According to him, Verton’s solutions are the most revolutionary in the history of lifting operations. “We are excited to be representing Verton's unique and innovative products which improve safety in lifting operations, while also offering clients our patented precast solutions for construction projects. The benefit of being an authorized Verton distributor is that we can reach out to many clients and in different industries."
He shares with Lifting & Specialized Transport the benefits of Verton’s technology and solutions, which, he avers, are set to revolutionize lifting operations by making them more precise, efficient, time and labour saving, and safer.
What business potential do you see in India’s Lifting industry?
Cranes are the most commonly used equipment for lifting heavy loads during construction of high-rise buildings and other tall structures. In India, the crane market is undergoing exponential growth due to rapid urbanization and ongoing projects and is expected to register a CAGR of over 10% during the forecast period 2020-2025. The government’s major infra push in the budget has also motivated the industry.
For a construction company, a heavy lifting machine is an investment that can be put into use year after year, therefore, it has the potential to give a high RoI. Also, with the growing technological advancements, the improvements being made in lifting equipment are set to increase. For instance, there was no solution for orienting the suspended load on site at heights without the use of taglines, until Verton invented the technology to complement and complete the lifting operations with safety.
There was no solution for orienting suspended load on site at heights without the use of taglines, until Verton invented the technology to complement and complete the lifting operations with safety.
How will your experience in the precast industry help you in this new venture?
As a precast technology company, we have a deep understanding of the processes at precast construction sites and are aware of the challenges during the erection process. Lifting of precast panels and placing them at the required position is not only time consuming but also a hazardous task; this is because during erection, the foreman works very close to the suspended panels.
Verton equipment has eliminated the need for workers to handle the taglines in order to orient the precast panels and bring them towards the position where they are to be installed. This innovation in lifting precast panels brings efficiency in the erection process along with complete safety to workers at the site.
The Indian Construction and Logistic markets require heavy lifting solutions along with safety and ease of operation. What do Verton Lifting Solutions comprise of and what benefits will they bring to the highly challenging lifting jobs?
The increasing size and weight pressures during lifting, complex environments, and resource requirements, create huge challenges in lifting operations. Verton has addressed most of the issues with its heavy-duty EVEREST series of load orientation equipment. This has been made possible by Verton’s team of professionals across different industries and countries who provide a unique perspective to lifting requirements by reinventing heavy lifting solutions.
We are focused on bringing scalability to customers from the designing to the development of our products and solutions by looking at ways to apply our technology such that it could provide greater torque for bigger and bulkier loads.
The benefit of remote operation is that people are not required to be in and around the loads. When there are fewer hands on the loads, lesser are the chances of human interference and error, and less loss of time spent in making corrections. The precision load orientation provided by Verton’s technology also means little or no risk of impact with nearby structures.
The crane was invented in 600 BC and while technology has advanced, methods of orientating loads hasn’t. Having understood the lifting needs of the customers, we have made our EVEREST series user-friendly, safe, and precise. Training operators is also quick and easy with our remote control, which is an industry standard. There are three speeds (low, medium and high), two directions (left and right) for operations, and our latest addition is the hold function - all of which make the operations simple, easy and quick.
The benefit of remote operation is that people are not required to be in and around the loads. When there are fewer hands on the loads, lesser are the chances of human interference and error, and less loss of time spent in making corrections.
The precision load orientation provided by Verton’s technology also means little or no risk of impact with nearby structures. And if lifting is at a complex site or if there is a need to pick and drop off a load at a larger or higher distance, then we can program two remotes for a Pitch and Catch feature. This means that the operator can transfer management of the Verton equipment to another individual, who is positioned at a better line of sight, for delivery of the load.
How will Verton’s solutions improve productivity and bring more economy in lifting operations?
With the removal of human held taglines, the speed of lifting operations improves significantly as one can simplify the process with remote-control load orientation and automation. Less interference means that the hook time is reduced, whereby productivity improves. What’s more, the EVEREST series can be operated from 200m away in any kind of weather conditions – rainy or sunny.
EVEREST series also features three power options for load control, including a tool-free battery swap for 24-hour operations. If you can work faster and longer, you can get the job done sooner. The scalability of our technology by making it modular also means that when you need more torque for your next job, you can simply add another machine to your spreader bar.
While we are often approached for the use of our equipment for a specific process in a project, we find that the project managers and the end-users, once introduced to our lifting solution, discover that many other tasks on their job site can be made safer, faster, and smarter.
We are confident that Verton’s smart lifting solution will not only be appreciated in the Precast Industry in India but also in other industries where lifting equipment like cranes are being used.
What will be the application areas, lifting capacities, and the industries where Verton lifting solutions will work best?
Any industry doing heavy lifting will benefit from the integration of Verton’s technology into their lifting operations. The load orientation of the EVEREST SpinPod 7.5 is 5 to 30 tons and the SpinPod 30 is 20 to 100 tons – when used as single units. However, these can be nested with 2+ SpinPods for increased torque for even larger loads up to 400 tons.
Our key industries that offer endless application opportunities for our solutions are Construction, Mining, Oil & Gas, Wind, Energy, Rail, and Break Bulk, where we can also expand our solutions for specific tasks including pipe handling and wind turbine installation.
Along with our distributor network, we also work with companies to provide solutions for their lifting challenges by integrating our machinery into existing equipment.
How do you plan to market Verton’s offerings, including the sales and after-sales services?
We are reaching out to some big infra development companies and are getting a positive response. We offer different models along with ‘made to order’ solutions as per customers’ needs, so we will be taking orders to build customized solutions and import them directly from Australia. Our after-sales team will give the required training and maintenance services.
Since Indians are slow in adopting new technologies, what will be your strategy for creating awareness of Verton’s high-tech lifting solutions across all the application sectors? Will there be a training program for customers and operators?
Our belief in Verton lifting solutions is very strong as they complement our own philosophy of developing faster precast production systems. Hence, they will always be a part of DAL-LAGO’s complete turn-key precast system proposal, which includes the production and erection systems.
However, as mentioned earlier, use of Verton lifting technology is not limited to the construction industry, which gives us a much wider window to cater to different industries across India. As we move forward, we will have a platform for customers and operators to experience the products and get training for using them.
What are your long-term plans (say till 2025) to grow Verton’s business in India?
Our strategy is to make Verton equipment an important tool and not an optional accessory. We believe that this can be achieved by bringing awareness of its application capabilities in different industries and sharing experiences by highlighting their performance (as case studies) across the globe.
By 2025, we expect Verton equipment to be used as an important tool in every industry where cranes are being used for lifting operations.
We offer different models along with ‘made to order’ solutions as per customers’ needs. By 2025, we expect Verton equipment to be used as an important tool in every industry where cranes are being used for lifting operations.
What kind of competition and challenges would Verton face in India and what scope do you see for its establishment and growth in the coming years?
Verton is the first company to have invested in a technology that helps orient suspended loads. We are the sole distributors in India for Verton products, so we see no competition as of now. With our strong R&D in Australia, we are confident that Verton will remain a leader, and we will also welcome competition, if any, in the future.
Please give a brief overview of Verton’s global business activities, its R&D, and recent innovations.
Verton’s partnership with The Crosby Group has expanded its global network throughout North America, South America, Europe, UK, and Asia Pacific. Our expanding distributor network also identifies key businesses whose current operations complement the mission of Verton to improve safety, productivity, and efficiency in lifting operations.
Our R&D in Australia comprises a team of Mechanical, Electrical and Software Engineers who are responsible for the design, prototyping, testing, certification, and manufacturing of Verton’s lifting solutions. The company works with various industries and academics to identify and design innovative solutions that can address current and future issues in lifting operations.
Verton’s numerous partnerships will become even more important as technology continues to be embraced by the lifting industry.
According to you, how has India’s Infra Construction industry matured over the years?
The Construction Industry in India will remain buoyant due to increased demand from real estate and infrastructure projects. India’s Real Estate sector is expected to reach a market size of USD one trillion by 2030. Its contribution to the country's GDP is expected to be approximately 13% by 2025.
The challenges faced by the construction industry during Covid has led to the implementation of technologies like precast in order to complete projects on time, with the desired superior quality, and within the stipulated budget.
