JCB India Ltd is a leading manufacturer of earthmoving and construction equipment. It started as a JV in 1979 and is a fully owned subsidiary of J C Bamford Excavators, UK. With five state-of-the-art factories in India in Ballabgarh, Pune and Jaipur, JCB manufactures over 60 products in nine categories. Its sixth factory is currently under construction in Vadodara. JCB’s ‘made in India’ products are built to ‘one global quality’ and have been exported to over 110 countries. The company has over 60 dealers and about 700 outlets. Parts warehouses in Pune, Bengaluru, Bhaproda, Kolkata and Guwahati support these dealerships. Deepak Shetty, CEO and Managing Director, JCB India Ltd, shares more on the company, its legacy, plans and prospects…. What is a key parameter that has contributed to you being among the most admired brands in construction? JCB has always remained committed to the India growth story. We have continually invested in innovation and created the industry’s finest product support network. We are also leveraging technology to benefit customers. Our advanced telematics technology, JCB Livelink, supports customers on the service, operations and security of their fleet. We are also selling parts online through our Parts Application, which enabled doorstep delivery of genuine parts during COVID-19, and using Smart Serve for enhanced service support. How did you fare against the backdrop of the pandemic? The revival of roadbuilding after the lockdown has continued strongly and our business is back to pre-COVID levels. We continued to invest in new products and facilities even during the pandemic. We launched the industry’s first dual-fuel CNG backhoe loader and inaugurated the industry’s largest parts warehouse in Bhaproda near New Delhi. What do your customers value most about you? Our customers deeply value the trust the JCB brand brings with it. When customers invest in a JCB machine, they are purchasing a product built to one global quality. We endeavour to provide the best ownership experience in the industry. JCB is also committed to sustainability in operations, products and services. Are your products priced higher than your competitors? Customers look at the entire lifecycle of the machine and product support for higher productivity and greater returns on their investment. Profitability requires equipment to perform at optimal levels at all times through a combination of the product, its design and support. At JCB, we have tried to align these three parameters in favour of the customer. Tell us about your plans for FY21-22 that will enhance your ‘admiration quotient’. With the strong Budget allocation for infrastructure and the approval of a DFI [development finance institution], liquidity-related issues for infrastructure funding will ease out. JCB will continue to introduce exciting products and technologies that deliver a combination of value, new digital technology and world-class quality through indigenous manufacturing.