The world-class range of Made inIndia JCB Telehandlers offer exceptional versatility, productivity, andreliability for all material handling applications, writes Deepak Shetty.
As the Indian market matures, globalbest practices are making their way into the Indian Material Handling Industry.There is an increased focus on productivity and safety at worksites, whichpresents us with the opportunity of introducing solutions with the latest andstate-of-the-art technology in India.
The demand for safe and reliablematerial handling products is fast growing across India’s wide spectrum ofapplications.
Telehandlers are gaining popularityand are today being used in three core sectors – Agriculture, Construction, andIndustry. Some examples are Hopper Loading in Ready Mix Concrete, CeramicProducts and Metal Scrap Recycling Plants. In Rail/Road/Hydel Tunnel Projects,the JCB Telehandler with Man Platform provides a safe working platform for technicalpersonnel.
Telehandlers are used forhorizontal and vertical movement of prefabricated components and aggregatematerial in the construction and infrastructure sector.
The unique Q-Fit feature in JCBTelehandlers enables easy and quick changeover of attachments, therebyincreasing the versatility of the machines. An Unloading Rake attachmentenables easy unloading of aggregate material from trucks.
Different sizes of Standard andGrab Buckets enable usage in industries like Paper, Metal Scrap Rehandling, andCoal Rehandling. The Man Platform attachment has made the JCB Telehandler a ‘musthave’ for Construction companies for any Rail, Road, and Hydel Tunnel andBridge Construction Projects.
In times to come, with an increasedthrust on Palletization, one of the major demand drivers will be discretematerial handling and vertical stacking in huge warehouses and at transhipmentpoints. Similarly, mechanisation of Agriculture and Agri Products industries offersopportunities for Telehandlers in areas like Husk Handling in Biofuel Plants, Bagassehandling in Sugar Mills, Compost handling in Mushroom Farms, and Silagehandling for the timely supply of cattle feed.
Product offerings in this segment and its USPs
JCB has been manufacturingTelehandlers globally since 1977. It is, today, the world’s leadingmanufacturer of these machines. JCB offers a range from seven meters to 20meters Lift height in India.
With a wide range of attachmentscustomised for specific applications in various industries, they come with anall-new global side engine design to enhance all-around higher visibility, reliability,safety, and comfort while delivering high productivity at the worksite.
JCB India currently offers fourvariants of the Telehandler – the Made in India 530-70 and 530-110, andadditionally, we have a 17m machine which is the 540-170 for high lift andreach applications, which is imported from the UK. We recently launched the 4.0Ton Telescopic Handler 540-70.
Some notable key features of thesemachines are as follows:
- The 530–70, 540-70, and 530–110come with the CEV Stage IV Compliant JCB ecoMax 444 engine. A robust and narrowchassis along with a standard four-wheel drive for better traction make thesemachines well suited for material handling requirements.
- With the engine being on theside, the operator gets greater visibility which enhances safety. Lower NVH levelsand an Air-conditioned cab ensure Operator comfort. JCB was the first to complywith the latest CEV Stage IV emission standards.
- JCB’s made in IndiaTelehandlers come fitted with a 74hp Turbo Charged Diesel Engine.
- Unmatched stacking and dumpingcapability of up to 7.0 meters, 11 meters, and 17 meters on 530-70, 540-70, 530-110,540-170 respectively.
- Forward reach of 3.83 meters inthe JCB 530-70, 3.84 meters in the 540-70 and 7.52 meters in the JCB 530-110respectively.
- During EXCON 2021, we launched the4.0 Ton Telescopic Handler, the 540-70. With a maximum lift height of 7.0m, anda maximum lift capacity of up to 4.0 Tons, it has a Q-fit mechanism for a quickchange of attachments that make the machine multipurpose. With an air-conditioned,360° high-visibility global design cabin, and ROPS and FOPS, this new machineis well-suited for all Material Handling requirements of customers, especiallyin high-capacity RMC Plants and Stone Quarries.
A few of the key benefits offeredby JCB Telehandlers are as follows:
Global Side Engine Design: The JCBTelehandler comes with Global Side Engine Design with Hi-Viz low boom mountingensuring high visibility all around, thus enhancing site safety. Engineinstallation makes it easy for ground-level service and safe access. Its robustchassis offers high structural life and Single Lifting Ram provides uniformlifting force on the boom.
Safety and Comfort: The machine providescustomers unmatched safety and comfort. The Cabin of the machine has anair-conditioner available as a standard feature for operator comfort and helpsin increasing productivity. The cabin is also fitted with Rolling OverProtection System and Falling Over Protection System that enhance the operatorsafety. It has an Integral Lateral Load Moment Indicator to warn the operatorin case the load exceeds the limits and has a stabiliser cut-off for safeworking operation. Smooth and Ergonomically installed control levers providelow effort and are responsive for total control and precise load placement at therequired reach or height.
Superior Design: The machine comes witha legendary ‘U’ shaped boom and a single closing plate welds to reduce jointsand stress points. It has boom overlapping for the structural rigidity of theboom.
Hydraulic extension rams with nochains are suited for heavy-duty bucket arduous bucket applications. Theseworld-class aggregates help JCB Telehandlers deliver inherent reliability ofthe equipment.
These machines come with a varietyof attachments which makes them versatile. The widely used attachments are aShovel, Heavy Duty Forks, Grabs, Unloading Rake, Crane Hook – Fork Mounted, JibCrane, Grain Bucket, Cotton Bucket, Power Grab, Man Platform, and Drum Handlers,etc.
Every machine incorporates thetraditional JCB strengths of ruggedness, reliability, structural integrity,performance, visibility, and safety. With the use of JCB’s purpose-designedattachment range further enhancing the tasks possible, the world-class range ofMade in India JCB Telehandlers offer exceptional versatility, productivity, andreliability for all material handling applications.
Along with quality and durability,another key factor in maximising machine uptime is easy serviceability. With aside engine design, all checks are quick, simple, and safe to carry out fromground level and most service intervals, including boom lubrication.
The lifting capacity of 3,000kg,long reach, and impressive lift height (7 metres to 20 metres) in JCBTelehandlers are complemented by a wide range of attachments (over 40) whichmakes these machines the first choice of machines in the construction andinfrastructure domain.
Major changes taking place in terms of technology
JCB India has pioneered theintegration of digital technology in its range of machines through advancedTelematics called ‘LiveLink’. JCB machines work in off-road and often remotelocations and LiveLink helps in remote monitoring and fleet management on thekey parameters of Service, Operations, and Security of equipment.
LiveLink now helps over 210,000 JCBmachines communicate in real-time on machine location, operations, performance,downtime, service alerts, and security. The technology enables better sitemanagement and equipment utilisation, thereby improving operational efficiencyand cost-saving. Geo-fencing and Time-fencing have enhanced the security ofthese machines.
Technology has been transformingthe way Machine-to-Machine and Machine-to-Customer business is being done. Allvital information about the machine is available to customers on their mobiledevices through a web browser or also through the ‘LiveLink’ mobileapplication. Additionally, the system also sends out alert SMSs to registeredmobile numbers.
LiveLink benefits customers inbetter fleet and fuel management by enabling remote monitoring and managementof their machines. It incorporates GPS, Telecommunications, Machine Electronics,and IoT, enabling the equipment to remain in contact with the owner, dealer,and JCB.
Accurate monitoring of machine hoursand service alerts improve maintenance. Technical alerts and maintenancehistory data help customers manage the machine health to keep their machinesrunning or maximum uptime and return on investment. Early warnings withdetailed machine history enable users to plan work effectively.
This cutting-edge technology canhelp lower servicing and running costs by ensuring machines are operated totheir optimum performance, reducing fuel consumption and unnecessary machinewear. By monitoring idle-time and real-time fuel consumption, LiveLink helpsmanage the whole life cost of ownership, driving down costs, and driving upproductivity.
It also helps keep machines safeand improves control over machine misuse. Alerts can be set up for when amachine is moved out of or into a predetermined zone – these geofences arecustomisable to the space required.
Future market for Telehandlers in India
Infrastructure development and theeconomy are interlinked and directly impact one another. The Gati-ShaktiProgramme has integrated all Infrastructure activity in real-time. This will bea game changer as it will promote greater cohesion between different departments.
The Government continues its focuson infrastructure development through allocations in the budget. This year hasa 35.4 per cent increase in infra-capex outlay taking it to `7.5-lakh-crores. Further `60,000-crores have beenallocated for 3.8 crore houses for drinking water under the Nal se Jalprogramme. `48,000-crores for 80 lakh affordable housing houses will createinfrastructure building opportunities. Significant allocation to States tocover PMGSY, digitisation, OFC networks, and a new master plan for expresswayswill support our business.
Two key sectors are set to emergein the coming years – the first being Infrastructure development in Rural India,and the other will be the creation of world-class healthcare infrastructureacross the country. These sectors, along with Highway Development plans, arebound to contribute to the Indian economy.
Products, such as Telehandlers, arebest suited for these projects due to their versatility and Safety. Theydeliver a combination of value, new digital technology, and world-classquality.
At a national level, an impetus forRoads and Highways, Railways, Irrigation, and large projects like Sagarmala andBharatmala would drive demand for Construction Equipment. Additionally, thefocus on creating 100 new airports, Smart cities, and Metro projects willcertainly open newer opportunities ultimately resulting in improved demand forconstruction equipment. Additionally, PMGSY and rural roads will boost demand.
“The lifting capacity of 3,000kg,long reach, and impressive lift height (7 metres to 20 metres) in JCBTelehandlers are complemented by a wide range of attachments (over 40) whichmakes these machines the first choice of machines in the construction andinfrastructure domain.”
- Deepak Shetty.
CEO and Managing Director,
JCBIndia Limited.