D Swaminathan (General Manager- Operations), Construction Equipment Business, Greaves.

In order to increase one’s market share and retain one’s stronghold in the industry, it is important to invest in R&D and focus on debuting innovative and better models to suit the changing needs of the concrete industry. Flexibility and adaptation is the mantra of the day, a time when market sustenance is proving to be a challenge to many. Says D Swaminathan (General Manager- Operations), Construction Equipment Business, Greaves, "The reason we have sustained ourselves in the market for more than 150 years is because at Greaves Cotton, we strive to keep up with the ever- changing market trends, delivering more value than expected to our customers. Though the volatile market has impacted the construction equipment business, our experience in the Indian market, combined with our customised offerings, has helped us maintain our position in the market."

Swaminathan goes on to say, "The shift from flat gate valves to S- valve concrete pumps has been seen in the Indian market for quite some time. In addition to providing flat gate valve concrete pumps to our existing customers, we have a range of S-valve concrete pumps to address every requirement of our customers. The superior S- valve technology is useful for pumping long distances, both horizontally and vertically, and pumping large volumes of concrete for heavy- duty construction jobs like infra/residential buildings, dams, canals, bridges, etc." Swaminathan further adds, "These highly powered machines help lower operating costs, reduce cycle times, increase the pumping efficiency and ROI, thus benefitting our customers and ensuring faster project completion. The superior hydraulics and centralised auto lubrication system combined with highly wear- resistant tungsten carbide plates of the S- valve ensures longevity and minimises maintenance and service costs. The auto lubrication system ensures smooth and maintenance- free operations even under high pressure. "

The hopper capacity is large as compared to what the industry offers, and is designed without dead angles with almost vertical side walls to ensure there is no residual concrete, thus minimising wastage. Speaking about the range he says, "Our S-valve range of products includes the GCP 5500, GCP 6500, GCP 8500 models, of increasing capacities. The GCP 5500 model is a compact and portable model; powered by a KOEL engine, it delivers a maximum output of 51 m3. The GCP 8500 model is a high capacity pump, powered by a CAT engine and delivering a maximum output of 82 m3 of concrete, as also able to withstand a maximum concrete pressure of 105 bar."

"Greaves has a wide network of branches, service points and dealers across India to provide the necessary assistance and supply of spare parts to our customers at any time. Focus on providing training to all our sales and service engineers to maximise our customer satisfaction and expanding our product reach with more than 18 dealers across India to ensure machine and spare parts availability without a time lag are some of the crucial steps taken by Greaves in the recent past.

"Our state- of- the- art manufacturing facility is equipped with the technology needed to come out with innovative models to suit the market dynamics in the future. The focus has always been on providing value for money to our customers. All our products are highly adaptive, with a compact and sturdy construction to handle both adverse conditions and stiff abrasive mixes," Swaminathan says, summing up the situation.