AWP Market on a Rise
What is the current scenario of AWP rental market in India?
The number of AWP users in India is increasing as there is a greater requirement for working at heights, plus, there is more awareness of safety and efficient working. The AWP is now being seen as a very important machine for project sites. Contractors have realized its benefits and are embracing safe work practices with the help of AWPs.
What are the AWP's key advantages?
Since lack of skilled manpower is the biggest issue nowadays, the AWP has the advantage of getting work completed within the timeline and with lesser manpower. Secondly, increased productivity and efficiency with safety is the biggest advantage of AWPs. These machines are for robust construction with features such as safety interlocks, sensors for overload, tilt alarms, angle sensors, pothole protection, and so on.
The rental cost of AWP when compared with the cost of hiring manpower, meeting the timelines and making local arrangements like scaffolding and ladders, is far less. AWP rental companies need to educate their customers about these advantages over traditional scaffolding, as AWPs will give them greater value for money. Only then will use of AWPs increase in India.
How can AWP manufacturers support rental companies?
AWP manufacturers should support rental companies by conducting seminars along with a safety counsel. A major issue is the unclear category this industry comes under; though the Customs Department says it does not come under the Motor Vehicle Act at the time of import; but every state’s RTO charges a huge amount of tax as they consider it under the Motor Vehicle Act.
To provide an AWP along with an operator is a huge task, and costly too, for rental companies. This can be solved if AWP manufacturers provide operator training under skill India (dream project of Govt of India) to all major customers/project owners. They should also create awareness among their end-users to train their own operators and start hiring machines without operators which will boost AWP industry.
Also, in big trade shows like bauma Conexpo India, rental companies are not allowed to display their products if they are not a dealers. Here again comes the moral responsibility of manufacturers to convince and encourage the organizers to allow rental companies to also exhibit their products.
Why has a regulation on working at heights not been implemented in India?
Some leading manufacturers are in touch with the National Safety Council to get a legislation on mandatory use of AWPs beyond a particular height; the policies will follow soon.
Each one of us needs to help increase awareness on working at heights. In India, the biggest challenge is lack of awareness and not having proper safety guidelines. In developed markets, there is a crystal-clear policy which mandates use of AWP if working at a height of more than 6 meters.
What is the growth outlook of the AWP industry?
The future of AWP rentals in India is bright as the country’s overall economic growth prospect is optimistic and a lot of infrastructure projects are in the pipeline. In our company, implementation of lean management has been a major driver. And, we are creating awareness to clients to use the equipment at their own and, rather than depend on operators.
Lifting & Specialized Transport — October-December 2018
Published on:
19 November 2018
Published in: Lifting & Specialized Transport October-December 2018
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