Schedule a Call Back
We position ourselves as a technology leader in filtration
2025-12-24
- Harald Spaeth, President – Heavy Duty & Industrial, Mann+Hummel
- Sudeesh Karimbingal, Managing Director India & Vice President – OE RoA, Mann+Hummel
What solutions are you offering specifically for construction and off-highway equipment?
Harald Spaeth (HS): Our portfolio for construction and off-highway applications is comprehensive. It covers air, oil, fuel, hydraulic and cabin air filtration. One area where we are seeing particularly strong interest is hydraulic filtration. While hydraulic filters are not new to the market, we have significantly expanded and accelerated our offering, and the customer feedback at Excon has been very encouraging.
How is MANN+HUMMEL positioning itself in the Indian market?
HS: We position ourselves as a technology leader in filtration. Our ability to design and manufacture our own filtration media is at the heart of this positioning. It allows us to offer customised solutions that others simply cannot. This, combined with a strong manufacturing footprint and distribution network, defines our market approach.
What are your medium-term plans for India?
Sudeesh Karimbingal (SK): India represents a significant growth opportunity. We have defined a clear roadmap towards 2030, which includes major investments in an R&D, testing and validation centre in Bengaluru, as well as a new manufacturing facility in western India. These initiatives will strengthen our ability to support the construction equipment market over the long term.
How are filtration requirements evolving in demanding operating environments?
HS: Traditionally, filters were replaced based on fixed operating hours. Going forward, replacement will increasingly depend on actual operating conditions. For example, equipment working in mining or highly dusty environments will require more frequent changes than machines operating in cleaner conditions. This environment-based approach improves uptime and aligns filtration performance more closely with real-world usage.
What differentiates MANN+HUMMEL from other filtration suppliers in India?
HS: We look at filtration holistically. The core of any filter is the filter element and, more importantly, the filter media. We design and manufacture our filtration media in-house rather than sourcing it externally. This allows us to tailor the media precisely to application requirements, which directly defines performance. This capability is a key differentiator.
How strong is your manufacturing and localisation footprint in India?
HS: We operate two manufacturing plants in India with the capability to produce air, oil, fuel and hydraulic filters for construction equipment, commercial vehicles and passenger cars. Depending on the product, our local content ranges between 60 and 70 per cent. India is playing an increasingly important role within the MANN+HUMMEL global network, and localisation is central to our competitiveness.
How do you balance global technology with India’s cost-sensitive market?
HS: It is not realistic to expect customers to pay a significant premium simply because technology originates from Germany. We have to compete with established local players. Our approach is to use our global know-how to deliver value-engineered solutions at local price points. Full local development, validation and manufacturing capability in India enables us to do this effectively.
What role does aftersales support play in your engagement with OEMs?
HS: Aftersales is critical. Supporting OE customers in the field requires fast feedback loops and strong service responsiveness. A robust aftersales network helps us address field concerns quickly and strengthens long-term partnerships with our customers.
How important is sustainability in your filtration strategy?
HS: Filtration inherently contributes to cleaner and more efficient machines, but we go further. We work with customers on lifecycle management, waste reduction and CO? footprint analysis. We have developed software tools that calculate the carbon footprint of individual products, enabling joint optimisation with customers. This is our contribution towards a more sustainable construction ecosystem.
Subscribe Now
Subscribe to our Newsletter & Stay updated
RECENT POSTS
Popular Tags
Folliow us
Related Stories
Battery-operated systems are gradually gaining attention.
TVSS Srinivas, Business Head, Steel, Mining, Port, Mineral & Aggregrate Crushing Systems & International Business Development, Busines...
Sinoboom exports to more than 80 countries
Sunil Jain, Senior Consultant (SAARC), Sinoboom Intelligent Equipment
Sinoboom has been steadily increasing it...
Read More
India-engineered products are gaining traction in export markets
Dr Venkat Srinivas, Business Head – Mahindra Truck, Bus and Construction Equipment, and Executive Director & CEO – SML Mahindra, Mahin...
