Cummins is a US-based global company and a leading engine designer and manufacturer in markets across the world. Cummins has been partnering with the construction equipment industry in India for over four decades. Mr. Ashwath Ram, Vice President – Engine Business, Tata Cummins Private Ltd., expresses his sector viewpoints.
Excerpts:
Indicate the earthmoving segment focus areas & popular engine models supplied for the applications. What are the USPs and your plans to increase the market share in a competitive market?
Cummins is a group of complementary business that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. Its technology and pioneering initiatives bring innovative solutions and dependable services at the best possible value to customers across India. The engine business caters to the construction segment with state-of-the-art engines for applications ranging from excavators, wheel loaders, compactors, compressors, backhoe loaders to cranes. With a dominant share in the Indian market, Cummins is the first choice of original equipment manufacturers and end-users in the construction segment.
Brief us the type of co-operation and working arrangement with OEMs in developing or positioning the engine for their application. Also indicate if the inputs for the engine design and development are provided by OEM or arrived at after detailed application studies and field trials.
Since starting operations in India in 1962, Cummins has produced over 20,00,000 engines for the domestic market. The industry is witnessing a technological revolution in the form of cleaner, productive and higher capacity equipment. Cummins’ strengths lie in strong partnerships with OEMs based on a deep understanding of the market. The introduction of electronically controlled and emissions compliant engines with higher levels of efficiency, productivity, durability and uptime, reinforce our mission to be the first to introduce best products to help our customers succeed. Product specifications are arrived at jointly, driven by common objectives of both partners wanting to provide winning solutions to the customers.
What are the special requirements for machine applications?; and the service support demands/challenges in keeping the machine downtime to the minimum? Please explain the aftersales service support and dealer network to meet the needs.
Each application has its own requirements and is a function of the topography of the region, working conditions and customers’ needs and expectations. Cummins has one of the largest sales and service network with more than 450 touchpoints that is unmatched in the industry. With a large team of more than 5,000 company trained engineers and technicians, this network is designed to handle service events with utmost responsiveness, thus ensuring maximum engine uptime.
TCO becomes critical for the production machines. In this regard, comment on the initial investment and meeting the customer demands vis-à-vis fuel and maintenance costs as these form the major recurring expenses in the machine operation.
Providing ‘fit for market’ products that are robust and fuel efficient is Cummins’ core ideology. Cummins engines are the most competitive in the industry from a total cost of ownership standpoint. Engine is an integral part of the complete equipment so it is prudent to do an analysis of the complete equipment as compared to calculating TCO of the engine alone.
Can you comment on impact of rapid advancements in technology, viz., design, energy recovery, fuel economy, electrical/electronics, automation, etc., on engine operation and management down the timeline? How are you gearing up to meet the stringent emission norms (BS-IV to BS-VI) stipulated by the Government?
The company formulated Cummins Emission Solutions in 2002 to focus on after treatment for upcoming emissions regulations worldwide. Now Cummins is a global leader in designing, manufacturing and integrating exhaust after treatment technology and solutions. These solutions are designed to meet the highest emissions standards worldwide offering not only performance and reliability, but fuel economy and significant cost savings as well.
Cummins serves the following commercial on- and off-highway markets, meeting current EPA ’13 and Euro VI legislation as well as emerging market requirements.
Cummins Emission Solutions operates in the US, China, India, the UK, Germany, Brazil and South Africa, serving OEMs, engine first-fit and retrofit customers.