‘Material handling industry is the back bone of logistics’

August 12, 2009 10:11 am

Pune-based ElectroMech, India’s largest manufacturer of industrial cranes in terms of volume, goes to the extent of helping clients with ongoing care and repairs of hoisting solutions. Managing Director Tushar Mehendale talks to Dlilp S. Phansalkar about the company’s significant contribution to the infrastructure and power sectors
 
 
How crucial is the role played by ElectroMech in the Indian power sector?
ElectroMech is today India’s largest manufacturer of industrial cranes in terms of volume. The company supplies cranes to a host of different industry verticals. Power/ energy vertical is one of the most important industries where a lot of ElectroMech cranes are present. A recent example can be our supply of more than 100 cranes to Hansen Eurodrive, a multinational company involved in manufacturing gearboxes for wind turbines. Another example can be our supply of more than 25 cranes to Lanco Infratech for their various power plant projects across the country.
 
How significant has been the company’s contribution to the infrastructure sector?
The infrastructure industry in India is booming and infra companies have currently a huge order backlog. Newer projects are being announced and we expect the current government to unleash a huge package of projects for the infrastructure industry. ElectroMech has made its mark by catering to stalwarts of this industry, like Gammon India, HCC, Jaiprakash Industries, L&T ECC, Navayuga, Patel Engineering and Soma. Our cranes find use in pre-cast handling yards or for building bridges or in excavating deep shafts and tunnels or in yard fabrication. The list of applications is endless.
 
We are proud to say that we are associated with some major infrastructure projects in the country, like Delhi Metro Rail, Bangalore Elevated Highway, Bangalore Metro, Chennai Metro, Delhi-Mumbai Freight Corridor, Koyana Stage IV, Nathpa Jakhri, Subansiri – the actual list is quite exhaustive.
 
How did the company acquire recognition as the symbol of quality and innovation?
The philosophy of our company has always been to offer the best global technology to our clients. In this pursuit of excellence, over the years, we have built a strong organizational DNA that ensures that our customers derive maximum value from their investments in our equipment.
 
Due to our relentless focus on customer requirements, we have been able to fine tune our product offerings and thus have managed to build a recognition of the ElectroMech brand as a brand that stands for quality, innovation, reliability and service.
 
What new products have you launched in recent times?
No significant new product launch done recently. We have come up with newer versions of existing products with some more features.
 
What plans have you to tap business opportunities in overseas markets?
We have our own subsidiary in Dubai through which we cater to the entire market of Middle East, CIS and Africa. 
 
On what factors depends the growth of material handling industry?
Like any other industry, the material handling industry will prosper only if the economy is growing. The material handling industry falls in the purview of capital goods. There is an enhanced requirement in capital goods only when newer capacities are being set up. The newer capacity set-up depends on enhancements in customer demands. Hence, higher is the demand, more is the need for newer factories to cater to this demand and thus more will be the need for material handling equipment.
 
From which quarters does the industry face competition?
The material handling industry is a highly fragmented industry in India with competition coming from the unorganized sector as well as the organized sector. There are only a handful of crane companies active on a pan India basis, whereas majority of the crane companies cater only to local demands. Hence competition comes from all these quarters.
 
What factors ensure safe operation of the equipment?
The recent years have seen an advent of superior control methodologies in terms of accuracy, repeatability and efficiency. The advent of superior electrical control methodologies through inverters and other sensors has ensured a more safe operation of the equipment.
 
How vital is material handling equipment to the logistics industry?
The material handling industry is the backbone of the logistics industry. Logistics basically involves moving goods from one place to another, and for moving goods one requires a plethora of material handling equipment.