Agri-machinery maker Same Deutz-Fahr to invest Rs.24 crore

RANIPET - Agricultural machinery manufacturer Same Deutz-Fahr India will invest Rs.24 crore in its operations in the country to meet domestic and global market needs, the company said here Saturday.

“This is nearly 10 percent of our global investment plans. The four million euro investment will be to increase our productivity to 15,000 tractors from the current annual capacity of 6,000 units in three years time,” Group General Manager Lodovico Bussolati told reporters.

“The investments will be in plant and machinery, productivity improvement measures, buildings and supply chain,” he added.

Same Deutz-Fahr India is a wholly owned subsidiary of Italian agricultural machinery major Same Deutz-Fahr. It makes tractors and diesel engines at its plant here.

To increase its market share, Same Deutz-Fahr India Saturday launched two new models - Agrolux Profiline in the high-end segment and a Same brand 35 HP tractor for the mass market.

“With the mass market product we can fight industry majors like Tafe, M&M and Escorts. Given our current product profile - high HP tractors - our strategy is top down,” said Andrea Bedosti, sales and after sales executive vice president, Same Deutz-Fahr group.

Asked whether the group is open to alliances with other Indian manufacturers for the low end models, chairman of the Indian company Francesco Carozza said: “We are open to such alliances”.

The company has plans to increase export of diesel engines, tractors and components.

Last year the company sold 3,300 tractors (1,900 domestic and 1,400 exports) of which the top end models accounted for 1,400 units.