Sorab Agarwal, Executive Director ACE “Sustainable business practices are the foundation on which we operate since inception while placing utmost importance on creating value for all our stakeholders across the value chain.” — Sorab Agarwal Established in 1995, Action Construction Equipment (ACE) has a global presence in over 25 countries. In addition, to pick and carry cranes, the company also offers crawler cranes, truck-mounted cranes, lorry loaders, backhoe loaders, vibratory rollers, motor graders, forklifts, tractors, harvesters and other construction equipment. At ACE, we have a legacy of designing and manufacturing products that continuously improve the quality of life and the environment by fulfilling the society’s need for infrastructure in a sustainable way. The company’s agility and versatility to satisfy a diverse range of sectors for wide applications is its biggest strength. Our equipment is used across sectors such as infrastructure, construction, agriculture, logistics and many more. It is our passion to help our customers build world-class infrastructure. Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Our mission is to build a better future for the coming generations. Guided by the spirit of ‘One India’, ACE strives to play a larger role in meeting the diverse and multitudinous aspirations of the Indian people. We aim to provide affordable, rugged and dependable equipment and participate in India’s long-term growth story. These are the tenets of our company’s motto: “Lifting India’s Growth”. As we create the future for the next generation, we recognise that we must continuously strive to improve the sustainability of our business model. With the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic; the recent supply chain crisis; growing weather uncertainty; and the ongoing geo-political challenges, integrating sustainability throughout the value chain has gained immense importance. The principles of equitable and sustainable development are guiding global economic activity today. As organisations move from ‘profit’ to ‘purpose’ and investors, regulators and civil society rapidly adopt the principles of ESG, ACE remains cognisant of its responsibility to actively participate and contribute toward India’s equitable and sustainable economic transition. We approach our business conscientiously and with a deep focus to create a higher positive impact – by combining human ingenuity; experience and technological innovation to deliver sustained solutions and build trust. We have inculcated the 3R (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle) principles in all our operating practices. These not only make the operations efficient but also support resource optimisation leading to the conservation of natural resources. We actively collaborate with the customers to understand their needs and take appropriate measures to address them. Through investments in technology that facilitates fuel transition, operational efficiency and reduced emissions, we are helping our customers reduce their carbon footprint while also meeting their requirements for performance, durability and economic value. In the recent past, we have launched our series of multi-activity cranes, which help our customers to save costs and reduce fuel consumption. In essence, we are emphasising on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors through sustained and focused programmes. We remain well-placed to further gain market share and build a sustainable and profitable organisation with our mission of: Healthier planet Cohesive and well-structured processes are the foundation of our environmental management approach. We have launched several key initiatives towards the use of alternative energy sources in our operations, decarbonising the industry and rejuvenating the planet through extensive plantation drives. We have 1.8 MW of solar power plants, which cater to the energy needs of the organisation. Water conservation is important to combat business risks as well as societal risks and our plants are equipped with rainwater harvesting systems and sophisticated wastewater disposal and recycling systems to ensure that the water sources are invigorated. Social care and inclusion Socially responsible behaviour towards employees and the community has been the hallmark of ACE. We create and maintain a diverse, inclusive, vibrant, and meritocratic work environment that nurtures and motivates our employees. Our CSR policy is aimed at demonstrating care for the community through a focus on medical facilities and skill development. Also, embedded in this objective is support for the marginalised section of society by providing opportunities to improve their quality of life. We support various social causes and are actively involved in running the “ACE Emergency Response Service”, which caters to the medical emergencies of the people of Palwal and the Faridabad region. The entire emergency service is controlled with the help of customised software and GPS technology. The company also operates “ACE Pathology Laboratory” to provide a lab test facility on a “No Profit No Loss Basis” to the marginalised section of society thereby making diagnosis affordable for them. The company also operates an “ACE Training Center”, which imparts operation, maintenance and preventive training to in-house, customer and dealer personnel and enhances their skill-set to make them self-reliant and create a diversified talent pool for the industry. Ethical business standards We are fully committed to practising sound corporate governance and upholding the highest standards in conducting business. Being a value-driven organisation, the company has always worked towards building trust with shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders based on the principles of good corporate governance, viz., integrity, equity, transparency, fairness, disclosure, accountability and commitment to values. ACE fosters a culture of high standards of ethical behaviour and individual accountability. Sustainable business practices are the foundation on which we operate since inception while placing utmost importance on creating value for all our stakeholders across the value chain. Our value creation is based on equitable, inclusive, transparent and collaborative practices. To sum up, we’re thinking bigger and broader about the solutions we can deliver, and are looking further into the future to anticipate the challenges and opportunities ahead. Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond reducing emissions and includes prioritising safety, reducing waste and fulfilling the society’s need for infrastructure. Together, we can build a better, more sustainable world for the generations to come. About the author Sorab Agarwal, Executive Director, ACE, an engineering graduate, heads sales and marketing at ACE. He is a veteran with almost two decades of experience in the construction equipment industry.