Hydraulic Systems Explained: Purpose and Diverse Uses
In an effort to promote local manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported components, the Defence Corridor Localisation Targets under the Defence Production & Export Promotion Policy 2020 have set a goal for at least 50 percent domestic value-addition in certain hydraulic sub-systems. This move aims to address one of the key barriers to the efficiency and indigenization of hydraulic systems in India: high dependence on imported components and technologies.
Studies show that inefficient hydraulics in Indian stone-crushers lead to a significant 12 litres/hour diesel wastage. To address this issue, a Technology Up-gradation Fund style scheme is proposed for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), reimbursing 50 percent of the cost of retro-fitting sensor kits under ₹5 lakh. This initiative aims to improve the efficiency of hydraulic systems and reduce fuel consumption.
The Green Construction Catalyst Fund aims to allocate carbon credit revenues to subsidise high-efficiency hydraulic excavators in river-front rejuvenation and Smart City projects. This move is expected to further boost the efficiency of hydraulic systems in construction and infrastructure development.
Make-in-India valve clusters are emerging, indicating a growing capability in domestic hydraulic component manufacturing. However, challenges remain in the form of cost constraints, lack of advanced manufacturing infrastructure, limited R&D and innovation focus, design and customization challenges, and economic scale and market fragmentation.
To tackle these challenges, a National Fluid-Power Centre of Excellence (NFPCoE) is proposed to be established at IIT-Roorkee. This centre will leverage the IAHR 2024 network and focus on research, development, and innovation in hydraulic systems.
Other proposed measures include a 10 percent capital subsidy and zero-rating of Goods and Services Tax (GST) for vegetable-ester hydraulic oils, conditional on blockchain-based traceability under the Central Pollution Control Board's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal. The Skill Super-50 Hydraulic Technicians initiative aims to upgrade the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) curriculum to include Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, Stage V diagnostics, and basic data analytics.
The global fluid-power market stood at US $ 46.3 billion in 2023 with a 6.1% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) to 2030. To align with this growth and promote indigenous technology development, a joint task force of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and Ministry of Heavy Industries is needed to publish unified hydraulic safety-emission standards by 2026.
In summary, the combined effect of high costs, insufficient indigenous manufacturing capabilities, limited R&D investment, and market fragmentation forms the major techno-economic barriers that hinder the efficiency improvements and indigenization of hydraulic systems in India. Overcoming these barriers requires coordinated efforts in technology development, skilled manufacturing, and market consolidation aligned with government initiatives like Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.
- To tackle the economic challenges in hydraulic systems, a proposal suggests establishing a National Fluid-Power Centre of Excellence (NFPCoE) at IIT-Roorkee, with a focus on research, development, and innovation, leveraging the IAHR 2024 network.
- The mains aim of the Skill Super-50 Hydraulic Technicians initiative is to upgrade the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) curriculum to include Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, Stage V diagnostics, and basic data analytics, which are critical components of data-and-cloud-computing and the environment-friendly economy.
