One Crane, Many Functions

In future, we should expect auxiliary attachments to join safety and productivityenhancing features as key drivers of crane demand, concludes CW.

- Charu Bahri

In early 2016, it was expected that tower cranes and mobile cranes would grow disproportionately vis-à-vis other construction equipment, driven by increased investments in real-estate projects. Did this pan out?

Well, demand for mobile cranes – accounting for 9 percent of construction equipment, about 5,500 machines – is expected to touch 6,800 by 2020, growing at over 40 percent. Growth is slower in other crane segments, tower, crawler, etc.

“Real estate has not seen the expected revival, so the demand for tower cranes remains low,” says Manoj Agarwal, Head-Sales & Marketing, Escorts Construction Equipment.

“Demand has increased but owing to aggressive Chinese marketing strategy – offering low prices and long financing support – the advantage to Liebherr was not in the same proportion,” shares Ajay Kumar Somani, Director, Mobile Crane Division, Liebherr India.

Sector snap: Active, with potential

Overall market movements – especially beyond expectation growth in demand for excavators and backhoe loaders – augur well for cranes. Crane demand usually follows the trend set by this production equipment, after a lag. As Agarwal says, “We expect utilisation levels to increase by almost 40 percent in the next few years (running into the next general elections).” Great momentum in the road sector, which has potential, is spurring demand for cranes, he adds. “We expect metro and power projects to open up fast.”

“Wind power and metro projects are creating demand for our cranes,” says Somani. In future, he expects nuclear power, metro and flyover construction projects to raise demand.