Schwing Stetter 'Super Six'
Schwing Stetter India has introduced four new mobile concrete mixers in association with Mahindra Powerol.
Schwing Stetter India has introduced four new mobile concrete mixers in association with Mahindra Powerol.
One of the leading manufacturers of transit concrete mixers, Schwing Stetter, in association with Mahindra Powerol has introduced four new transit concrete mixers under the ‘Super Six’ theme. These are premium machines that leverage Internet of Things (IoT) to assure operators of higher efficiency and productivity. Of the four machines the company has introduced, two are dubbed as ‘Super Six IoT In’ and ‘Super Six IoT Ready’ each. The other two are dubbed as ‘Super Six GPS’ and ‘Super Six Standard’ each. The ‘Super Six IoT In’ and ‘Super Six IoT Ready’ measure six-cubic metre in size each as far as the concrete mixer is concerned. Both are powered by the truck’s engine through a power take-off. The ‘Super Six GPS’ and ‘Super Six Standard’ also measure six-cubic metre in size each as far as the concrete mixer is concerned. Both the models are powered by a slave engine of Mahindra make. Aiming at a market that is estimated to be 8000 units strong, the four ‘Super Six’ models could be had on 6x4 truck chassis of various CV manufacturers. Hoping to command roughly 80 per cent of the six-cubic metre transit concrete market by clocking in the region of 6000 units, Schwing Stetter has priced the ‘Standard’ variant at Rs.7.15 lakh; the ‘GPS’ version at Rs.7.65 lakh; the ‘IoT Ready’ version at Rs.7.95 lakh, and the ‘IoT In’ version at Rs.8.15 lakh exclusive of GST.
The association with Mahindra Powerol presenting Schwing Stetter with an advantage of fuel efficient engines that are
also BSVI emission compliant. In what is claimed to be an industry first initiative, the association of Mahindra Powerol and Schwing Stetter has also provided the concrete mixer specialist with machines that address the exacting needs of the market; of the customers. With Government applying much thrust on infrastructure development, the ‘Super Six’ transit concrete mixers are said to have come at the right time. A result of rigorous trials according to Schwing Stetter sources, the ‘Super Six’ machines mark a shift away from ‘analogue’ concrete mixers, which called for near constant supervision and control. Announcing the arrival of smart, premium and intelligent products as far as transit concrete mixers are concerned, the ‘Super Six’, according to Anand Sundaresan, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Schwing Stetter India, boasts of higher fuel efficiency, lower cost of ownership and various value additions. “The IoT enabled smart truck mixers that we have introduced, will provide higher value to our customers,” he mentioned. Pointing at the ‘IoT In’ transit mixer, that is the most feature-packed of the four models introduced, Sundaresan averred, that the data collected will be transferred to a cloud server using a SIM card through IoT compliant hardware fitted to the mixer.
Apart from providing the operator access to (protected) data (live machine status as well as historical data) from remote locations using a laptop, mobile or a tab, the ‘IoT In’ machine reduces downtime by enabling proactice maintenance and an ability to remotely monitor the operation. The integration of GPS for live tracking provides data analytics to monitor machine efficiency, productivity and trace-ability. The ‘IoT Ready’ machine has a CAN-based controller with a multi-colour display. The display is placed behind the cabin and ahead of the mixer drum. Eliminating the need for conventional dials, the display provides information on battery and drum parameters like hours of operation, number of drum rotations in CW and CCW directions, and radiator running hours. The display also shows critical alarm messages. The ‘IoT Ready’ machine facilitates maintenance scheduling like gearbox oil change, hydraulic oil and filter
change, and drum cleaning. Enabling IoT integration for data analytics as an option, the ‘IoT Ready’ machine, as part of the ‘Super Six’, offers large loading volume, optimum drive characteristics, best-in-class spiral geometry, larger clearance for concrete discharge, ease of cleaning, best-in-class fuel efficiency. If these characteristics result in low lifcycle costs, the ‘Super Six’ stand out for Stetter T-protect wear protection, and are expected to offer a high resale value.
Said to offer cost savings to the tune of Rupees-five lakh over a period of five years, the ‘Super Six’ machines are claimed to be future ready too. A range of options, the ‘Super Six’ machines could be had with, include a regulator for concrete discharge, water meter, admixture system in gravity version, admixture system in compressed-air version, slump meter, and a hinged part (made of plastic). The company also offers a 3/4 flap drum cover, a full flap drum cover, plastic extension
chute, and a swivel feed hopper. Informed Sundaresan, “It was in 2013 that we first partnered with Mahindra Powerol. It marked a big step ahead for us then, and is the case today.” Designed at Mahindra Research Valley, the engines are designed to address the application duty cycle to the tee. Powered by the Mahindra Powerol slave engine, the ‘Super Six GPS’ and ‘Super Six Standard’ range promises superior fuel savings. The 2.8-litre four-cylinder BSVICEV Mahindra Powerol engine
is claimed to be very efficient, powerful and clean. A typical consumption cycle in this class of concrete mixers is 1.8-litre per hour. The Mahindra Powerol slave engine consumes 1.1-litre fuel per hour in comparison according to Schwing Stetter sources. This, they said, was observed in a 2000 hour test run against an engine from a competitor. The cycle typically includes standard loading, inspection, transit and unloading at the factory and field level.
With the price of diesel rising, the ability of the Mahindra Powerol engine to offer higher efficiency will be highly appreciated. Claimed Schwing Stetter sources, that the Mahindra Powerol engine should result in savings of Rs.5,04,000 (diesel price of Rs.72 per litre) over 10,000 hours of operation. This would roughly account to a time span of five years. Offering the ‘Super Six’ machines with ‘Mahindra Surakhsha’, a comprehensive maintenance program, and a live tracking system, supplied on demand, Schwing Stetter, according to Sundaresan, is looking at placing itself in a position of advantage when it comes to transit concrete mixers. Said Sachin Nijhawan, Business Head, Mahindra Powerol, that the ‘Super Six’ machines reinforce the company’s commitment to offer superior products to customers. Confident of the engines proving to be a good substitute for imported ones, Sundaresan averred, “It took us 16 months to conceptualise the new range.”
With both the companies looking for a long association, the ‘Super Six’ machines stand to profit from the know-how and expertise of either company in their domain. Providing an opportunity to both the companies to offer the best to their customers, the ‘Super Six’ machines, with IoT, are set to facilitate the availability of crucial statistics on performance and efficiency. Explained Sundaresan, that they selected the Mahindra Powerol engines only after bulk proto testing them pan-India. He informed that the engines clocked more than 10 lakh hours across applications. Stating that the segment the ‘Super Six’ machines are in is growing at a high pace, Sundaresan revealed that they are banking on the government’s move to cut GST on construction equipment from 28 per cent to 18 per cent, and the need to invest over Rs.59 trillion in infrastructure development by 2022. Contributing to the unprecedented high growth rate the construction equipment and earthmoving industry is experiencing to the cut in GST rates, Sundaresan said, “The volumes that took one year to achieve are now being achieved in a span of six months.” Schwing Stetter he said,
manufactures an estimated 250 concrete pumps a month, and an estimated 450 truck mixers per month. The truck mixers range from three cubic metres to 12 cubic metres. With the ‘Super Six’ machines providing an opportunity to define the future of transit concrete mixers, Schwing Stetter, according to Sundaresan, is looking at leveraging technology to offer best-in-class products in India. It is also looking at how technology is helping to address market requirements as well as the upcoming regulatory changes.
With Construction Equipment set to move to BSIV emission norms by 2020, Sundaresan is hoping that his company’s partnership with Mahindra
Powerol will prove to be highly beneficial for either. With the market size expected to rise beyond 10,000 units in a span of two years, Schwing Stetter is operating at close to 100 per cent. A new facility is being built near Kanchipuram with an investment of Rs.250 crore earmarked for Phase-one. When the new facility goes on stream, and rolls out new products that are smarter, more efficient and offer superior productivity, the association between Mahindra Powerol and Schwing Stetter would have reached a new level. Expressed Nijhawan, that they have a network of 140 dealers. “The fact that we have increased the extended warranty on the engines from 1200 hours to 2000 hours should reflect on the confidence we have in our products,” he mentioned.