每日吃瓜

Could you elaborate on the journey of Strongarms Hydraulics India?
Strongarms Hydraulics India was established in 2010. Earthmoving equipment is very costly, and small entrepreneurs, farmers and contractors find it hard to procure and on the other hand, tractors are readily available. They are powerful and versatile.

Looking at this scenario, we saw an opportunity to manufacture implements that could be fitted on a tractor to address the needs of a farmer, or a small contractor. That was precisely the thinking behind the establishment of Strongarms Hydraulics India. Also, the fact that my father?s enterprise supplied an implement-a backhoe loader -to Sonalika Tractors in 2000 encouraged me to start this company.

What is the range of products offered by your company?
We manufacture tractor front-end loaders, tractor backhoe loaders, scaffolding pipe straightening machines, front-end dozers, modern farming implements, hydraulic trolleys, dipper dumpers and hydraulic hose equipment. We also manufacture a wide range of implements for tractors with a clear understanding of the needs of a small farmer or construction industry contractor.

Our implements further enhance the productivity value of the tractors, making them capable of executing jobs that are otherwise executed by machines that cost far more. We have a strong presence in the scaffolding market with our scaffolding and pipe straightening machine. We enjoy a monopoly in this segment. To strengthen our position, we have developed a tube dent removing machine.

Do you cater to the original equipment (OE) and aftermarket?
We would like to cater to the OE market, but the OEMs seem interested in manufacturing those products that we manufacture in-house. They see better margins in manufacturing them in-house. We therefore cater to the aftermarket. Apart from promoting our products through social networking sites and other selected media, we are also working towards appointing distributors who will market our products. The current dull economic scenario is holding us back. We are making efforts to keep our overheads low and under control. In terms of market reach, we are enjoying good demand from markets like Odisha and Haryana.

What is your market share in exports?
Currently we export only a small percentage (1-2 per cent) of our products. However, exports are growing, and we are keen to make them grow. We enjoy good margins in exports and are therefore planning to apply for an export licence. Currently, our exports are routed through agents. We are in discussion with markets in Qatar, the UK and Pakistan.

What is your outlook on growth?
We are currently facing a dull economic environment. We do not see growth returning anywhere before December 2014. A good growth, we feel, will emerge by mid-2015. Currently, we are working while keeping our overhead costs under check.

We are working towards developing new products to tap the emerging opportunities. We are also working to offer products that fulfill the needs of the market better. In 2013-14, we clocked revenue of Rs 1.5 crore. In the next financial year [FY15], we are looking at exceeding the revenue we clocked last year.