
CATERPILLAR is committed to being a partner in the growth of the country
Caterpillar is known for applying technology to machines and job sites in ways that improve customer efficiency and productivity. An equally important goal is using technology to manage and mitigate safety risks for people in and around our machines. In an exclusive interview to CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES, AMIT BANSAL, DIRECTOR – SALES & MARKETING, BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS (BCP) DIVISION, CATERPILLAR INDIA PVT LTD. speaks about new launches, after sales service, Make In India and a lot more.
How has bauma Conexpo been for CATERPILLAR.
It’s going good. We have so many customers visiting us from across the country and it’s definitely a very good opportunity for all of us to talk to the customers, build relationships with them and showcase our offerings of Cat and other Caterpillar brand equipment – highlight latest offerings, aftermarket services and financial solutions that differentiate us.
What are the new products launched here?
We have got Hindustan 2021 F wheel loader. It complies with the stage V emission norms which are going to kick in from January. So, apart from the compliance, we also have made some changes in the cab. The new stylish cab integrates ROPS and FOPS to protect operators and give them a safer environment in which to work. The machine is fine-tuned with the right technologies for the right applications which results in lower operating costs, higher performance, and improved reliability across a variety of applications. It is built with linkage options and an extensive range of work tools and bucket styles is available to customize these machines for customers’ operations.
We have also launched “Services Commitment” program in India as part of our customer-focused solutions. Now included in Customer Value Agreements (CVA), the Services Commitment ensures guaranteed parts availability, prompt delivery, and timely service response within an agreed timeframe. Caterpillar experts will be on hand to provide more information, and customers can also take advantage of exclusive show offers.
Another exciting launch at Caterpillar’s Services display is the Cat Central App, enabling customers to order Genuine Cat parts at any time, and from anywhere. Cat Central also provides a range of additional benefits such as personalized features to find the right parts quickly, free in-app manuals, and more.
What role do you see in terms of Caterpillar in Viksit Bharat?
For more than 50 years, Caterpillar has been contributing towards the socio-economic development of the country, through investment in cutting-edge R&D, enabling us to localize our operations, develop robust infrastructure and create job opportunities. We have been a part of several breakthrough projects over many decades. From the construction of the Bhakra Dam in 1950s to recently inaugurated Atal Tunnel, our products are preferred for its reliability, operational efficiency, and the value for money. Dams to bridges, airport to ports, highways to mine sites, our product and solutions play a vital role in every infrastructure project. We have invested more than a billion dollars over the last several decades in the country primarily on the manufacturing facilities and in the R&D centers. Products manufactures in these facilities are not just supporting Indian customers but also global.
At Caterpillar, while our machines symbolize power and longevity, the true force behind this reputation is our people. With over 3,000 engineers currently working at the Caterpillar R&D Centre in India, investing in areas with the most potential to create value. Our engineers are at the core of our R&D centre offering diverse engineering expertise—mechanical, hydraulics, electronics, software, autonomy, and more. Our expansive footprint today comprises the company’s second-largest concentration of engineers worldwide. We have established Caterpillar India Engineering Services Private Limited (CIESPL) with the overarching goal of streamlining our operations and benefiting from the long-term scaling of engineering and enterprise service solutions, while also tapping into India’s rich pool of engineering talent.
We also have collaboration with prestigious institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. This collaboration is aimed at exploring various opportunities, including continuing education, consulting, sponsored programs, engineering cell development, and joint research. The primary objective of this partnership is to harness the exceptional talent pool available in India.
Caterpillar’s dedication to advancing technology maintains its leadership in manufacturing and engineering, delivering top-quality, innovative solutions to fulfil global demands. Additionally, our long-standing Cat dealers, Gainwell Commosales India Pvt Ltd and Gmmco Ltd are located across the country to serve and support our customers and respond quickly to their needs
After sales service as a strategic differentiator?
Absolutely. I think it’s very important for customers to keep their machines up and running. To make their operations more efficient we have come up with a services commitment program. The Cat® CVA Services Commitment is a set of service and parts guarantees focussed on the responsiveness of Cat dealers, in terms of service response times and parts availability. Cat CVA Services Commitment is offered through a Cat CVA. It provides:
- Service response guarantee: a Cat dealer technician will be on site within agreed timelines of logging your service request
- Parts availability guarantee: maintenance parts delivered as soon as next business day
- Parts availability guarantee: repair parts delivered as soon as second business day
If the service response guarantee is not met, customers will receive complimentary service-related benefits. If the maintenance and/or repair parts availability guarantees are not met, customers will receive a parts creditas per the CVA.
Both Indian dealers, Gainwell and GMMCO will be offering the CVA Services Commitment. Customers can contact their local Cat dealer to take out a CVA, providing security and peace of mind through hassle-free maintenance and ownership plans.
Are Indian products being at par with international standards in terms of technology?
Absolutely. Our products are exported from here to global markets and are in compliance with international standards.
Where do you see Caterpillar in terms of the next three years?
India’s economy is expected to grow at 7% in the current fiscal year, which is an increase from the 6.5% projection made by the Union government in the economic survey. IMF Deputy Managing Director has also stated that India is in line to become the third largest economy in the world by 2025
Under initiatives like Gati Shakti and the National Infrastructure Pipeline, significant investments are being made in various sectors, including roads, railways, ports, airports, affordable housing, and urban development (smart cities). The total investment in infrastructure is expected to reach approximately $1.3 trillion by 2025
The National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) outlines significant capital expenditure plans aimed at improving rural amenities, a combination of government initiatives, rising incomes, technological advancements in agriculture, financial inclusion efforts, enhanced digital connectivity, and targeted investments are key drivers propelling growth in rural infrastructure across India.
Government is significantly focusing on providing affordable housing to all under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana which has led to increase in infrastructure related development in metros as well as Tier – 1 and Tier – 2 Cities.
With large investments currently being made in the infrastructure sector, the customer today is keen to complete the job quickly and efficiently to capture more opportunities. Our customers demand equipment with enhanced efficiency, safety, and sustainability benefits.
We will continue to focus our efforts on delivering the integrated solutions to meet their needs and help our customers build a better, more sustainable world. We are focused on developing and providing comprehensive solutions that help make our customers more successful with technology, financing and aftermarket offerings designed to increase the value proposition of Cat equipment.
Are customers moving towards TCO in terms of buying products?
That is true. If you see, TCO is inevitable. The reason being, as you compress the timeline to complete a project, you have to make sure that you are also doing that thing within the cost parameters. So, to maintain that cost, you know, you have to do the calculation not just in the initial pricing of the machine, but also over the life cycle of the total cost of the machine.
That is how you can actually work out the optimized efficiency of overall ownership cost- that is where Caterpillar comes into picture. Our products are built to be rebuilt. They are designed to withstand heavy-duty operating conditions and to be restored and used for multiple lifecycles, reducing the need for raw materials and associated GHG emissions. Designing products and components to be used throughout multiple service lifecycles is the essence of our remanufacturing approach across multiple products and brands. Cat Reman gives materials a new life, delivers sustainability benefits to our customers and helps Caterpillar contribute to the circular economy. Caterpillar has been remanufacturing for 50 years of our nearly 100 years in business. Today, remanufacturing is at the heart of our strategy to help customers build a better, more sustainable world. When a component reaches the end of its initial serviceable life, a dealer can return the used component, or core, to Caterpillar. That core is cleaned, inspected, salvaged and remanufactured to original factory quality and performance specifications. This includes any relevant engineering updates. We have advanced technology solutions in our portfolio to support our customers’ needs in their sustainability journey.