Equipment Focus: Reaching High in India

South Asia often is considered a region where some types of automation have been introduced slowly, especially forms of automation that could cut into the Indian economy's need to provide jobs in the world's second largest labor market.

With more than 1.2 billion people, India has one of the fastest growing economies and one of the fastest growing middle classes in the world. Thus, the labor market is likely to evolve in the next several years.

In addition to potential future demographic reasons to introduce more technology in industries such as the construction sector, a contractor and equipment dealer in India is also pointing to safe work practices as an important reason to spur a revolution in how construction and demolition work is performed.
 

A DEMOLITION PIONEER
Armed with a fleet of seven Volvo excavators, India's Mohan Ramanathan is referred to by some who know him as "The Demolition Man." It is a title he has gained after decades in the industry and through his role as managing director of ACT, one of Volvo Construction Equipment's 13 dealers in India.

Ramanathan has taken on a mighty challenge in his operating region, based in Chennai (formerly known as Madras), India. Through his ACT dealership, he is trying to introduce safer, more efficient ways of working, which appears to place him among the pioneers in the Indian demolition industry on this front.

"The demolition industry in India is around 15 years behind the western world," says Ramanathan, who is educated as a civil engineer and has a thorough knowledge of construction equipment. "I am trying to convert people to modern ways of working and raise awareness of safer, more efficient and cost-effective methods compared to traditional, labor-intensive processes," he adds.

ACT has been serving as a gateway for many demolition technologies to enter India.

On the contracting side, the company says on its website (http://actind.com) that it "pioneered the art of diamond cutting technology in India in 1994 and implemented it [as part of] several complicated contracts related to selective and controlled dismantling of structures."

Also on its website, the company says it implemented implosion technology in India in 1997 in collaboration with United States-based Controlled Demolition Inc., Phoenix, Md.

As a construction contractor, ACT says it introduced "direct burial of cables (DBC), a new technology that harnesses the power of diamond cutting technology for laying OFCs (oxygen-free cables) for telecommunication service providers, in-house network connections" and in other applications.

In 2006, Ramanathan introduced a comparatively silent demolition technology to the country by using a hydraulic concrete crusher mounted on a Volvo excavator. Ramanathan says it is the first time a crusher was used with an excavator in India's demolition industry.

In 2008 he brought the first Volvo Ultra High Reach Excavator to India – possibly marking the introduction of this technology in Asia. "Slowly we are starting to move away from manual demolition toward a much safer and more efficient mechanical way of working," Ramanathan comments.

"Using excavators and attachments in Indian demolition is still a relatively new concept because there is not enough awareness of this technology [being] available," Ramanathan says.

The need for demolition work is considerable in India, Ramanathan says. "With the combination of the redevelopment of walled cities, old infrastructure waiting to be replaced and plans for enhancing the use of land, there is great potential in this market – and so it is vital that we are up to date with the latest demolition techniques," he states.

Ramanathan says he is pleased he has the connection with the Volvo line to help bring about the changes he wants to prompt. "The machines are really starting to transform the demolition industry now, but there are still challenges to overcome. That's where Volvo Construction Equipment comes in."
 

POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP
ACT, which started as a family business 60 years ago, now sells and rents Volvo machines throughout Tamil Nadu and Kerala, two southern states in India.

Ramanathan's fleet of machines – which consists of Volvo EC140, EC210, EC240, EC360 and EC460 excavators that can have booms either 22 meters and 26 meters in length – are used with demolition attachments such as hydraulic breakers, crushers and shears.

The machines work on demolition job sites across India and are currently being used on a major project in Ahmedabad, in west India, where a large power station is being demolished. The fleet is also hard at work dismantling structures in ACT's home city of Chennai to make space for an underground Metro Rail project.

Although ACT is a Volvo dealer, Ramanathan says that before the company introduces new technology to the Indian demolition industry, he makes sure it fulfils certain requirements.

His philosophy states that it must be the most economical and effective technology available in the field. Secondly it must be the safest and the fastest. And finally it should be the most modern method that can easily be adapted to Indian conditions.

"These requirements are what led me to Volvo Construction Equipment machines," Ramanathan says. "Volvo has the best hydraulics and that is extremely important because we are always using hydraulic attachments," he comments. "The machines are built with increased safety and stability. They are tough, reliable, fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. Volvo excavators are so much more efficient, saving valuable fuel and therefore money."

Regarding what the future holds, Ramanathan states, "Demolition is a very exciting and challenging area," but he says safety as a vital issue in India to be more fully addressed.

"The cause of most accidents in this industry is the use of inappropriate methods and a poor understanding of the structure," Ramanathan says. "However, things are starting to change. It is essential that we modernize to increase safety, efficiency and environmental care – with the help of Volvo Construction Equipment we are moving towards a better and safer way of working in India." 

This story was submitted on behalf of Volvo Construction Equipment, with North American headquarters in Asheville, N.C.