L&T Compactors – Looking Back!

I drove past the famous Chitradurga Fort in Karnataka into NH13 and speeding towards my destination. But soon I had to slow down as there was maintenance work underway.  My annoyance turned to joy when I noticed two L&T 990HF Tandem Compactors busy working on the fresh bitumen layer, gleaming in the bright sun! I stopped by and watched the machines perform so smoothly and in perfect harmony. The operators waved at me and I waved back at them. I returned to my car and came back with caps and handed over to the operators. It made them so happy. It was here that I realized how important were L&T Compactors in the lifeline of the roads and in maintaining an active road network.

Looking at these compactors, I was transported into history when L&T pioneered the development and manufacture of Compactors way back in 1979. With collaboration from Albaret,  L&T had successfully indigenised the technology paving a new road to productivity. Subsequently, L&T-Vibromax Compactors rolled out.  But this journey was short lived.

L&T had already established itself as a reputed brand in excavator technology. In 1994, L&T rolled out L&T 1104 Vibratory Compactor using indigenous technology. In a few years time, L&T and JI Case came together to set up a joint venture to manufacture Vibratory Compactors as well as Loader Backhoes. Given their consistent quality and superb performance, the products could carve a niche for themselves.  In 2011, with change in management structure, Case Corporation bought over L&T’s stake in L&T-Case Equipment Pvt. Ltd.  

After a hiatus, we saw L&T opening a new innings in 2016 with L&T Construction Equipment Limited rolling out road construction equipment from its Doddaballapur Plant in the outer Bangalore. These equipment – L&T 1190 Soil Compactor, L&T 990 Tandem Compactor and L&T 491 Mini Compactor – have all been designed and developed based on inhouse technology. Seeing the success of these machines, L&T also developed L&T 2490 Pneumatic Tyred Roller, which has been able to sensitize the Indian market to build perfect roads.    

Today, I feel proud to say L&T manufactures the entire set of road construction equipment contributing to the Atmanirbhar Mission.

I got back to my car and continued the journey with a feeling of overjoy and confidence.