The Foundation of Infrastructure Research Studies Training (FIRST) recently hosted the 5th EQUIPMENT INDIA Annual Awards. Sandeep Singh, Managing Director, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Co, was named the 'Equipment India Person of the Year' for 2017.

The Foundation of Infrastructure Research Studies Training (FIRST) hosted the 5th EQUIPMENT INDIA Annual Awards at Hotel LALIT in New Delhi on Friday 16th February, 2018.

The Union Budget presented today is a balanced Budget with a focus on the Agri Sector, Rural Development, Healthcare and a continued thrust on Infrastructure creation. These will collectively provide significant impetus to the revival of growth and creation of employment.

Roads and highways have been important and critical in the overall revival of the industry from 2015 to 2017. 'The sector is a positive growth driver and it is reassuring for the industry to see it continuing to move ahead,' says Jasmeet Singh, Head-Corporate Communications and External Relations, JCB India.

At this year's Excon, JCB will present an exciting and innovative line-up of machines. The objective is to reinforce its position as a full-range infrastructure equipment partner by showcasing class-leading product solutions that exhibit innovation in design, performance, efficiency and safety including Telematics.

The biggest opportunities for material handling equipment, with a special focus on the ports sector.

The new world-class machine, the JCB116 soil compactor, comes with a state-of-the-art JCB Diesel Max engine, providing fuel savings of upto 5-10 per cent. It is equipped with proven German Vibration Technology and is designed to give more compaction per litre. It guarantees desired compaction density in a minimum number of passes.

India saw sales of more than 500 compactors in March 2017, the highest ever in a month, according to industry sources. Further, the last fiscal turned out to be one of the finest in a long time for compactor and paver sales, all because road development topped the 20 km per day mark.

Outstanding performers from India's infrastructure equipment sector were honoured at the grand evening. The who's who of India's infrastructure equipment sector had started arriving nearly an hour before the awards ceremony was to get underway.