MAN Trucks India manufactures heavy MAN CLA Trucks for the Indian Market as well as for export to Asian, African and CIS countries. The range of products manufactured includes mining & construction tippers, haulage tractors & multi-axle trucks; and has also forayed recently into the bus segment. Mr. Jagadish Bhat, Managing Director, indicates his observations on the segment developments.
Brief us your product program in the tippers & tip trailers domain. What are the popular body sizes for tippers & tip trailers in various GVW ratings?
Today there is a lot of focus on the cost aspect in the trucking industry than ever before. Operators are today looking to boost productivity and profitability while reducing costs and optimizing performances. MAN Trucks in India offers a wide range of tipper trucks that satisfy the highest demands for reliability, ruggedness and longer service life.
The popular models we offer are:
CLA 16.220, CLA 25.280, CLA 31.280 for mining applications and CLA 16.220, CLA 25.220, CLA 25.280, CLA 31.280 for construction applications.
In construction range we have the following tippers which are deployed at construction sites with high gradients and in tough working conditions:
- 10 CuM 4X2
- 12 CuM 4X2
- 14 CuM 4X2
- 16 CuM 6X4
- 18 CuM 8X4
In mining range we have the following offerings:
- 14/16 CuM 6X4
- 18 CuM 8X4
Coming to tip trailers:
MAN CLA 49.220 tractor has the lowest unladen weight; hence it helps to achieve higher payloads for rated load applications like coke and coal transportation tip trailers. When it comes to more tough and challenging terrains then we have the MAN CLA 6X4 tractor with hub reduction axle and 9 speed transmissions.
Tell us about the salient product features and USPs to bring the prospective customers to your fold, viz., how do you address the competition?
Excellent driving dynamics, superior fuel efficiency and minimal maintenance are USPs of MAN. MAN Trucks offers state-of-the-art 7 litre mechanical or electronic engines in the range from 220-300 HP. MAN also offers both hypoid and hub reduction axles as per the application requirement. The MAN heavy duty hub reduction planetary axle provides superior traction, and higher ground clearance which is essential for tip trailers. Because of MAN’s strong technical background in applications, we are able to derive the most optimum solution that are tailor made to meet the customers’ requirements.
Please highlight the design, production & quality highlights of your fully built tippers.
The CLA range is manufactured by MAN in accordance with the highest quality standards. In case of fully built up concept, the chassis is equipped with bodies of reputed body manufacturers and sold as a complete vehicle. MAN employs the best possible material, latest technologies and processes. For mining tippers we use high strength wear resistant European Steel. MAN currently offers only front end tipping models.
Comment on the factors in favour of choosing a tip trailer for an application. Do you supply the complete tip trailer or supply only the tractor.
MAN supplies only tractor heads, however MAN Technical Team draws from our in house expertise to handhold the customer to select the right tip trailer based on the applications. Our design engineers also constantly interact with reputed suppliers, and are able to suggest the perfect solution to the customer after analysing the customer needs.
Mining segment is considered to be the toughest in CV applications – can you tell us about the challenges, duty cycles, importance of reliability and service support therein?; and your approach in meeting these stringent demands?
MAN in India started catering to the special needs of the Indian mining sector by introducing its range of German engineered projects which have already been tried and tested in the most challenging working conditions. Mining industry expects the tippers to work round the clock, week after week, with minimum downtime. It’s an area where MAN has demonstrated that the CLA range has the most reliable and rugged vehicles that can handle any gradient or terrain. MAN also deploys onsite support in the form of dedicated service engineers at all major mines to ensure round the clock service support. The training department also conducts periodic training programs to ensure mechanics are equipped for regular maintenance of trucks.
Can you elaborate the critical role of the driver in man-machine combination towards meeting the productivity and TCO targets?
Our training department takes the lead in ensuring that the drivers who drive the CLA range have the best training to extract performance from the CLA range. Regular best practice sharing sessions also help the drivers exchange notes and discuss ways to improve the productivity.