As an internationally operating group of companies, Wirtgen Group is exporting its product and technology solutions worldwide

– Ramesh Palagiri

Managing Director & CEO, Wirtgen India

How do you look at the market in India for your products?

The Indian government is focusing to increase the road connectivity by increasing the length of national highway, expressway, economic corridors, industrial corridors, village roads (PMGSY) etc.

They are also encouraging usage of innovative materials, automation and machine control technologies in the construction sector in order to improve efficiency and lower the impact on environment. The future trend indicates that the road construction will increase in India and new technologies will be required to fulfil this need.

The Wirtgen Group has been consistently developing products which offer better efficiency in terms of fuel consumption, and this helps in sustainable development and less carbon emissions, lower life cycle costs and better productivity of these machines. We continue to be optimistic in the long-term prospects for the Roads & Highways sector. We will also introduce new technologies across our product brands Wirtgen, Vögele, Hamm, Kleemann to India. With our sustainable solutions for road construction, we help our customers fulfill the growing need for infrastructure quickly and economically while also meeting higher demands for environmental protection and safety for both the human and natural world.

Which continent has been drawing in more demand for your products?

Wirtgen Group products are in global demand, so the company is developing appropriate market solutions for customers to be able to respond optimally to regional conditions.

The goal is to strengthen Wirtgen Group‘s position as a leader in technology. With the high level of innovation, we think we have a good chance of reaching this goal. Our sustainable solutions will help us here, and we will present some of these to our customers through our world premiere machines and technologies at Bauma. 

What are the key product on display during Bauma Munich?

The Wirtgen Group is once again appearing at Bauma together with John Deere. The joint motto for the fair is: “The Future in Roadbuilding – Smart. Safe. Sustainable.” We have over 90 exhibition pieces on an exhibition space of 13,000 square metres. With 33 world premieres – the most we’ve ever had – Wirtgen Group is emphasizing the high level of innovation in the field. In addition, we will have our own presentations on the topics “Digital System Solutions” and “Sustainability”.

Are any new launches or announcements planned during Bauma?

For Wirtgen Group’s individual products, the highlights are the world premieres – these include the electric battery-powered tandem rollers by Hamm and the completely electric Kleemann impact crusher. The company will also spotlight the Wirtgen compact milling machine with its high-comfort operating cabin, the new 5th generation Vögele road paver, new generations of Hamm soil compactors and pivot-steered tandem rollers, and the REVOC system by Benninghoven, a large-form catalytic converter for asphalt mixing plants.

And without a doubt, our complete production systems for road construction are a highlight as well, because this is where the greatest potential for both ecological and economic progress lies. We’ll be presenting a cold recycling train for fast, budget-friendly and sustainable road rehabilitation, as well as solutions for asphalt recycling or emission-free construction in cities and other sensitive areas.

Can you brief us on your export market?

As an internationally operating group of companies, Wirtgen Group is exporting its product and technology solutions worldwide.

Given that fact, Wirtgen Group has five specialized production facilities in Germany and also three local production facilities in Brazil, China, and India.

In India, the Wirtgen Group started its operations in 1995 as a sales and service subisidiary. The production facility commenced in Pune since 2011. The first products to roll out from here had been our Hamm soil compactors tandem rollers. The production of Kleemann screens commenced in 2015, followed by Vögele pavers. Since 2020, the CEV Stage IV machines – Hamm HC 119i, HD 99i, Vögele SUPER 1400i – are being manufactured at the Pune plant. The Kleemann scalper MSS 802 is also being manufactured here. All these products are successfully launched and are well established in the Indian market.

Furthermore, the Kleemann classifier screens and scalpers and the Hamm compactors are also exported to Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

What are the various challenges faced in the sector globally?

Our industry is facing the growing need for infrastructure. Job sites need to be realized quickly, economically and sustainably. On the other hand, the shortage of skilled workers also poses major challenges for the construction companies.

The Wirtgen Group has further developed its products and technologies to help customers to optimally meet these increasing challenges.

One of the cornerstones are technologies that advance digitalization at jobsites and support the automation of work and machine processes, such as the Wirtgen Mill Assist, Vögele WITOS Paving or Hamm Smart Compact. Especially in Europe, the electrification of construction machines is another trend that leads to increased sustainability in road construction. With the new electric battery-powered tandem rollers by Hamm and the new MOBIREX MR 130 (i) PRO, a completely electric Kleemann impact crusher, Wirtgen Group already offers solutions that will support its customers in this regard as well.

What are your expectations from Bauma Munich this time?

Bauma is the ideal platform for Wirtgen Group to not only present our newly-developed machines and technologies, but also put them directly on the market. With our sustainable solutions for road construction, we help our customers fulfill the growing need for infrastructure quickly and economically while also meeting higher demands for environmental protection and safety for both the human and natural world. We are excited to hear feedback from our customers and are looking forward to engaging discussions.

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