每日吃瓜

What are the latest product offerings from Atlas Copco?
Atlas Copco has introduced a new range of compressors from 330 CFM to 650 CFM with various pressure combinations. This ensured that these compressors serve as value for money for the customers because of low fuel consumption, bringing down the total cost of ownership. The models are XA 157, XA 187, XAT 266, XAH 236, XAV 216 and XA 316. These models are uniquely rated compared to whats generally available in the market. The uniqueness of Atlas Copco compressors lies with higher capacity and unique pressure settings for increased productivity and finally increased profitability for the customer. We also plan to launch on-site portable generator range in the Indian market shortly for construction and mining sectors.

How flexible/adaptable are your range?
Atlas Copco has always tried to bring in product differentiation in the market as compared to other manufacturers with a strong focus on R&D. The local R&D team is based in our newly built state-of-the-art facility in Chakan. For example, in Atlas Copco India, the portable air compressors which we have launched in the second half of 2013 and now in 2014, are purely global designs with the canopy opening upwards. This ensures a smaller footprint of the compressor and makes it more manoeuvrable in various complicated gradients in mines.

What are the trends in the rental market?
Rental sector in India is highly unorganised and the number of organised rental companies are quite limited. Currently for rental in India, we are targeting power sector, oil and gas, refineries and pharmaceutical.

We have a dedicated rental team which caters to the rental market demand. For the segments we are present in India as portable energy, rentals are very much unorganised. A methodical approach to the rental industry will create more focus and one of the verticals in portable energy is planning to explore this segment in the near future.

Has the slowdown had an adverse impact on the portable compressor market?
The slowdown has not impacted the portable compressor market drastically, but has some impact close to 15 per cent last year; however, this year the market has recovered. We made huge investments in putting up a new state-of-the-art plant at Chakan, Pune which has been made in line with the global plants with lean manufacturing concepts. We have invested to upgrade our existing product range and have also launched many new products last year specifically focusing on increased productivity and the lowest fuel consumption, besides many other strong benefits.

To what extent the concept of TCO has been appreciated by the end-user segments?
With higher capacity, more efficient elements and more pressure, our compressors offer higher productivity to the end customer, where minimum productivity is at least 30-35 per cent higher than the traditional compressors. With best-in-class fuel efficiency together with optimised maintenance and low running cost, the end customer gets the reliability and power they require while bringing down the total cost of ownership (TCO). Our compressors are already localised and made to Indian specifications and are built keeping in mind the customers profitability. Our R&D team focuses on the minutest of detailing on all our offerings to ensure that we are first in mind - first in choice for the customer in keeping with our company vision.

Globally Atlas Copco has successfully chipped in the used equipment businesses. What is the scenario in India?
Globally we are investing in used equipment business, but in India, we have not invested in this business. We understand that the Indian customer takes pride in owning the equipment as they are emotionally attached to their machinery. Further, in India, most of the used equipment business is unorganised, owing to complex tax structures. Another reason, due to extended usage of the machines here, owing to larger volumes of jobs, they are rendered commercially unviable for reconditioning and sales. Hence, currently we are evaluating the selling of second-hand or used equipment business in India.