New Generation Concrete Pumps

Mr. Wilfried Theissen, Managing Director Putzmeister Concrete Machines Pvt Ltd - India

Putzmeister Concrete Machines Pvt Ltd that offers a range of concreting solutions in vertical and horizontal pumping of concrete has offered products in major projects like Metro rail projects, expansion and modernization of International Air ports at Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore, construction of various Power Plants, Hydro Electric Projects, LNG Tanks, Refineries, Ports, Roads and Bridges  and various High rise building Projects. Mr. Wilfried Theissen, Managing Director of Putzmeister India shares with Built Expressions about company’s focus on offering easy maintenance and environment-friendly products.

What are the innovations happening in the construction equipment sector to reduce the impact on natural environment?

We at Putzmeister are continuously striving to improve our products on all aspects like: safe and easy operation, highest machine availability and reliability, easy maintenance, and of course as environment friendly as possible. Our latest generation of 32,36 and 42 m boom pumps and our Eco friendly stationary pumps that have been specially designed to achieve just that.

We have reduced the overall machine weight by more than 10% thereby considerably reducing the fuel consumption.  Our new generation boom and stationary pumps are fitted with the new OPS system, which helps to cut down on operational costs which will help the customers from burning a hole in their pockets.

What way according to you, construction mechanization can optimize productivity and probably is the only solution to encounter the skill shortage?

Even though a lot is going on in India, the pace of construction is still very slow. The only way to increase the speed and quality of the construction and therefore meet the needs and requirement of an ever increasing population is mechanisation.

In India more than 80% of the concrete is still transported manually by unskilled labour. With the increasing number of projects in the pipeline even Indian construction companies will run short of labour and will have to turn to mechanisation.

As leaders in the field, can you briefly describe the range of products and services you offer, being segment specific?

These latest eSmart machines with HMI (Human Machine Interface) control panel have Ergonic Graphic Display (EGD), which allows the operator to determine operating status and diagnosing faults of the machine in real time. The EGD performance displays various parameters like pumping hours, concrete output, hydraulic oil temperature, fault diagnosis matrix, stroke counter, engine speed etc., which makes it possible to monitor the pump continuously. This system reduces the restrictions in hydraulic oil flow; and as a result, the heat generation in this hydraulic system is minimized and thus saves recurring maintenance cost.

These machines also come with advanced safety features making it safer to operate. The Emergency Switch on the control panel is very easy to access. It stops the entire operation of the machine when pressed in case of an emergency. The RSA – which is the Grill safety switch that keeps the pump and agitator from working if the hopper grill is open, thus avoiding accidents and ensuring the safety of the operator.

The new Open Pump System (OPS) design will drastically reduce operational costs. Besides being fitted with the usual advanced safety features, the new version requires only 70 litres of hydraulic oil, which is almost up to 5 times less as compared to equivalent machines from other brands and since this oil needs to be changed every 500 pumping hours or 1500-2000 engine hours, it makes the eSmart machines very economical to run and environment friendly.

What are the proactive steps being taken as such by the construction equipment industry to bring in extra awareness among the professionals in terms of equipment usage?

Seminar's &Workshops :Putzmeister organises these events to promote its machinery and as the name of the event suggests; create awareness about the new technology in the industry focusing on cost and time saving, thereby, increasing the profitability of the end user. Putzmeister is also a member of VDMA, CII and ICEMA who conduct important meetings and holds significant discussions pertaining to the development in the concrete industry.

Putzmeister has been a part of large equipment events, exhibitions and trade fares like EXCON and bCindia wherein it provides a platform to people in the concrete industry to interact and know more about our products. Putzmeister features in the top industry and construction magazines every month earning limelight for our innovations, job-sites, achievements and products offered.

How do you analyse the growth of construction industry in the last five years in the frame work of construction equipment market?

There has been a growth between 2009 and 2011 but since then it is flat and even decreasing. The Indian market has on paper anyway, the highest potential of all but has so far failed to live up to the very high expectations of the construction machinery construction companies.