The market will boom in the next year-and-a-half

- Nischal Mehrotra, Director (Sales & Services), Liugong India Liugong creates world-class machines built with top-notch components. The company sold its first machine in India in 2002; today, it has over 3,000 machines operating across the country. Nischal Mehrotra, Director (Sales & Services), Liugong India, shares more with SHRIYAL SETHUMADHAVAN. Please tell us about your new launch. At present, most customers in India are using backhoe loaders as a multi-utility machine; our new launch 818 is a game changer - a multi-utility, 2 tonne loader that reduces manpower. It is applicable to steel mills, paper industries, crushers, RMC plants, etc. We will also try to develop customised attachments. Further, we have introduced another loader, 856, supported with the new Mahindra engine, which is more fuel-efficient and cheaper in maintenance. What is Liugong´s market share for loaders? For the 5 tonne class of loaders, we have about 40 per cent market share and for the 3 tonne class, about 10 per cent. At present, we are the only company manufacturing 2 tonne loaders in India. Highlight your after-sales services. We are currently going with some annual maintenance contracts with our major clients. For big fleet owners, we offer on-site solutions for everything. How has the Indian market been working out for you? There is a positive wave in the market. There have been increased port activities in the past two to three months and when mining resumes in March, there will be huge demand for equipment. Also, with the government encouraging foreign companies to invest in Indian infrastructure, there will be a boom in the next year-and-a-half. How do you see this company´s growth chart? We are numero uno in loaders and, globally, we want to retain the position. In India, we are leading only in the 5 tonne class and we want to lead in all the tonnages.