Page 42 - COAug2022

INDUSTRY WATCH
INTERACTION To what extent are aftermarket services a strategic differentiator. the environment. We also have competence development centre

as well as driver training facility in the same premises.
In addition to the superior products, it is the aftermarket support
Our focus is to enhance fleet Uptime through premium service
that has helped us sustain in India for over two decades and
care closer to customer operations through site support
maintain the leadership position. In mining application Volvo
mechanism and we offer services majorly through our own team
Trucks run ~22 hours a day. In order to support this kind of running,
we introduced on-site support – another first in India. This helped
maintain the uptime and reduce costs.
During last seven years, the Government has introduced important
Our network is spread across India and is mainly concentrated at 160 touch points across India.
around mining pockets. We have 13 parts and service centers reforms to open up the mineral sector to ensure its contribution
across India and around 160 touch points through which service in achieving the national policy goals. Your comments on the
is rendered. All our trucks are monitored through 12 uptime centers same, what more sort of support or policy changes from the
and also from a central command center in Bangalore. Over government would you like to propel growth.
85% of our trucks are under service agreements, which means The mining environment has changed in the last few years as a
our trucks are being monitored by our trained technicians on a result of major government reforms. Coal and iron ore are among
daily basis. We also offer customized aftermarket solutions to our the high volume minerals extracted in India. Revoking of coal
customers depending on the need and the application. blocks allotted earlier and going through the auction route was a
major change. More reforms were announced in the coal sector
Your strategy to play in a price sensitive market in the past 2 years, including opening up of commercial coal
At Volvo Trucks we cater to a very niche market. We work mining without end-use limitations, inviting foreign investments into
very closely with our customers to understand their needs mining, establishment of national coal index, a push for domestic
comprehensively and offer right transport solution that deliver coal to replace imports through the Atmanirbhar plan, auctioning
profitability over lifetime i.e. customer value proposition. We focus of coal blocks, faster clearances etc. This process is slowly gaining
on creating an eco-system involving most modern products that momentum as anticipated and has a promising outlook to open
provides consistent performance and Aftermarket support system up new opportunities for highly productive transport solutions.
that ensures customers to realise the value proposition in that We are also working with private mine developers to introduce
application. This approach is the key contributor for us to maintain most efficient Volvo Trucks solutions for Mining including coal
leadership in the 400+HP premium trucks space. transportation. This is an important area where we expect higher
productivity levels can be achieved and also a cornerstone for
Tell us about your manufacturing facilities & dealer network in India reducing transport costs for customers.
Volvo trucks plant is situated in Hoskote, Bangalore started its
operations in 1998, becoming the first European Commercial Future outlook for the mining industry and from a company
Vehicle manufacturer in India. The state-of-art facility has perspective
main assembly line, cab welding and trimming, superstructure We are very bullish considering the reforms and policy changes
mounting, state-of-art paint shop and a complete test track for taken up by the government. Coal would continue to be the major
testing and validation of newly designed trucks. The plant is spread contributor to India’s energy basket. India continues to be one of
over 120 acres of land and apart from manufacturing trucks, also the fastest growing economies and with an ambition to achieve $5
has a parts distribution centre to support Aftermarket business and trillion economy, Infrastructure development and power demand
Remanufacturing facility that prepares products for a second life will propel the growth in the mining sector which will definitely result
and gives enormous value for the company, our customers and to into higher volumes of trucks deployment.

42 CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES|AUGUST 2022