JCB ecoMAX engine is regarded as the most fuel efficient engine in the industry.

Jasmeet Singh,
Head – Corporate Communications & Corporate Relations,
JCB India.

JCB has been manufacturing engines in India for over seven years now and we have over 2,00,000 JCB engines operating successfully in the Indian market. We believe the new standards will lead to considerable technological advancement in the product thus, getting us at par with other advanced markets such as USA and Europe, says Jasmeet Singh, Head – Corporate Communications & Corporate Relations, JCB India. Excerpts from the interview

What is range engines offered by JCb for the construction and mining equipment side?

JCB India offers engines in both forms, naturally aspirated and turbo charged. We offer a varied range from 56kW to 97kW in BS3 emission complied machines such as backhoe loader, wheeled loader and compactor while the range extends from 63kW to 129kW in non-emission or BS2 market for excavators. Beyond mobile applications, genset engines are also manufactured at our state-of-the-art facility at Delhi-NCR for both export and domestic requirements from 60kVA to 125kVA.

Engines manufactured in India are also exported globally. And JCB also offers the ecoMAX engine to other OEM’s for varied applications such as road sweeping, concrete mixtures, pumps, screening, crusher and tow trucks etc.

The new set of emission norms are expected to be implemented soon.  What is the impact of this on the entire value chain? How geared up is JCB India to meet the challenges?

The industry is working for a seamless transition to BSIV (CEV) emission standards for wheeled equipment, which are due to come in October 2020. We believe the new standards will lead to considerable technological advancement in the product thus, getting us at par with other advanced markets such as USA and Europe.  It will also contribute in the enhancement of the overall value chain of the product in terms of development, research and the percolation of this technology in the supply chain.

Availability of fuel is essential for the roll out of these emission norms and we are certain that the government is taking adequate steps to ensure availability of fuel all over India by 2020. This will ensure that there is minimum hindrance due to lack of fuel. We will also need to ensure that the complete environment for the availability, transport and distribution of this fuel is in place by the time these norms are implemented.

With regard to JCB, we will fully comply with the emission norms as and when they come into effect. We fully support this move and feel that this will be a significant step in the right direction.

The CE industry has witnessed tremendous change in terms of leveraging telematics and big data analytics. What is the impact of the same on engine manufacturers like JCB India?

We continuously invest in technology, innovate and develop new products to ensure utmost delight to our customers. Usage of latest technology has always created a positive impact in terms of better efficiency and effective products, and considering the requirement we have introduced the advanced telematics system – JCB Livelink. Over 1,00,000 machines are now being monitored in real time through livelink. This is an IoT technology which enables our customers to remotely manage their machines effectively – putting them in better control of their machines/fleets. LiveLink collects important information about the machine such as its health, location and numerous other vital data through built in sensors. This data is then transmitted to a secure server and from there it is sent out to the customer. This data can make critical decisions about the machine, which helps in speeding up of operations. Overall, JCB Livelink strives to deliver constructive, real-time information to increase profits and improve productivity of the machines.

Could you tell us the design philosophy and what differentiates JCB India?

JCB has always placed extreme importance to prototype performance and assessment to ensure the best product to our customers. JCB test its equipment and engines comprehensively. This is incredibly important for offering a world class product across the globe. This is an essential requirement for robust product specification ensuring customer expectations are delivered. From early on in the process, our applications and product teams work to ensure full consideration is given to installation parameters and designs that can affect engine performance.

To ensure our customers derive the maximum from the machine, it becomes imperative to design and provide an engine and a machine that can withstand variations and challenging work conditions.

JCB ecoMAX engine is regarded as the most fuel efficient engine in the industry. This level of efficiency is achieved through combination of different optimised subsystems like fuel, exhaust, intake and combustion which aids fuel efficiency.

These in-built features of the ecoMAX engine like optimized air fuel, advanced filtration system, water separators, and special FIE system etc. not only help in protecting the engine but also plays a vital role in extending the life of the engine.

After sales service has become a true differentiator regardless of industry segments. How innovative and strong is JCB India in this area?

After sales support is one of the key deciding factors in the overall buying cycle of a product. Since these machines work in far flung areas of the country, it is imperative that a well-connected product support is offered to customers to minimise the downtime and maximise productivity. JCB India has ensured to provide an unmatched distribution network to its customers through 650 outlets and over 60 dealers.

How do you assess the future trends and growth prospects?

In a VUCA world it is difficult to predict the long-term future, however as we move ahead, there are some common elements which will see great focus in the coming years on.

Efficiency of Engines: To ensure our customers derive the maximum from the machine, it becomes imperative to design and provide an engine that can withstand these variations and challenging work conditions.

Focus on Environment and its Protection: JCB India’s commitment towards adhering to emission norms stipulated by the government and greater integration with emission standards through technological innovation and manufacturing prowess

Increasing Use of Digital Technology: Innovation is one of the cornerstones of JCB’s business strategy. The latest has been our foray into the Internet of Things space, which is giving unmatched benefits to customers and end users through the usage of digital technology.  In our endeavour of continuously looking at new and innovative ways to help users get the most out of their machines, the latest from our folio is the advanced telematics technology called Livelink.

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