SCHWING – XCMG Cranes are rolled out with advantages in terms of ease of assembly, handling of the crane and transportation
Market has picked up positively in Tyre Mounted Medium and Heavy Category as well as Crawler Crane across categories. These cranes are used mainly for High-Speed Railway, Refineries, Expansion in Steel and Cement Plants across India, and Metro projects. There is demand for heavy duty Crawler Cranes with higher tonnage capacity in the Wind Turbines requirement of increased Hub Height.
– V. G. SAKTHIKUMAR
Managing Director, Schwing Stetter India
How is the heavy lifting / crane market progressing in India? What are the demand drivers?
Market has picked up positively in Tyre Mounted Medium and Heavy Category as well as Crawler Crane across categories.
These cranes are used mainly for High-Speed Railway, Refineries, Expansion in Steel and Cement Plants across India, and Metro projects. There is demand for heavy duty Crawler Cranes with higher tonnage capacity in the Wind Turbines requirement of increased Hub Height.
What are the major design changes in your range of heavy lifting equipment?
The cranes are designed keeping in mind the economy and ease in operation, assembly and transportation factors.
SCHWING – XCMG Crawler cranes feature integrated transport design to reduce assembly time, modular design of same platform products ensures interchangeability of components and nesting of smaller booms inside larger booms to reduce the number of trailers required for transport. We have also introduced the Counterweight Assembly Cylinders feature in some of our models as required to ensure faster assembly.
Tyre mounted cranes Feature sliders to increase contact area between boom sections thus improving overall integrity of extended boom structure.
Patented Telescoping technology controls boom extension and retraction sequences for smoother operation of telescopic boom.
We are also first in India to introduce All Axle steering in Truck cranes to significantly improve manoeuvrability.
What efforts are being made to make your product more versatile and value for money for customers?
SCHWING – XCMG Cranes are rolled out with a lot of advantages in terms of ease of Assembly, Handling of the crane and transportation. Few examples can be, Use of Gantry Self Erection system and Boom Pinning Cylinders in Crawler Cranes which save time and cost of having to hire smaller cranes during assembly. This improves overall productivity of the crane while keeping cycle times low.
SCHWING – XCMG Tyre mounted cranes feature Calibration Free technology to eliminate the need to frequently calibrate Load Moment Indicators which saves valuable time during assembly of the cranes at the job site. Our All Terrain Cranes are built with the option of operating at Asymmetric outrigger positioning thus allowing the crane to work at challenging sites where pre-existing structures do not allow enough space for placement of cranes.
What is the role of safety in your equipment? And any other added-features.
Observation of safety guidelines is critical in Heavy duty mobile cranes due to higher Weight & Size of loads handled and presence of large support manpower around the crane. Our major safety systems consist of Mechanical, Electronic and Hydraulic protection, Safe Load Indicator Systems with Overload Prevention, Wind Speed Alarm, alarm for operation on uneven ground, Swing/Travel alarms, etc. which ensure that operator is well informed of the operating conditions and is issued alarm in case of any impending unsafe working condition. Powl locks on Winch, Function lock out in operator cabin, Hydraulic relief valves and Non return valves are features that are specifically incorporated in our products, to work together for the safer operation of the crane.
What are the operator training initiatives by your company for operators of heavy lifting equipment?
At Schwing Stetter India, we have always focused on operator training as a vital for optimum component & Equipment Performance, and safety & economy in operations. We regularly undertake various training programs for Crane operators, Supervisors and site personnel at locations closer to Major sites. Customized training programs are also organized at request by our customers for newer and higher capacity cranes to train operators on updated machine features and safety parameters to be observed.
With the heavy increase in the expenditure for infrastructure development in this country, how do you think you are going to utilise the opportunity? Are you planning to add more products in the future?
Investing in new cranes is at one of the highest levels in recent year. Few major projects like High-Speed Railway and Metros across many cities is facilitating this demand drive and is furthering the drive created from the requirements of Industrial Projects.
We have a line-up of cranes to meet various demands of the market from Smaller cranes to bigger All Terrain and Crawler Cranes which are currently in-demand for Metro and Wind Projects.
SCHWING – XCMG will be adding a few more products like 25 ton Truck Cranes, Rough Terrain Cranes and Higher Capacity Telescopic Crawler Cranes to our existing product range soon.
What are the challenges in the heavy lifting equipment industry?
Heavy Lifting Equipment industry’s challenges come from Lower Rentals for cranes, Rising Interest rates on finance and the lack of adequate or skilled manpower.
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