What EXCON 2025 has shown quite clearly is that India’s construction equipment industry has moved past the phase of proving its tech credentials. Industry 4.0, connectivity, AI and electrification are no longer headline acts—they’re becoming part of the furniture. The difference between exhibitors lay not in whether they are adopting these technologies, but in how deliberately they are doing so.
Global majors such as Volvo CE and Caterpillar arrived with the confidence of companies for whom digital systems are already business as usual, quietly reinforcing service-led models and data-driven decision-making. Large-scale manufacturers like JCB, Tata Hitachi and Hyundai focused on factory automation, operator-friendly intelligence and dependable production discipline rather than dramatic reinvention. Process specialists—including Wirtgen, Schwing Stetter and Terex—used digital tools with clear intent, applying automation and analytics only where outcomes are measurable on site.
Indian OEMs and challengers such as ACE, Mahindra and Conmat brought a distinctly pragmatic flavour to Industry 4.0, shaped by cost realities and serviceability. Electrification, led most visibly by Sany and Schwing Stetter, felt purposeful rather than experimental. Overall, EXCON 2025 reflected an industry growing comfortable with technology—less interested in buzzwords, more focused on what actually works on Indian jobsites.
EXCON 2025 suggests that Industry 4.0 adoption in India’s construction equipment sector is becoming deliberate and differentiated, with companies choosing where to digitise deeply rather than digitising everything at once.
Based on my discussions with CE sector leaders and technologists here’s my take of how the following companies are faring when it comes to application of Industry 4.0, Manufacturing Best Practices and AI.
Read on…
Volvo CE India — Calm confidence, digital by default
Volvo CE arrived at EXCON 2025 without shouting—and that, in many ways, was the point. The spotlight was on India-manufactured machines like the EC215 excavator, alongside an electric loader that quietly reinforced Volvo’s long-term electrification roadmap for the market. What Volvo showcased wasn’t just hardware, but a philosophy: build locally, digitise deeply and let data do the heavy lifting. Telematics and machine intelligence are now standard fare in Volvo’s India portfolio. Fleet uptime, fuel burn, idle time—everything is measured, analysed and fed back into both customer operations and product development. Behind the scenes, Volvo’s Indian plants and technology centres are increasingly aligned with global Industry 4.0 benchmarks, blending automation, digital twins and predictive maintenance. Volvo’s EXCON message was simple but mature: sustainability works best when it also improves productivity.
Caterpillar India — The Systems Thinker
Caterpillar doesn’t sell machines in isolation anymore—and EXCON 2025 made that abundantly clear. The new excavators on display were important, yes, but the real pitch lay in the digital ecosystem surrounding them. VisionLink, Product Link and Cat’s connected service stack were front and centre, reinforcing Cat’s belief that the future of construction is managed, monitored and measured. Cat’s Industry 4.0 strategy in India is strongly service-led. AI-driven diagnostics, condition monitoring and predictive maintenance are increasingly embedded into dealer operations, helping customers reduce unplanned downtime. Manufacturing remains conservative but precise, while digital maturity is accelerating fast. At EXCON, Caterpillar positioned itself less as an equipment maker and more as a fleet intelligence partner.
JCB India — Scale meets Smart Engineering
JCB’s EXCON presence was unmistakable—huge, confident and unapologetically Indian. The unveiling of India’s largest locally built excavator made headlines, but beneath the scale was a quieter evolution in operator technology, fuel optimisation and manufacturing sophistication. JCB’s factories are among the most automated in the country and Industry 4.0 principles—robotic welding, real-time quality monitoring, digital production planning—are already deeply embedded. On the product side, JCB is focusing on operator-centric intelligence: smarter cabins, intuitive controls, fuel-saving hydraulics and telematics that don’t overwhelm the user. JCB’s message: technology should feel natural, not intimidating.
Action Construction Equipment (ACE) — Indigenous and increasingly intelligent
ACE used EXCON 2025 to reinforce its identity as one of India’s most comprehensive homegrown OEMs. Cranes, loaders, material handling equipment—the portfolio breadth was impressive, but the real story lay in ACE’s manufacturing ambition. ACE is steadily integrating Industry 4.0 concepts into its plants—digital assembly lines, process automation and quality analytics—while also introducing telematics and remote diagnostics across product categories. Their digital journey may not be flashy, but it is pragmatic, rooted in cost efficiency and serviceability, which resonates strongly with Indian contractors. ACE’s EXCON story was about controlled evolution, not disruption.
Sany India — Electrification with intent
Sany’s stand felt future-facing. Electric forklifts, cranes and advanced heavy equipment highlighted a company that is serious about electrification—not as a pilot, but as a business strategy. Sany’s global learnings in electric powertrains and energy management are clearly filtering into its India roadmap. From an Industry 4.0 standpoint, Sany is building machines that are digitally native—ready for fleet analytics, energy monitoring and remote diagnostics. Manufacturing is increasingly automated and AI is being explored in machine health monitoring and performance optimisation. At EXCON, Sany made it clear: electrification and digitisation will scale together.
LiuGong India — Tough machines, smarter over time
LiuGong’s EXCON presence reflected its steady, no-nonsense approach to the Indian market. The machines on display were robust, site-ready and competitively positioned—but increasingly connected. Telematics adoption is rising, especially among fleet customers looking for fuel efficiency and utilisation data. LiuGong’s manufacturing strategy remains focused on localisation and cost control, while digital services are layered on to improve lifecycle value. Their Industry 4.0 journey is evolutionary, not revolutionary—but unmistakably underway.
Wirtgen Group India — Digitising the road itself
Wirtgen’s strength lies in process mastery and EXCON 2025 reinforced that reputation. From milling to paving, Wirtgen showcased machines that are less about brute force and more about precision, automation and workflow integration. Digital jobsite solutions, machine control systems and data-driven process optimisation are central to Wirtgen’s Industry 4.0 vision. Manufacturing quality remains German-grade, while Indian operations focus on localisation, training and digital adoption by contractors. Wirtgen isn’t just building roads—it’s digitising how roads are built.
ZF India — Intelligence inside the machine
ZF doesn’t make machines—but it arguably makes machines smarter. At EXCON, ZF highlighted intelligent axles, transmissions and driveline systems that improve fuel efficiency, durability and control. ZF’s India manufacturing operations are increasingly automated and digitally managed, with strong emphasis on mechatronics and embedded intelligence. AI plays a role in simulation, testing and predictive quality control. ZF’s EXCON story was subtle but critical: the future of construction equipment performance is being engineered inside the drivetrain.
MANN+HUMMEL — Quietly enabling reliability
Filtration may not grab headlines, but MANN+HUMMEL reminded visitors at EXCON that reliability begins with clean systems. Advanced air, fuel and hydraulic filtration solutions—some with sensor-based monitoring—were showcased as essential enablers of uptime. Industry 4.0 here is about predictive maintenance. Smart filters that signal clogging or wear help prevent failures before they happen. Manufacturing excellence and application engineering remain the backbone of MANN+HUMMEL’s India operations, with digital sensing adding a new layer of intelligence.
Mahindra Construction Equipment — Compact, Connected, Customer-first
Mahindra’s construction arm leaned into compact machines and practical innovation at EXCON 2025. The COMPAX range reflected Mahindra’s focus on urban infrastructure, municipalities and small contractors. Telematics, digital service platforms and connected diagnostics are increasingly standard. Mahindra’s Industry 4.0 approach is rooted in affordability and accessibility—smart features without complexity. Manufacturing is modular and scalable, designed to respond quickly to local demand.
HD Hyundai Construction Equipment India — Global DNA, local execution
HD Hyundai showcased a strong line-up of excavators and heavy equipment, backed by its global reputation for engineering depth. Telematics and digital monitoring systems were highlighted as part of Hyundai’s push towards predictive maintenance and fleet optimisation. Manufacturing localisation is progressing steadily, while Industry 4.0 initiatives focus on quality analytics, process automation and data-driven service models. Hyundai’s EXCON narrative was about bringing global technology closer to Indian customers.
Conmat — The ambitious Indian challenger
Conmat was among the most energetic exhibitors at EXCON 2025, unveiling a large number of new machines across concrete, earthmoving and material handling. Electric variants, telematics-enabled equipment and in-house manufacturing were key talking points. Conmat is aggressively adopting Industry 4.0 principles—digital plant layouts, automation and software integration—while building an indigenous technology stack. Their ambition is clear: be a full-spectrum Indian OEM with global aspirations.
Schwing Stetter India — Concrete goes green and smart
Schwing Stetter delivered one of the most technology-rich showcases at EXCON 2025. Electric truck mixers, hybrid solutions and a massive India-built boom pump underlined its sustainability drive. Digitisation plays a growing role in pump performance monitoring, batching accuracy and preventive maintenance. Manufacturing is highly automated and AI is being explored in mix optimisation and plant efficiency. Schwing Stetter’s EXCON story was about future-proofing concrete construction.
Tata Hitachi Construction Equipment — Trusted, now transforming
Tata Hitachi balanced familiarity with forward movement. Electric excavators, upgraded hydraulic platforms and digital service tools signalled a company in transition. Industry 4.0 adoption is focused on connected machines, digital customer interfaces and smarter manufacturing workflows. Tata Hitachi’s strength lies in combining brand trust with gradual technological transformation—a strategy well suited to India’s diverse customer base.
Terex India — Systems over standalone machines
Terex focused on crushing, screening and material handling systems—emphasising throughput, plant efficiency and lifecycle performance. Sensors, digital controls and service analytics are increasingly embedded into Terex solutions. Manufacturing is modular and scalable, while digital services support predictive maintenance and performance optimisation. Terex’s Industry 4.0 approach is pragmatic and application-driven.
Kobelco India — Refinement over reinvention
Kobelco’s EXCON display reinforced its reputation for refined excavators—fuel-efficient, operator-friendly and increasingly connected. Telematics and fleet management tools are now standard, enabling customers to fine-tune productivity. Manufacturing quality and component reliability remain Kobelco’s calling cards, with digital enhancements layered thoughtfully rather than aggressively. Kobelco’s message: evolution beats disruption.
EXCON 2025: Industry 4.0 Clusters in Indian Construction Equipment Sector
The companies profiled in my analysis have been grouped into clusters based on how deeply and where Industry 4.0 capabilities are embedded, rather than by size or nationality. Some have integrated digital systems across products, factories and services, while others apply digitisation selectively to processes or focus on manufacturing scale first. The framework also reflects how each company engages with AI, from practical predictive tools to early-stage experiments. Taken together, the clusters highlight different paths toward the same goal—better uptime, quality and lifecycle efficiency—shaped by business models and market priorities.
Cluster A — Integrated System Leaders
Caterpillar India, Volvo CE India and ZF India represent the companies where Industry 4.0 is simply how they operate. Connectivity, analytics and data-driven decision-making run across factories, machines and service networks, forming a seamless system. At EXCON 2025, these companies focused less on showcasing individual technologies and more on outcomes—higher uptime, consistent quality and lower lifecycle costs. AI quietly enhances operations through predictive maintenance and smarter decision-making, working behind the scenes rather than being highlighted. For these players, digital systems are infrastructure—expected, essential and reliable.
Cluster B — Process Digitisation Specialists
Schwing Stetter India, Wirtgen Group India and Terex India take a targeted approach, digitising only where it adds clear value. Precision and repeatability are key on site, whether in concrete batching, paving, crushing, or screening. Automation, sensors and analytics ensure consistent output and quality. AI is applied selectively, often in workflows like mix optimisation or process control, rather than across the entire enterprise. Their Industry 4.0 adoption may be narrow, but it runs deep, directly supporting productivity and performance.
Cluster C — Manufacturing-led Modernisers
JCB India, Tata Hitachi, HD Hyundai Construction Equipment India and Sany India put large-scale, local manufacturing at the centre of their Industry 4.0 strategy. Automation, robotics and digital quality systems improve reliability and scale. Digital tools support operators, enhance service efficiency and streamline production without trying to redefine business models. AI is used cautiously, mainly for diagnostics or monitoring. For these OEMs, digitalisation is an enabler—helping production and service work better while keeping manufacturing and operational discipline front and centre.
Cluster D — Emerging Digital Adopters
LiuGong India, Mahindra Construction Equipment, MANN+HUMMEL, ACE, Kobelco India and Conmat are in a phase of building a strong base. Telematics and basic connectivity are taking hold, especially for fleet operations, while local manufacturing remains a key strength. Digital initiatives are gradually expanding and AI is still at an early stage, mostly for diagnostics or pilot applications. The emphasis is on getting the fundamentals right: dependable products, serviceable designs and cost-conscious manufacturing, with digital features added step by step. While these companies may not yet display full Industry 4.0 maturity, their presence at EXCON shows clear intent and steady momentum.
(The writer is a Mumbai based CE sector analyst, author and consulting editor)
