Germany-based Erkat has over 15 years of experience in the development, manufacture and application of rock-cutting excavator attachments. Erkat drum cutters are used in a wide variety of applications, including excavation, road building, mining, tunneling and trenching. Klaus Ertmer, Managing Director, and Tarun Kumar, Sales Manager, India, Africa, Middle East, Erkat, share more with SHRIYAL SETHUMADHAVAN.

Please introduce us to your offerings.
Kumar: Our products - drum cutters, auger drive units, exacters, etc - are attachments for excavators. Alternate methods are being explored when hard materials have to be cut. While the rock breaker came into India 20 years ago, drum cutters, which have been present in Europe for 10 years, were introduced seven to eight years ago. In India, we offer to customise products based on the customers´ requirement.

Any plans for a manufacturing unit in India?
Kumar: We import products as we do not have volumes here.

Ertmer: We plan to establish a trading company in India where we can produce product components, especially for railing products, and reduce import duty for the Indian market. We want to produce spare parts in Germany and welding parts in India. Depending on the development of the Indian economy and market, we should be able to establish ourselves in two years.

What kind of value-added service do you offer?
Kumar: Our product does not require any after-sales service. The main component, which is the gearbox, can run up to 20,000 hours without attention, and an average machine runs 2,000 hours a year. Hence, for 10 years, this equipment will not incur any major cost.

How much does India contribute to the overall Erkat business?
Ertmer: India contributes 7-8 per cent of our global business. But the country is moving and investment will be made in infrastructure development. India will grow with the growing population.