Volvo Construction Equipment India, part of the 170-year-old Volvo Group, with head office in Brussels, Belgium, launched a brand new piece of construction equipment in Mumbai last week - EC 140 BLC Hydraulic Excavator. The company has come a long way since it first introduced hydraulically manoeuvred excavator in 1967.
Some notable features of this advanced machinery include low noise level and a roomy, comfortable, air-conditioned operator's cabin to use the equipment with ease and efficiency. The cab is easy to access via a wide door opening and is supported on hydraulic dampening mounts to reduce shock and vibration levels. The air is distributed in the cab from 13 vents. The ergonomic seat has nine different adjustments plus a seat belt for comfort and safety.
The model is sturdy and strong and suitable for tough digging conditions. The engine, made in Germany, is specifically designed for excavators, saves fuel, and has a long service life.
Volvo is already a name to reckon with the world over in buses, trucks, aircraft engines, marine and industrial drive and aero engine components. Now, with the launch of EC 140 BLC Hydraulic Excavator, it is likely to fortify its position in the excavator market in India in which it has nearly a 12 per cent share for excavators.
Volvo Construction Equipment's broad product range contains articulated haulers, compact excavators, compact wheel loaders, and backhoe loaders, etc.
Mrityunjaya Singh, Vice President, Volvo CE India, observed, "The CE market is around 6,000 units annually whereas in China and Korea the figures are 180,000 and 50,000 respectively. However, these figures are not positive enough to set up an equipment plant in India." As a result, the entire range of construction equipment is fully imported from Germany and Korea.
Volvo occupies number three position in the construction equipment segment in India. Seventy per cent of the segment is hydraulic excavators which sell about 4,000 units annually. 45 per cent of its estimated Rs 1,000 crore revenue comes from construction equipment. Volvo CE caters to segments like mining, equipment rental, irrigation, road construction and urban development.