…says Ajay Sureka, Managing Director, Elequip Tools Pvt Ltd, while explaining the importance of material handling equipment and emerging market trends.

 

Why is adopting material handling techniques important?

Mechanical material handling equipment (MMHE) at work safety covers the assembly, disassembly, testing, transportation and other associated activities which could result in the operator injury. India’s MMHE safety rates are good, despite the overall downward trend in recent years, but the situation is still serious and problems still prevail. Therefore, implementation and strengthening of the science of safety management of MMHE is a big challenge. The safety of MMHE at both the small and medium scale industries is less than the standard level. There is no specific focus of the industries on target related safety education and installing equipment that makes movement of materials easy. The selection and procurement of material handling equipment is important and should be done carefully as it is the base for safer operation and easier maintenance. 

 

What are the improvements you had made recently?

Last financial year, we took many steps to improve efficiency. We made major investments in rearranging and organising the inventory at our factory making it more systematic and giving us stock update at any given time. We also organised sales training and motivation session for our marketing team helping the team improve how we handle customer situations and productivity.

We formed a dynamic service team to cater to customer's services in Eastern zone for INDEF, Kabelschlepp and CUMI products. 

 

Which are the brands that you are catering to currently?

At present, we are authorised partners with INDEF, Hercules Hoists Ltd, Giovenzana Italy, and Kabelschlepp Germany. We are currently holding talks with few material handling equipment manufacturers from USA and we are positive to bring those brands to India very soon. 

In addition, Elequip Tools manufactures EOT, HOT, Gantry-Goliath cranes, electric winches, goods lifts and travelling trolleys. We have also partnered with the best brands in the industry for providing a complete solution for material handling. 

 

How has the partnership with CUMI-LIFT benefited the company? 

We entered into a partnership with CUMI-LIFT brand, a subsidiary of Murugappa Group of Industries, two years ago. The company has been supporting us well to promote their products in Eastern India. With wide choice of models, configurations, product specifications in the product range, CUMI is today a significant player in the flourishing market of handling equipment. We are expanding the base of clientele in different parts of East India together. Most of the products are granted CE and GS certificates which add to the benefit. CUMI offers manual/powered pallet truck, manual/reach/semi electric/fully electric operated stacker, lift tables, and battery/diesel/LPG operated forklift. The company also adds more products through continuous R&D. 

 

What do you think about the competition from China and other countries who have entered the Indian MHE market?

The products from China, ie hoists and logistic equipment, has not established trusts in the manufacturing firms in India totally. The price point has gone down, and the performance has gone up. The companies that support short term utility are going for cheaper quality materials, but more than 50 per cent trust reliable brands like INDEF, Giovenzana. We have been increasing the sales year after year is the proof.

 

What is the future of MHE sector?

Across the country, customers from manufacturing, auto, white line, FMCG, food chains, e-commerce, warehousing and logistic distribution hubs are increasingly looking to maximise warehouse and factory productivity. Automation will drive material handling in a greater way as companies look to improve productivity, and we will see a greater focus on safety. With increased thrust on vertical use of space and infrastructure growth, there is a good demand for stackers and reach trucks to handle pallets from the racking system. Battery-operated and manual pallet trucks are being acquired to facilitate horizontal movement. Growing e-commerce is generating demand for order pickers.