Rightly called as the “Jack of all Trades”, a skid steer loader (SSL) can perform numerous functions with aplomb. These mini versatile machines are used in various industries – from mining to agriculture. Their use in construction activities greatly outweighs their utility in other sectors. However, now with the construction industry growing steadily with the government’s impetus on the infrastructure segment, the demand for SSL is also steadily increasing. Though the SSL market in India is relatively at a nascent stage, equipment manufacturers are quite confident that the equipment’s sound technical features in diverse sectors will create strong demand for the machine.
Bobcat Company leads the industry in the design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of compact equipment for construction, rental, landscaping, agriculture, grounds maintenance, government, utility, industry and mining. Hyunsoo (HS) Kim, Director Commercial, Doosan Bobcat India, speaks on the demand for SSL in India, and some of the unique features of SSL.
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How do you look at the current market of skid steer loaders (SSL) in India? What is its market size?
In 2020, the industry for skid steer loader was 600 units. We are the market leader in this product category. We expect the demand for SSL to grow at a steady pace at 10 per cent CAGR mainly driven by rapid urbanisation and mechanisation of certain labour-intensive work is expected to increase.
With construction activities in the country getting revived, do you see a rise in demand for skid steer loaders in India?
Construction segment, industries and waste management are predominantly the growth driver for smaller capacity skid steer loader machines whereas for bigger machines, traditionally process Industries have been the traditional growth drivers. But due to market creation activities led by our team, we also feel that the rural road development and road widening projects would also be the new drivers.
A skid-steer loader is truly a “jack-of-all-trades”. What is its potential in rural infrastructure in India?
Conventional road construction equipment like grader and excavator are expensive and not ideal for rural road construction. These equipment are also meant for specific jobs, and the contractor has to have multiple equipment for one jobsite and their utilisation would be less thereby increasing the overall cost of operation. Beside that, these machines are large in size and cannot be used in rural road construction sites. Bobcat solutions are primarily the skid steer loaders and attachment, which are low investment solutions and a perfect fit given its compact size and versatility.
Bobcat skid steer loaders can be used for multiple applications including material handling, grading and leveling, road cleaning, erection of road crash barriers, pavement repairs, brush cleaning in road sideways and many other jobs. This versatility of Bobcat skid steer loader increases the utilisation of machine at road construction jobs site and helps in covering wide range of jobsite requirements with a single machine.
Most of the rural roads are between 3 to 7 metres (m) wide. Maneuverability of large equipment in this narrow road is limited and this results in traffic congestion and reduces the pace of road construction. Bobcat skid steer loaders are compact which can turn 360 degrees within their footprint and has excellent maneuverability to work at tight spaces. Compactness of Bobcat skid steer loaders also makes it most preferable equipment for road widening jobs of existing roads. The versatility of the skid steer loader comes from the way it has been designed to handle and power different kinds of specialised attachments, which are unique and meant for specific jobs.
Most skid steer loaders are designed to work in diverse climates and jobsites. What makes your product unique?
Bobcat’s strength is its wide range. We have two main categories based on the geometry of the lift arm, which is radial and vertical lift path. Also, the different models we offer are based on the engine power and the rated operating capacity. We have a total of around seven different models.
Bobcat skid steer loaders are the benchmark for industry with a lot of unique features inbuilt into its design. Some of them have been listed below:
Enhanced visibility and safety: Bobcat design team has come up with the cab forward design which allows the operator to see the bucket edge or attachment without leaning forward and thereby resulting in safe and efficient operation. Visibility has been significantly increased in all directions. Lowered rear screen and cooling package improves rear visibility, which is critical while reversing at high speed. Also, the side windows are made larger increasing the visibility to the tyres and the sides when the loader arms are raised. Bobcat machines are equipped with rollover protective structure (ROPS), and falling object protective structure (FOPS).
Fuel efficiency and productivity: We, at Bobcat, proudly claim that our skid loaders offered for Indian market today are the most fuel efficient as the power to weight ratio is best in the industry. The dual path cooling system is unique only to Bobcat, which provides effective engine cooling at extreme working conditions, which also increases the fuel efficiency of the engine.
Powerful hydraulics: Bobcat loaders consistently meet high expectations for performance. The design, balance and weight distribution deliver more usable horsepower, powerful breakout forces and faster cycle times. The machines work quicker, lift more and outperform to meet various jobsite requirements. Each component, including the engine, pumps, and hydraulic system are engineered to deliver maximum hydraulic performance which results to faster cycle times and better on-site productivity.
Smart cooling system: Cooling on Bobcat loaders features the exclusive smart fan that only turns as fast as needed resulting in reduced load on engine and increasing fuel efficiency. The patented design of dual path cooling system cools more efficiently, while the radiator and hydraulic oil cooler are protected from jobsite hazards. Higher cooling system capacity means long working hours in extreme temperature without overheating issues.
Glow plug: The glow plug provides cold start ability, which is highly useful when the machine has to work in extremely cold weather where the engine needs to warm up and can be started without any difficulty.
Are there any telematics inbuilt in skid steer loaders?
Telematics in a skid steer loader like any other construction equipment is mainly to monitor the asset condition, which is in a remote location. Currently, we are not seeing a lot of pull from SSL customers for telematics because the number of large fleet customers are very limited. However, the growing demand from rental, road construction, process industries and waste management segments give us an indication that telematics will be needed for skid steer loaders in the future. In developed markets like the US and Europe, Bobcat is already offering a telematics system, called “Connected Machine” that offers remote access to information including location, machine health, performance, fuel levels, operator performance. So when the market is ready we will offer our products.
What is the price disparity and acceptability of these machines?
Price disparity does exist when we compare it with respect to other machines available like mini excavator or a backhoe loader. But however, the challenge in terms of acceptability, the main factor would be the lack of awareness about the versatility of the skid steer loader. Certain products like backhoe loader have much more visibility in terms of street presence and as a result there is a tendency to utilise those machines even though they may not be apt and skid steer loaders are perfect for that.
And the other factor would be that even now barring developed states there are many regions in the country where manpower cost is still lower and the cost economics still favour manpower.
How do you look at the future market for skid steer loaders in India?
Growing urbanisation and the infrastructure requirements that comes along with it are key to compact construction equipment demand. The Government plans for higher capital spending on power, roads and urban infrastructure has been encouraging. Several road projects under various Government schemes and urban infrastructure projects are among the key influential segments which will have a positive impact. Among the roads, the Government is also giving a lot of importance to rural roads which forms almost 90 per cent. As a result, we feel that there is a lot of scope and growth opportunities for the skid steer loaders in the coming future.
