V G Sakthikumar, Managing Director and Chairman of Schwing Stetter India, a concreting and construction equipment manufacturer, has been honored with the prestigious “Committed Leader for Women Empowerment” award at CII Excon 2023 in Bangalore as an accolade of the significant recognition of his contributions to promote gender diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Established in June 1998 and initiating manufacturing operations in 1999, Schwing Stetter India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Schwing GmbH, a German concreting machinery manufacturer with a valuation of 1.30 billion USD, and a member of the XCMG group. Acclaimed as one of the pioneers in crafting equipment for concrete preparation, placement, transportation, and recycling, Schwing Stetter (India) Private Limited produces an array of machinery including concrete batching plants, placing booms, pumps, truck mixers, recycling plants, plastering pumps, self-loading mixers, and sludge pumps. Schwing Stetter (India) is engaged in the sales and service of various equipment such as concrete pavers, aerial working platforms, all-terrain cranes, cold milling machines, crawler cranes, excavators, horizontal directional drilling, motor graders, rotary drilling rigs, tower cranes, truck cranes, and wheel loaders. The company has diversified its product range through recent launches from GOMACO and XCMG. Serving the needs of infrastructure developers, Schwing Stetter also operates as an OEM supplier to multiple cement companies providing ready mix concrete. The company has manufacturing units across 12 countries, including Germany, Austria, USA, Brazil, Russia, Ostrava, and the UK, with a strong global presence through sales and service centers in France, Netherlands, Austria, and Sweden, along with representations in over 150 countries worldw
During the award ceremony, Mr Sakthikumar has expressed his acknowledgment of the immense potential women possess, “We recognize the potential of women in breaking barriers and delivering high-quality results. What we started at a small scale in our newest plant GmH in the backward districts of Tamil Nadu has made us realize the possibility of increasing their percentage share.” The efforts have resulted in a notable achievement, with 28% of the workforce on the shop floor comprising women. Mr Sakthikumar has also outlined the comprehensive ecosystem created by Schwing Stetter India to foster inclusion, including the establishment of hostels, creches, and a dedicated women’s empowerment committee. The company has also collaborated with universities to upgrade the skills of women employees, offering opportunities for simultaneous work and learning, transforming them from Diploma Engineer trainees to Graduate Engineer trainees.
Schwing Stetter India has been driving various initiatives aimed at providing enhanced opportunities for women in the workplace. This includes the establishment of a women’s empowerment committee tasked with developing and implementing initiatives to support women employees. The company has also initiated scholarship and financial assistance programs to encourage women to pursue careers in STEM fields. Additionally, Schwing actively partners with non-profit organizations dedicated to promoting women’s empowerment. Saheli Das, a Diploma Engineer at Schwing Stetter India, shared her firsthand experience of the company’s efforts to empower women in the manufacturing unit, “Working in the manufacturing unit of the company I have first-hand experience in the efforts our management takes to empower us, they do not stop with just ensuring an inclusive, flexible and safe workplace but they provide us with growth opportunities to upskill ourselves with training programmes. Their commitment extends to giving us the option of Onsite childcare, which eliminates all our personal hinderances and assures that the company is invested in our growth.”
The “Committed Leader for Women Empowerment” award recognizes Sakthikumar’s instrumental role in driving positive change within Schwing Stetter India and advocating for gender diversity and inclusion at industry forums. This accolade reflects the company mission of creating a workplace where women can thrive, contribute, and advance in their careers. Schwing Stetter India’s goal to empower women extends beyond rhetoric, manifesting in tangible initiatives that make a meaningful impact on the professional lives of its female employees.
