Action Construction Equipment Limited, India’s leading construction equipment manufacturer and the world’s largest Pick-and-Carry crane manufacturer, and KATO Works Co Ltd, Japan’s globally recognised manufacturer of mobile cranes and construction machinery, have announced ACE KATO Pvt Ltd, their 50:50 joint venture company. The joint venture will manufacture high-capacity cranes in India for domestic and global markets.

ACE KATO Pvt Ltd has been incorporated to establish a dedicated manufacturing platform for truck cranes, crawler cranes and rough terrain cranes, catering to infrastructure, transportation, mining, ports, energy, metro rail, industrial and other heavy-duty applications.

The joint venture has established an 11-acre manufacturing facility in Haryana, with a planned investment of approximately Rs 2 billion. The investment will support manufacturing infrastructure, advanced production systems, technology integration and product development. Additional investments will be made in phases to expand capacity and strengthen the company’s manufacturing capabilities.

The partnership combines KATO’s expertise in crane engineering, design and technology with ACE’s manufacturing capabilities, operational agility, integrated supply chain, established supplier ecosystem and nationwide sales and after-sales service network. The partners aim to build a globally competitive manufacturing platform to deliver high-quality, cost-competitive lifting solutions for customers in India and international markets.

Under the partnership, KATO will lead product engineering, design and technology, while ACE will be responsible for manufacturing, sourcing and localisation. The product roadmap will initially focus on the development and manufacture of truck cranes, crawler cranes and rough terrain cranes, followed by the phased introduction of more crane models. The products will be manufactured in India for customers across domestic and international markets, reinforcing the vision of ‘Made in India for the World’.

A key focus of the joint venture will be progressive component localisation through ACE’s established supplier ecosystem. Increased local sourcing is expected to enhance manufacturing efficiency, optimise production costs, improve supply-chain resilience and reduce lead times, while maintaining the quality, reliability and safety standards associated with KATO’s engineering.

Sorab Agarwal, Executive Director, Action Construction Equipment Limited, said, “ACE KATO Pvt Ltd marks a defining milestone in ACE’s growth journey and reinforces our long-term commitment to strengthening India’s construction equipment manufacturing ecosystem. For more than three decades, ACE has been at the forefront of indigenous manufacturing and has built a strong foundation through engineering excellence, operational capabilities and customer reach. By partnering with KATO, we are combining globally proven Japanese technology with India’s manufacturing strengths to create a world-class platform for high-capacity crane manufacturing.”

“Our vision extends beyond manufacturing products. We are building a long-term technology and manufacturing partnership focused on creating a strong, future-ready crane manufacturing platform in India. This phased approach will enable us to address the evolving requirements of customers while strengthening our competitiveness across domestic and international markets.”

Tomoyasu Kato, Director, KATO Works Co Ltd, said, “ACE has established itself as one of India’s most respected construction equipment manufacturers with strong manufacturing capabilities, a robust supplier ecosystem and an extensive market presence. Through ACE KATO Pvt Ltd, we are creating an additional manufacturing base within KATO’s global production network while working together to deliver reliable, technologically advanced crane solutions for customers in India and overseas markets.”

The joint venture marks a significant step in advancing India’s high-capacity crane manufacturing capabilities by bringing together Japanese engineering, indigenous manufacturing and progressive localisation under one manufacturing platform. With phased investments planned for future expansion, ACE KATO Pvt Ltd is positioned to support the next phase of infrastructure development while enhancing India’s role in the global construction equipment value chain.