Liebherr manufactures crane as per EN13000 as a manufacturing standard.

– Subhajit Chandra

Divisional Head-Mobile Crane Division, Liebherr India

What is the current market size for mobile cranes in terms of value and unit sales?

The projection of high capacity mobile cranes due to Covid-19 pandemic is unpredictable. Nevertheless, the increasing number of construction projects, growing public & private infrastructure, economic development as well as rising FDI inflow are some of the key growth drivers of India’s crane market over the past few years. Additionally, escalating infrastructure development projects have significantly increased the demand for the crawler crane market in India. However, the Indian economy has witnessed a slowdown in the first three quarters of 2020, due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Though the economic scenario in India is expected to recover steadily in the next few years, the crane market in India is also likely to recover gradually over the years to come. The India Crane Market size is likely to witness growth during 2021-2024. This growth is primarily attributed to increasing government focus on construction projects such as the Smart Cities Mission and Housing for All as a result of rapid urbanization in the country. Additionally, the government is also implementing certain ambitious plans for economic development such as the Amrut scheme, Golden Corridor, the commencement of metro rail projects as well as the expansion of bullet trains. Further, India has also witnessed growth in building and construction spending due to the rise in per capita disposable income and the availability of affordable loans in the country.

Tell us about the unique features of your range of mobile cranes?

Liebherr manufactures crane as per EN13000 as a manufacturing standard. In EN standards, The European conformity Machinery Directive (ECMD) gives the essential health and safety requirements for machinery. The number of mobile and crawler cranes accident over the past many years remained constant and it has been analyzed that the mobile cranes were the largest contributor. The worldwide accepted and technologically highly enhanced standard EN 13000, which guides the safety norms for the mobile cranes especially operating within a functional plants, has a widespread effect on the safety concerns, and has reduced the numbers of accidents in modern day cranes almost to nil. The EN13000 calls for few important criteria’s which are to be strictly followed and concerns only safety features of the cranes thereby minimizing the casualties and fatal accidents caused by petty faults of the operators. As this is to be kept in mind that an operator is only an operator. Hence, Liebherr offers the override switch and data logger, ‘Variable Outrigger’ placements and ‘Fleet Management’ system such safety features to avoid the accident and human loss.

What are the safety issues that are associated with mobile cranes?

Our Liebherr Models of All Terrain Crane LTM1450-8.1 i.e. 450T capacity and LTM1650-8.1 i.e. 700T capacity cranes is 8 axle crane with single engine. Single engine has enough power to supply both in superstructure and carrier and they are well equipped with all the new upcoming emission norms in India. The strong luffing jib is best suitable for plant operation and in real estate for lifting the jib of tower cranes at higher reach, our strong luffing Jib makes the crane at the best in the 450T class capacity crane.

Our Telescopic boom is a puncture proof and torsion resistant construction made of high strength fine-grained structural steel. The oval boom profile provides maximum stability during bending and torsion. All telescopic sections are extended or retracted by a double-acting hydraulic cylinder. With the rapid-cycle telescopic system Telematik, the various extension lengths can be positioned fully automatic or manual. All telescopic sections can be telescoped hydraulically under partial load. The telescoping process is monitored by the LICCON control on the monitor with telescope images. The telescope length is displayed on the LICCON monitor in the crane cabin.

The Crane Control: The control system consists of a LICCON monitor with central computer and operating unit, operating and control unit, input and output modules, two keyboard units and four hand joysticks. All crane movements are continuously electronically controlled. The data transfer is managed by the Liebherr System Bus (LSB) and the Controller Area Network (CAN). The maximum working speed of the hoist, luffing, telescoping and slewing gear can be limited at the LICCON control.

What kinds of services and solutions have been offered by you to in terms of quality of the products as well as to add brand value?

Being a developing country i.e. India, particularly for infrastructure segment is still in high demand of mobile cranes and certainly, operating a crane can be a high-risk activity at a job site. Beyond the potential for serious injuries or death, a crane accident can result in significant property damage and affect the project’s budget and schedule. Crane accidents also can harm a construction company’s brand and reputation. Having a well-trained operator can help mitigate, and possibly eliminate, some of the risks associated with using cranes. A safe lift depends on a number of people filling roles including operators, riggers, signal persons, crane owners, crane users, lift directors and site supervisors, and the communication between those people. The operators training shall be provided together by OEM’s (Original Equipment Manufacturers) i.e. Liebherr Werk Ehingen GmbH via Liebherr India –MCD. By taking such trainings, crane operators will be able to maintain and trouble shoot without external support.

What do you think are the challenges and new avenues in the mobile crane segment?

With increased investments in infrastructure projects and entry of global players in construction and project execution, safety norms are now of the utmost importance and becoming more and more stringent. As a result, the market is moving towards larger capacity cranes, i.e. 300T capacity to 1000T capacity All Terrain Cranes since the end user is looking for more stability in material handling. Customers in India are now looking for much safer operation while working and concern about human loss.

The projection and upcoming requirement of mobile cranes is very unpredictable due to Covid–19 pandemic. The overall effect on construction business badly affected since last one year and it will hit for another two years. The overall CAPEX planning of our customer is changed due to this unexpected pandemic and which is huge impact in all segment. Overall, we expect GDP growth of India to fall gradually implying a two-year income loss of over. Nevertheless, with the major corporates in India the majority of the share in the mobile construction cranes market remain concentrated among well-established companies like us i.e. Liebherr. We Liebherr, the leading players in the market are focusing on research and development activities. Many heavy-construction projects including flyovers, metro projects, power projects, and industrial projects will raise the demand for mobile cranes in India. As an economical option, we are offering used cranes available with us in our Liebherr Germany Factory, which is also a fundamental solution looking at the current situation.

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