Escorts is Getting Future Ready
How do you see the present scenario and the projected demand trends of Pick-n-Carry Crane market in India?
Crane market in India is currently at 50% of the volumes of the year 2011-12. However, last few months have witnessed the arrest of the slide. From September, the demand is expected to start picking up. Second half of the current year 2015-16 is expected to grow by at least 10% or thereabouts.
What are the key drivers, challenges and opportunities to its market growth? Being leader in the segment, what are ECE strategies and initiatives to retain its market share in the tough economic condition?
Metros, power sector and precast handling at various flyovers/over bridges are driving the demand at present.
Going forward, as the infrastructure segment opens up, the demand for cranes is bound to increase. With the changing practices of material handling at sites, the demand for the types of cranes will undergo a change. Safety of man and material, engine emission norms and operator comfort will acquire major importance. These can be viewed as the challenges but for a market leader like Escorts, these are the opportunities to be grabbed by providing the right kind of cranes. Escorts is getting itself future ready, as cranes remain its prime focus. It values the leadership position and will ensure to continue as one through commitment to provide right solutions for the right applications. Escorts will continue to provide 'Horses for Courses'.
Though the Indian crane market is dominated by Pick-n-Carry Crane; did this crane segment, feel any heat of competition with the arrival of truck mounted cranes?
Truck mounted cranes represent a different genre of cranes. They start where the P-n-C cranes segment ends. The load handling capability and the reach of P-n-C cranes can't go beyond a particular capacity and profile for various reasons. Therefore, truck cranes will not eat into the P-n-C cranes. In the Indian work conditions P-n-C cranes will continue to have a market of their own and will be the first to enter and last to leave in any project.
What are the advanced technical and engineering attributes of the Pick-n-Carry cranes and varied capacities being provided by ECE for lifting at different jobs across infrastructure, mining, agricultural, and industrial sectors?
ECE prides itself for upgrading a technology from 'Hydra' to 'TRX Series' of cranes. The two types of cranes are based on separate platforms and geometry. They cater to different application segments and customer profiles. The TRX focusses on safe handling of 14 T plus loads & high reach and has a load graph which gives much higher productivity and versatility without compromising on safety. The point to point movement of these cranes is much faster which gives much higher utility. The option of the safe load handling instruments helps the operator to ensure safety of material, the machine and men working in its vicinity. The option of front or rear wheel drive as also 4-wheel drive adds to its suitability/versatility and customization. This is further augmented through the option of providing outriggers.
How are the cranes placed in terms of safety features?
It was the safety concern on P-n-C cranes that led to Escorts developing 'TRX Series' cranes, which addressed the safety concern of the cranes to quite some extent. In all fairness, these cranes are not totally safe cranes unlike the truck and 'All Terrain cranes. However, these cranes provide safe and cost-effective material handling solutions.
What are the requisite technical supports, and training being imparted to the cranes' operator for maximum productivity?
Cranes, by and large, are not essentially high production equipment. Their importance lies in utility, versatility, mobility, and cost-effectiveness. However training is a must for proper man machine integration.
Escorts offers training to operators as a means to get the desired output out of the cranes and deliver the right value in a safe way. It also trains people as a part of its CSR Activity. Escorts is an active and committed member of national skill development committee of CII. Operator training is going to be of a high importance area in the coming few years.
Published on:
13 August 2015
Published in: NBM&CW August 2015
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