Focus on creating value for end-users [Dec 2011]

December 22, 2011 9:44 am

“Our focus is about creating a value of the end-users and this is in partnership with our OEMs, with our customers who drive us and their products into the market”, said Piyush Munot, Director & Head of ZF India
At  Excon 2011, ZF India displayed wide range of products that includes the products that go into the driveline and power train of a vehicle. Commenting on the company’s expectations of ZF India at Excon; Piyush Munot, Director & Head of ZF India, Vice President ZF Services, ZF India said, “With a large customer base already in India, our presence here at Excon is another emphasis of our presence in India. We have a plant in Pune which was started in January last year and this is a commitment to be in the market local to supply to the OEMs locally. So at Excon and other such exhibitions, it is important for us to show our presence, display our key products for the market and show the market that we are looking at India in a much focused manner. That’s the products strategy we follow”.
The wheel loader and backhoe loader products on display at Excon are manufactured in the Pune plant and it remains the focus for India as of now. Besides, the company also caters to motor graders, soil compactors, transit mixers and a host of other products in the construction equipment field.
Driving on InnovationThe company has a clear distinction of products as far as technology is concerned. “We believe in creating a value for the end-users. We might not be seen in the volumes of business that has been catered to some suppliers, but the fields that we operate in, we would like to create a value for the end-users which would include functions like improving the efficiency level of the fuel consumption are giving a direct benefit to the end-users. Also, the wheel loaders and backhoe loaders are in the rental market. The end-users can really benefit from a power shift transmission that we have brought to the market. Our focus is about creating a value of the end-users and this is in partnership with our OEMs, with our customers who drive us and their products into the market. Nobody else in the backhoe loader segment has a power shift transmission”, informed Mr. Munot.
Focusing in R&DCommenting on the company’s financial performance, Mr. Munot said, “This year ZF is targeting 15 billion euros in terms of sales globallly. It’s a very large company, we are ranked no. 3 in Europe among the auto component manufacturers which includes our automotive business and we are also among the top 10 manufacturers in the world for auto components. So we have a very high outlook as far as the market is concerned and to keep pace with the development of new technologies, ZF Group invests 5 per cent of its revenues into developments. Last year, the group has invested 500 million euros into the development of new technologies and with a focus to create new and better value”.                
Future Outlook“We will grow and stabilise our current program for backhoe loaders and wheel loaders within next 3 years. We are also looking at getting new products to the market. This would be our expansion plans for construction equipment. Besides CE, we have a large portfolio of products that we are catering to the automotive segment and will enhance that segment also”, Mr. Munot predicts.