Wirtgen planning to manufacture pavers in India

Road building equipment manufacturer is planning to start manufacturing pavers at its plant in Pune, India. Details have not yet been finalised, but the company says the model will be smaller than the highway-class units it imports to India, and will be available in 18 months or so.

Speaking at the bC India exhibition, company joint CEO Stefan Wirtgen said, “We have a very strong position here in the highway class of pavers and we want to strengthen that with a smaller machine. We have got to decide what paving width it will be. We will probably make the screeds in Germany, where we have a very efficient factory, but we will of course see what we can source in India.”

The company currently makes compactors at its Pune factory. It’s first machines were soil compactors, launched two years ago, and at this year’s bC India it has unveiled a 9 - 10 tonne class tandem roller built in India, the HD 99/HD 109.

Mr Wirtgen said, “There’s no doubt that India will grow in the long term and will become one of the biggest markets in the world. We have had the manufacturing plant in Pune for some time and we will extend it again this year.”