Our new generation excavators help achieve better productivity.

Nischal Mehrotra
Director (Sales & Service)
LiuGong India

The latest range of LiuGong excavators has been designed with negative flow hydraulics to boost the fuel efficiency.

How do you assess the potential for growth in crawler excavators market?
Infrastructural development continues to be the key growth driver in India and while country is making strong progress, there is still much to be done. In India we are witnessing most activities in the road building sector with numerous projects progressing. Understandably, we are witnessing the highest level of demand for excavators and other road building machineries. In 2017 the total market for excavator gone up touching 20,000 units. We expect to have a CAGR 15% growth in 2018. Government’s emphasis on connecting the length and breadth of India with its ambitious projects like Bharatmala, achieving about 40 km per day in near future in road construction, river linking projects, first high-speed rail corridors, new projects for metro rail, ports, airports, dams and railways lined up, the demand for crawler excavators is expected to go high. The Indian CE industry will witness growth due to modernization in the infrastructure, mining and construction sectors in India.

How do you evaluate the conceptual shift from even concepts like lift cycle cost and TCO towards ‘more productivity’?
Liugong India had always been a strong believer of optimising the cost and providing the best possible solution to the customer without compromising on quality. We have been able to emulate the success what we achieved in wheel loaders and motor graders in the excavator segment too. In a highly competitive market where work orders are allotted even with the marginal difference in project costing, an economically designed machine to provide better output with less investment always is a key to its success. We have designed the newgen excavators to enable the customer get better productivity.

Liugong excavator have better bucket fill due to optimised design and faster lift and swing speed which in turn provide higher productivity. Cabin has been ergonomically designed to provide comfort to operators along with better visibility even in extremely conditions. With extremely simplified designing Liugong excavators are the best in class, built in India and for Indian.

Tell us on the design improvements to the hydraulic system that boost fuel efficiency.
The latest range of LiuGong excavators has been designed with negative flow hydraulics to boost the fuel efficiency. This optimizes the main control valve and cylinders to improve the speed of equipment while working and reduces the hydraulic system’s pressure loss, leading to an increase in fuel efficiency. The synchronization between pilot valves and main control valve offers precise control. Complete hydraulic system been designed and manufactured by Kawasaki Japan and been calibrated as per the engine fitted in the LiuGong excavators, which in turn provide better and optimized performance.

From the design perspective, how have you ensured better productivity and faster cycle times in terms of better breakout force and arm tear out force?
High breakout forces of bucket, arm and high torque of powerful swing motor have reduced the swing cycle time. Arm regeneration, priority function and boost function provide better breakout force and arm tear out force resulting in faster cycle time and better productivity of LiuGong E Series range of excavators.

Bucket Cut Depth (BCD) and RPM settings can affect fuel efficiency and productivity. What is your take on this, especially this is in the hands of the operators.
Bucket cut depth (BCD) can be easily achieved in LiuGong latest range of excavators as we are already using the technologies like arm regeneration at higher operation speed. For RPM setting we have different operating modes and operating speed which can be set as per the application providing the operator better productivity and fuel efficiency. Operators are provided with proper training about the product so that machines can be used as per the need of the hour and as per the application. Educating the customer for using the operational modes makes the customer profitable in terms of machine performance, machine life and operating cost.

What is the impact of telematics and data driven solutions?
Telematics have a crucial role to manage and monitor heavy equipment operations, location and the actual working status of the machine. LiuGong provides the GPS navigation, road side assistance, remote diagnosis and fleet management in all range of excavators. We can track actual working time, ideal time, HMR and the fuel consumption for the whole working day. We can also trace the life time working and fuel used. If there is any fault or error in the machine, the notification is directly send to the owner. The special feature of the telematics shows if there is any instant drain of the fuel.

Since there is a greater acceptance of ‘operator’ as a vital link in the whole system, correspondingly how the design trends have evolved, especially the cab design?
The spacious cabin and the ergonomically-positioned seat provide great comfort to the operator and he can work continuously for the longer period of time. The cab has also provided high suspension and adjustable seat which reduce the vibration due to machine working. 360 degree visibility offers the safer and more efficient operation. AC is a standard feature in all our machines that helps maintain the temperature of the cabin and ensures a comfortable environment inside the cabin in hot and cold ambient conditions.

How do you assess the importance of ‘maintenance’ to fuel efficiency?
Proper maintenance of the machine plays a vital role in the uptime and durability of the product. As capital equipment the total project cost and capability of completing the projects on time and within deadline depends on the uptime of the machine along with the operating cost of the product. HSD cost to be considered to be one of the major factors. A properly maintained engine is more fuel efficient. It burns less fuel and produces fewer emissions. As a global company we do keep a keen eye on the environmental factor too as a part of corporate social responsibility.

The major trends for maintenance for getting a better fuel economy are engine oil replacement, which is needed to clean the engine, removes heat and reduces friction. Engine is less fuel efficient if oil is dirty and old and air filter replacement, if clogged increases fuel consumption and therefore timely replacement of air filter is extremelely important. To ensure the above mentioned all manufacturers are now offering service contracts to their ensuring timely maintenance.

What is special in ‘service packages’ that you offer to help enhance productivity, and continued uptime of a machine?
We at LiuGong India strive to provide excellent aftercare service and in turn create customer delight. Activities are conducted regularly to improve uptime and enhance productivity. We carry out regular health check campaign to the machines working all around India in various applications so that preventative analysis can be taken care of and utmost uptime of the machine can be maintained. Regular ‘Onsite Operator and Customer Training’ have been arranged to educate the consumer and the operators. We believe in supporting our consumer any extent so that the consumer do not suffer and their projects do not comes to a standstill. We provide float assemblies of major component at an extremely minimal charge.

What are the trends with regard to use of synthetic oils in excavators?
Synthetic oils are formulated with additives and increase oil drain interval which is extremely beneficial and cost effective for user. With the latest series of excavator available throughout the market fitted with best of the class technological advance engines and components it help to provide enhance performance and life of the same.

What do you think the major challenges the CE industry is facing in today’s context?
There are multiple challenges. The emergence of foreign construction equipment manufacturers in India has forced domestic players to embrace advanced technology that meet global standards. Competition among key domestic and foreign players is set to intensify in the coming years. There are challenges in the interstate movement of equipment, in bridging skills gaps, in prohibiting unregulated import of used equipment, limiting emission or pollution and maintaining high safety standards. This CE sector includes high operation costs, maintenance costs. Poor networking with financial institutions is also a challenge. Small contractors who execute over 90 per cent of construction work are now lacking funds for modernization and expansion of equipment facilities. Losses on account of idling equipment, lack of special incentives or schemes to finance the import of hi-tech construction equipment for infrastructure projects are some of the major challenges. Absence of 100 per cent depreciation on construction equipment, particularly for affordable housing sector; Even if the equipment has been used for building up of infrastructure of India, this sector attracts 18% of GST.

What is your assessment on the latest budget with regard to its positive impact on construction industry and the CE industry?
Budget 2018 is going to give tremendous boost to CE Industry. Government has laid emphasis on all round improvement of infrastructure in country. A sum of Rs 5.97 lakhs crore has been earmarked for infra spending during the fiscal 2018 -19, which involves spending on roads, railways, airports and waterways. For Indian Railways FM has separately provided for Rs. 1.48 lakhs crore for capital expenditure during the year. All these budget allocations are going to have a positive impact on construction industry and trigger better demand
for construction and mining equipment as well.

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