Industrial MHE & Cranes: Technology & Trends

September 12, 2012 8:36 am

Major players from the cranes and material handling industry elucidate the present status and ongoing trends
Industry OverviewIndia is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. However, the country needs to intensify its focus on infrastructure and industrial developments, to achieve and maintain sustainable growth. These developments are expected to enhance the demand of industrial cranes and other material handling equipment.
India in the past few years has seen enormous sums of investment in the construction industry from both public & private enterprises. Tushar Mehendale, Managing Director, ElectroMech said, “Multibillion dollars spent towards constructing roads, ports, plants, urban infrastructure, etc. have presented the crane industry with diverse opportunities and created a huge demand for the crane industry to grow.”
Cranes also play crucial roles in today’s highly automated industrial activities. However, the Indian industrial cranes segment is extremely fragmented. According to estimates, the Indian industrial cranes market approximately amounts to Rs 2,000 – Rs 2,200 crore per annum. Majorly 70 per cent demand comes from the private sector and the remaining 30 per cent from the government-owned companies. Approximately 70 per cent of the Indian crane industry is dominated by reputed names in the organised sector.
Explaining the current status of industrial material handling and cranes industry in India, Suhas Baxi, CEO and Managing Director at Demag Cranes & Components (India), said, “A real growth in the industrial crane market has been observed only in the last 5 -7 years. When one looks at the installed base of cranes most of them are based on old design concepts that often ignore technological advancements achieved in recent times. A large portion of demand even today seeks cranes based on technology mastered more than 50 years back. The trend is changing, but very slowly.”
According to Saeesh Nevrekar, Deputy Country Manager, Konecranes India, “Estimated annual demand for industrial cranes in year 2011 was 15,000 cranes and it should touch to 20,000 cranes by the year 2013.”
Reluctant to compare the material handling equipment (MHE) market in India with that of the Western and European countries; MRV Johnson, Head & GM (Sales & Marketing) at Voltas Material Handling said, “Our MHE market is very limited, close to 9,000 units last year, which witnessed roughly 25 per cent growth over the previous year. In the current uncertain economic conditions, the estimates for the market are not beyond 10 per cent over 2011.”
Global OutreachIn past few years the Indian crane industry has observed a lot of changes in trends with a number of acquisitions and joint ventures. Several international tie-ups with Indian companies have resulted in considerable global influence in terms of quality and practice of applying enhanced technology in the industry.
Through global strategic tie ups with companies such as ABUS, STAHL Cranesystems, Sibcranex, and recently Zoomlion; ElectroMech has brought home international high-quality technologies for the conventional Indian industrial crane users.
Changing TrendThe construction industry is shifting towards becoming a more customer oriented market. Today, the consumers expect a complete package to the product with the overall features of customer service. Resultant to this fact, manufacturers today as a rule are turning towards following competent work structure to ensure zero customer complaints.
“We at ElectroMech have at all times given the first preference to our customers. We believe in following a ‘solutions approach’ to customers’ needs. This practice has helped us reach where we are today. We have executed various innovations in terms of our company’s offerings world-class standards in cranes and hoists by collaborating with global leaders,” Mr. Mehendale says.
“On the industrial front, we see the focus is on automation of material movements, both raw material and finished goods, as availability of manpower is emerging as a major challenge. It is estimated that the MHE market to witness a CAGR of between 15 to 20 per cent for the next 5 years,” Mr. Johnson asserts.

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