India's Telehandler Market: Slow & Steady Rise

The Indian market for telehandlers is at a very nascent stage as awareness across sectors is still very limited. On the upside, demand has been increasing steadily, especially so from the infrastructure construction and mining segments.

Souma Ray, Director, Haulotte

Haulotte India, a 100% subsidiary of the Haulotte Group of France and a leading global manufacturer of Aerial Work Platforms, is regularly expanding its reach and range of telehandlers, adapting them to meet the specific needs of the end-users.

The current market size of telehandlers in India is around 350 to 400, which is very low when compared with the world’s advanced markets. While rental opportunities for telehandlers in a mature market are immense, but India’s rental market is small, and the rates quite high as there is a limited number of telehandlers available. Being registerable assets like other wheeled construction/road equipment, the policies of their use is well in place. The only lacunae in the telehandlers’ market growth is the lack of awareness of the telehandler’s multifarious uses; customers still prefer using the conventional and cheaper pick-and-carry cranes.

However, going forward, the telehandler segment in India is set to gather momentum. Large corporates engaged in construction and infrastructure projects have started using them, though their percentage is still very small. And much like the Aerial Work Platform segment, demand for telehandlers is likely to see a rise too.


Various attachments and many options

The telehandler (also known as telescopic handler and telescopic forklift) can be used for a wide range of applications across infrastructure, construction, mining, metals, minerals, logistics, ports, shipyards, and other sectors. Owing to its four-wheel drive, it can be used safely in rough terrains. Availability of attachments such as forks, bucket, jib with crane hook, winch and man basket (which are quick and interchangeable) enhance the machine’s use in a variety of applications, and within a short period of time.

All Haulotte HTL ranges comply with EC standards and TUV directives and regulations for safety. They are operator-friendly with a single joystick control for all types of operations. Their most distinguishable feature is the quick and easy recalibration of the Load Moment Indicator, which can be done by simply raising and lowering the boom for a few minutes.

Haulotte telehandlers are being used across the world in different sectors and are also popular in the SAARC countries.

Haulotte range of telehandlers

• COMPACT range (HTL3207, HTL3210, HTL3510, HTL4010) with lifting capacity of 3.2 to 4 tons upto heights of 10 m
• HIGH LIFT range (HTL3614, HTL3617, HTL4014, HTL4017) with capacity to lift 3.6 to 4 tons up to 17 m
• HEAVY LOAD CAPACITY range (HTL5210, HTL7210) for handling loads of 5.2 to 7.2 tons.

Safety features in Haulotte telehandlers

• Rear axle lock and tilt corrector
• Flow sharing in standard enabling a simultaneous and proportional control of four movements
• High strength monoblock chassis
• Hydrostatic transmission and inching pedal
• Load Moment Indicator (LMI), easy to read and automatic cut-off dangerous movements
• Smart control 4-in-1 joystick and high safety cab.

New line-up of Haulotte telehandlers

As part of the ongoing innovation at Haulotte, an entirely new line of telehandlers has been developed, specifically adapted for handling heavy loads of 5.2 to 7.2 tons. With this, the company’s product portfolio now covers a wider range of solutions for every type of user.

HTL 5210, the latest addition, offers the best load rating for the 10 m segment with a lift capacity of 5.2 tons up to a height of 10 m, representing a maximum forward reach at 3.5 tons to 5.8 m, with the stabilizer. It is most suited for all types of applications in the heavy construction, mining, oil, ports, and recycling sectors. It enables optimal productivity, directly rivaling the 10 -12 ton range with an unbeatable price to performance ratio.

The stabilizers included in the standard configuration ensure an excellent horizontal outreach. The rear axle locking system enables greater lateral stability for a very high load rating performance for the upper section. Easy to operate on non-stabilized surfaces, HTL5210 is a four-wheel drive and steer all-terrain telehandler. It is equipped with a hydrostatic transmission for high precision movements, and an inching pedal system for smooth and easy approach. The result is an extremely versatile range of applications based on the availability of numerous compatible accessories.

Innovating the most compact telehandler

Haulotte has recently introduced the most compact and versatile telescopic handler HTL 3207, which provides maximum efficiency on tight job sites with excellent maneuverability and significant work autonomy with optimum safety and comfort. The telehandlers is equipped with hydrostatic transmission; and delivers optimal torque, power, speed, and driving comfort. The inching pedal enables smooth driving, and due to its proportional movements, maneuvering is intuitive, secure and precise.

The HTL 3207 provides a maximum lift capacity of 3.2 tons, and is designed to lift any type of load up to a height of 6.85 m. With a short turning radius and a length of 4.67 m, it can easily access narrow spaces and is especially useful in construction and industrial sectors where performance and compactness are inextricably linked.

"The selection of a telehandler, its size and attachments, should be based on the study of its applications. With its many attachments, it is obvious that the same machine can be used for various jobs such as loading, unloading, lifting, shifting of load/material, and even as an access platform."