen both local production and technical capability.
Depending on the product category, our localisation levels are already in the range of approximately 85% to 95%. This creates several advantages. It improves supply chain resilience, reduces dependence on imports, enables faster response to market requirements and allows us to develop solutions better suited to Indian conditions.
Make in India, in our view, should ultimately mean more than assembling equipment locally. It should involve developing engineering capabilities, supplier ecosystems, technical skills and manufacturing expertise within the country.
India is also becoming increasingly important as an export base. Our Indian operations already contribute approximately 20% to 25% of revenue through exports.
That demonstrates the potential for India to become a manufacturing and engineering hub within the wider Ammann ecosystem.
How does your organisation ensure strong aftermarket support, customer service and high uptime for its equipment across diverse and demanding operating conditions?
For construction equipment, the relationship with the customer does not end when the machine is delivered. In fact, that is when the most important phase begins. Equipment productivity directly affects project timelines, and therefore uptime is one of the most important components of customer value. Our aftermarket strategy is built around service responsiveness, spare parts availability, technical expertise and preventive maintenance.
Technologies such as Service Link and A Cloud are helping us strengthen this model by providing better visibility into equipment performance and enabling faster diagnostics.
We are also investing in customer and operator training. The Ditasan facility in Gujarat includes dedicated training infrastructure and a compactor testing area. This is important because even the most advanced equipment can underperform if operators are not adequately trained. Our approach is also increasingly moving towards preventive and predictive service rather than waiting for a machine to fail. Remote diagnostics and machine data can help identify potential issues earlier, reducing unplanned downtime.
India presents an especially demanding operating environment because equipment may work across different geographies, climatic conditions and project types. Our service model therefore needs to combine global technical standards with local responsiveness. Ultimately, customers evaluate equipment through the productivity they achieve from it. Our responsibility is to ensure that the machine delivers consistent performance throughout its operating life, supported by the right people, parts, technology and technical expertise.
What sort of Customer centric initiatives has your company undertaken to be one step ahead of competition?
For us, customer centricity begins with understanding the operating realities of our customers. Construction equipment is a long term investment, so customers evaluate much more than the initial purchase price. They look at productivity, fuel efficiency, uptime, service support and total cost of ownership.
At Ammann, we have therefore focused on creating a stronger lifecycle proposition around our equipment. This includes application focused product solutions, operator training, digital tools for monitoring and diagnostics, and responsive after sales support. Our platforms such as A Cloud and Service Link help customers gain greater visibility into equipment performance and maintenance requirements. We have also strengthened our local manufacturing and localisation capabilities, which enables us to respond faster to market requirements and provide solutions suited to Indian operating conditions.
The next phase of customer centricity will increasingly be about helping customers make better decisions through data, technology and application specific insights. Our objective is to build long term partnerships where we contribute to productivity and profitability across the entire equipment lifecycle.
What is your assessment of the market potential for your key product categories in India, and how do you foresee demand trends evolving in 2027 and beyond?
India remains one of the most attractive construction equipment markets globally, supported by sustained infrastructure spending, urbanisation and investments in roads, highways, airports and industrial infrastructure.
For Ammann, the outlook across asphalt plants, pavers and compaction equipment remains encouraging. Road construction will continue to be an important demand driver, while increasing emphasis on road quality, durability and sustainable construction will influence equipment selection. Looking towards 2027 and beyond, I expect the market to become more technology driven. Customers will increasingly evaluate equipment on productivity, fuel consumption, emissions, automation, data visibility and total cost of ownership rather than simply capacity.
We are also likely to see greater adoption of recycling technologies as sustainability becomes increasingly integrated into project specifications. This creates significant opportunities for technologies that enable higher RAP utilisation and more energy efficient asphalt production. The Indian market is therefore moving from a volume driven growth phase towards a more sophisticated market where technology, efficiency and lifecycle economics will become stronger differentiators.
How is your organisation embedding sustainability, cleaner technologies and environmentally responsible practices into its products, operations and long-term strategy?
Sustainability at Ammann is being approached as an engineering and business priority rather than as a standalone initiative. The objective is to develop technologies that reduce environmental impact while delivering measurable operating benefits to customers. One important area is asphalt recycling. Our technologies are designed to support higher utilisation of reclaimed asphalt pavement, reducing dependence on virgin raw materials and lowering the overall environmental footprint of road construction. Our plants are engineered with a roadmap towards 100 percent RAP integration.
We are also focusing on technologies that reduce energy consumption during asphalt production. Foam Bitumen Warm Mix technology, for instance, enables production at significantly lower temperatures, which can translate into substantial fuel savings. Similarly, Intelligent Eco Mode helps reduce fuel consumption in compaction equipment. Our sustainability approach extends to our own operations as well. We are working towards increasing renewable electricity usage and progressing towards our long term net zero ambition. Ultimately, the most meaningful contribution comes from making sustainable construction practical, scalable and economically viable for customers.
Rentals are growing, your strategy to tap opportunities and outlook for the rentals market.
The growth of equipment rentals reflects an important evolution in the Indian construction industry.
Contractors increasingly want access to modern equipment without necessarily committing significant capital upfront, particularly when project durations and equipment utilisation can vary. We see this as a complementary channel for expanding access to advanced construction technology. Our focus will be on understanding the requirements of rental companies and ensuring that equipment supplied through this channel delivers the same expectations around productivity, reliability, serviceability and operating efficiency. Compaction equipment, pavers and other road construction equipment can benefit from this model, particularly as infrastructure activity expands across regions and contractors seek greater flexibility in fleet management.
At the same time, rental businesses need strong equipment uptime and predictable maintenance costs because utilisation directly determines their returns. This makes after sales support, parts availability, diagnostics and service capability particularly important. I expect organised rentals to gain further traction as the construction equipment market becomes more professionalised. For manufacturers, the opportunity is to build strong partnerships with rental operators while ensuring that technology remains accessible to a wider customer base.
Your company has been at exhibiting at BAUMA CONEXPO INDIA, how has the exhibition evolved. As an exhibitor what have been the major take away from the exhibition.
BAUMA CONEXPO INDIA has evolved significantly with the Indian construction equipment industry. What was earlier viewed primarily as a platform to display products has increasingly become a forum for technology, innovation, business discussions and industry dialogue. One of the most important changes we have observed is the sophistication of visitors and customers. Conversations today are increasingly centred around productivity, automation, fuel efficiency, sustainability, digitalisation and total cost of ownership. This reflects the broader maturity of the Indian construction sector.
For Ammann, the exhibition provides an opportunity to demonstrate how global technology can be adapted to meet Indian requirements. It also allows us to engage directly with customers, understand emerging challenges and receive immediate market feedback.
Another important takeaway is the increasing global relevance of India. The exhibition brings together manufacturers, customers and industry stakeholders from across markets, creating opportunities to exchange ideas and identify emerging technology trends.
For us, BAUMA CONEXPO INDIA is therefore as much about listening and learning as it is about showcasing our solutions.
What is your outlook for the construction equipment industry and your company going forward?
I remain positive about the long term outlook for India’s construction equipment industry. The fundamentals are strong, with continued investment in transport infrastructure, urban development, industrial corridors and connectivity. However, the industry is entering a phase where growth will increasingly be accompanied by greater expectations around technology and efficiency. Customers will demand equipment that delivers higher productivity with lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions, better uptime and stronger lifecycle economics.
Digitalisation will play an important role in this transition. Connected equipment, predictive maintenance, intelligent compaction and automated plant management will gradually become more mainstream as customers recognise their value.
For Ammann, our focus will remain on combining global engineering expertise with strong local capabilities. We will continue investing in localisation, technology, sustainability and customer support while developing solutions suited to India’s evolving requirements. The opportunity ahead is significant. The next decade will be defined by smarter, cleaner and more productive construction, and we want to play a meaningful role in enabling that transformation.
