Universal Construction Machinery & Equipment LtdThe Universal Group, an ISO-9001:2000 Company, is among India’s leading engineering conglomerates. A major player in construction and material handling equipment industry, Universal has emerged as a one- stop-shop for providing end-to-end solutions for the construction industry.The Universal Group, based in Pune, has emerged on the horizon as a one stop shop for providing end-to-end solutions for the construction and material handling equipment industry. Since three decades of emergence the Universal Group has become more than one of India’s largest engineering companies. It is a well known brand of excellence. It has pioneered new technologies, been a prime mover at every stage, introducing products and technologies which has helped the construction industry take a giant leap forward. Universal today stands in the league of premier corporate entities on the back of world class manufacturing practices coupled with a steadfast focus on research and development.A brief profileUniversal commenced operations in 1974 through the vision of Rohidas More, Chairman, Universal Construction, Machinery & Equipment Ltd, for creating a landmark in the field of construction equipment manufacturing. Its foray into business was marked by supplying oil lubricant pumps and gear boxes to major industrial giants. Since then, an eye for detail and expert execution has led Universal to achieve great heights. The company’s super triumph arrived when it created a nitric acid pump to be used in India’s combat weapon, the Prithvi Misslie. In 1982, the development of the Concrete Block Making Machine catapulted Rohidas More into the construction equipment manufacturing frame. The company achieved yet another milestone in the same year by exporting its products to Sri Lanka. The company is aiming at the global market now after achieving a pan India presence under the second generation entrepreneurship of Ranjit More, Managing Director, Universal Construction, Machinery & Equipment Ltd. The company aims to achieve this by making construction processes simple, technically excellent and economically viable. The company’s professional expertise is fine tuned to world class standards and can be seen in a spectrum of applications such as Painting & Repairs of Exterior Building Glass I Aluminum Cladding, External Plastering 8. Brick work, Chimneys, Hoarding / Shipyard Maintenance, External Building Maintenance etc. The company has state of the art manufacturing units equipped with advanced machineries. The company’s R&D wing constantly aims at creating advanced technology. Using world class software such as Sold Edge and SCADA, the company’s engineers design innovative machines which are time saving, cost efficient and safe.State of the art plantsUNIVERSAL commissioned the Rudrapur Plant in February 2010, in order to cater to the growing demand from the northern and the North – eastern of India.The plant is sprawling over a vast industrial area in Uttarakhand and is ideally located at 250 kms. from Delhi.The plant is self-sufficient and well equipped with all modern machinery comprising ol CNC and advanced material handling equipment. It is all set to manufacture the entire range ot products from the Universal bouquet.We have state – of – the -art Plazma Cutting CNC machine for mechanized expertise at our Rudrapur Plant. Here, we have a large, state-of – the – art manufacturing facility .Our Testing & Quality Assurance Facility keeps up to the promise of 100 percent quality deliverables. Universal also boasts of Advanced Machinery.LARGEST MANUFACTURING FACILITIESPoona Construction Machinery’s Shindewadi Plant is the largest manufacturing facility exclusively engaged into development of ancillaries for the company.It covers products under SBU I which are the 10/7 Concrete Mixer Series, Basic Vertical Material Handling Solutions, Bar Processing Solutions, Block Laying Machines, Sand Processing Machines. Ground Campaction Solutions & also the Laboratory Testing Solutions.Additionally it covers SBU l which includes Vertical Material Handling Solutions for high rised structures & their maintenance. Thirdly it covers the Tough Rider. The state -of – the -art facilities here combined with highly skilled work – force and competent engineers make this plant the largest manufacturer in quality construction equipments.The Shindewadi Plant has a huge & multi – facility state of the art setup with extremely high precision, advanced machines including an ultra modern Paint Booth.THE ‘MEGA PROJECT’Founded in the year 2006, this the company’s Shivare facility at Pune covers a range of advanced manufacturing process equipment. The CIDC- affiliated Training Centre (UCMTC) & library lend it a unique status.The Shivare Plant has been a trendsetter in the construction equipment manufacturing sector. With its mammoth size and world class machinery & facilities, it caters to western and southern India.It covers products under SBU ll which includes the FIM series B as well as the batching plants based on the FIM Technology. Additionally it includes the on wheel pan, the in line stationary batching plants and the Transit Mixer.The company has a state – of – the – art Plazma Cutting CNC machine for mechanized expertise. In the CIDC Training Centre the employees are geared up to operate machinery. The library has an updated study material for engineers, technicians and operators. There is a showroom for the company’s prospective customers to get a first hand feel of our products.A full fledged R & D Department makes sure that newer innovations are brought to use to produce quality equipments. Our Testing & Duality Assurance Facility keeps up to the promise of 100 percent quality deliverable. Universal also boasts of Advanced Machinery. Commenting on the R&D efforts by the company Mr Ranjit More, Managing Director replied, "during 2010-11, Rs 5 crores was spent on R&D activities. The expenditure has now been augmented to Rs 10 crores. Our R&D centre is one of the few in the country to be certified by the Government of India."Unique InitiativeThe company has always believed that it is imperative to explore new approaches in order to strengthen relationships with the construction fraternity as well as its existing and potential customers. As part of this initiative, Universal is launching the Construction Equipment Park, the first of its kind in India. To be located at the company’s Shivare campus, it will hold a permanent exhibition where the entire construction equipment range of products will be on display. Visitors to the park will also be able to watch the demonstration of the latest additions to the company’s range of equipment. The uniqueness of the whole endeavor will lie in the experience of the visitors actually operating them. The facility will be a boon for builders, architects, construction engineers and trainees for enhancing their technical capabilities.Universal has always excelled at exploring newer approaches for developing relationships with the construction fraternity as well as its existing and potential customers. Exercising yet another unique and path-breaking idea, Universal is launching Construction Equipment Park, a first of its kind in India.The Park at its Shivare campus holds a permanent exhibition where Universal’s entire construction equipment range of products will be on display. Visitors to this park will be able to watch the demonstration of the latest additions to the Universal range to equipment. They will also be able to experience their wonderful facets by operating them.The facility will be extremely useful for builders, architects, construction engineers and trainees, as it will enhance their technical capabilities.Global ReachIn order to take its products and solutions global, Universal Construction Machinery & Equipment Ltd has signed a Supply and International distribution agreement with Tata International Ltd (TIL). Universal’s products will be exclusively distributed and marketed in over 55 countries in the international market by TIL, which is the international trading arm of the Tata Group. Commenting at length on this partnership Mr Rohidas More, Chairman stated, "We planned to strategise our operations in a global manner in 2010 through a tie up with the Tatas, one of India’s largest industrial conglomerates. This has enabled us to compete effectively with European and Chinese competitors. We further plan to expand our footprint in the Middle East, Africa and South East Asian countries." This partnership deal enables Universal to explore the potential in international markets for its flagship products like Reversible Mixers, Transit Mixers and Batching Plants. Centralized distribution hubs will be set up in overseas locations by Universal and TIL for tapping the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) potential and reduce effective costs in the process. The combine will engage in an aggressive penetration of the two emerging economies of Brazil and Russia. The new trading facility will also concentrate on departmental buying as institutional sales have a huge potential.VisionThe company aims at satisfying each of its customer beyond the expected levels of business excellence through providing innovative, world-class construction equipments supported by technically competent serving capabilities. The company aims at becoming the largest selling construction manufacturing company by adhering to world class standards through strong R&D efforts, sophisticated manufacturing equipment and strong after sales support. The company wants to create a future for stake holders and employees while guaranteeing 100 percent customer satisfaction.Commenting on the initiatives taken by the company to ensure customer satisfaction, K.K.Taparia, Deputy Managing Director, Universal Construction Machinery & Equipment stated, "the challenges before us lie in offering cost effective solutions and the right size concrete machines. We also plan to develop small batch plants which can be deployed at site. The consumer is interested in purchasing different types of small equipment having dual advantages of low cost and high speed." He further stated, "We have a state of the art Research & Development Center and we are in the process of getting various equipments standardized by us through the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which is the need of the industry."Taking into account the rising production costs, the company has introduced several efficient mechanisms in their production systems. The company has started utilizing PVC covers, panels in place of steel as PVC is much cheaper than steel. The use of PVC is also advantageous in the fact that PVC does not get corroded like steel.The company has also launched a 20 year long business strategy to strengthen its presence. It has embarked on its 4th business plan in 2011 which will end in 2016. A vital part of this plan involves appointing 75 dealers at 250 different locations across the country. This strategy is expected to help the company in the mid and long range term.Conclusion.With a fast growing construction market and an increased expenditure on infrastructure by the government, the construction machinery industry seems to be right on track to take advantage of the situation. Universal Construction Machinery& Equipment Ltd with its adherence to strict quality standards and ensuring customer satisfaction seems poised to retain its front lead position as a leader in the construction equipment industry