Setting the wheels in motion with the determination to make a difference in the hydraulics segment, over the years, Hydrolift Cranes has been able to withstand some of the toughest challenges and emerged victorious with a brand name that has attracted international attention too. Rajesh Rajgor gets the details
It cannot be denied that workplace safety and increasing automation in the infrastructure segment is paving the way for a wide range of material handling equipment in India. Moreover, owing to the development of small towns and cities, the demand for equipment that can lift and move heavy equipment is on the rise. There is an increasing requirement from the government sector as well, providing a further fillip to the material handling equipment industry. Alongside, the implementation of Industry 4.0 has boosted the requirement for forklifts, knuckle boom cranes, T-cranes, tailgates and wheelchair lifts with manufacturers now seeking cost-effective and energy-efficient products.
These are some of the triggers, not to forget the government’s emphasis on ‘Make in India’, that have strengthened the pillars of Hydrolift Cranes (P) Ltd., a company established in 2015 at Khalapur in Raigad district of Maharashtra. Cut to 2020 and one finds that the company has been successful in manufacturing T-cranes with capacities from 1 – 4 ton metre (TM) for lifting of two-wheelers, knuckle boom cranes with load-handling capacities ranging from 2 TM up to 48 TM, tailgates with load-lifting capacity of 500 kg to a maximum of 2,000 kg, recovery fitment on vehicles for towing small cars to heavy vehicles like trucks, trailers and tippers in case of breakdown, skip loaders for movement of loose bulk materials, and wheelchair lifts for providing easy mobility to physically challenged persons.
Elaborating about the lifts, Clifford Sanctis, Managing Director, Hydrolift Cranes, says: “These lifts can be fitted on to any small vehicle or even big buses when there is a need to provide access to wheel-chaired persons. They have a lifting capacity of up to 340 kg. We also manufacture a complete range of hydraulic cylinders, both double-acting and single-acting. Besides the regular cranes, we are working on hook loader and winch. We also manufacture cylinders as an OEM for other suppliers. We have a dedicated service team which assists our customers in providing operational training and field assistance in carrying out repairs, thereby reducing the downtime of any equipment. Our present production capacity is 400 cranes, 200 tailgates, 300 handy lifts or a combination of all, and around 5,000 cylinders per annum.”
Technology matters
Located on the old Pune-Mumbai highway, Hydrolift Cranes is spread over an area of 40,000 sq. feet. Along with state-of-the-art manufacturing setup, it has its own research and development facility. “We have a strong team of designers and the latest equipment. We follow standard industry processes where quality checks are made at every stage of production, thus ensuring that the final product meets the customer’s requirement. There is no compromise on quality. At the same time we have processes to ensure that we adhere to all the norms of safety at the workplace and environment protection,” informs Sanctis. The company has a quality management system in place with ISO 9001:2015 certification.
“We have a complete production line from shearing of metal to bending, welding, fabrication, assembly and painting. We take pride in claiming that our testing facility is one of the best in the industry. Not only do we have a workforce that is totally committed to the quality of the product and customer satisfaction but we can also boast of a highly efficient after-sales service team that serves the customer with minimum downtime of their equipment,” Sanctis adds. The success mantra of the company is that it is committed to optimise on production and design to keep the costs lower and be competitive in a market that has a strong presence of international players as well. The focus for providing wheelchair lifts at an affordable price, which can be mounted on all passenger transportation to facilitate easy movement and convenience for people requiring special assistance, is one of the testimonies of their prudent approach.
Global footprint
Hydrolift Cranes has also bagged export orders for its knuckle boom cranes. “We are one of the few crane manufacturers in the world to have a complete in-house design, manufacturing and testing facility for cranes. Our vision is to be one of the world’s largest knuckle boom and T-crane manufacturer by 2025 and continue the dominance we have achieved by placing India on the global map in the manufacturing of this product,” Sanctis states. The company owns the European design and IPR rights from leading Italian designers and hence has been instrumental in securing large orders despite stiff competition from both domestic and international players. Its production facility includes the latest CNC and lathe machinery, CNC bending machine, shearing machine, CNC milling and boring machine, short blasting, paint booth, and oven.
“One of the factors that ensure the quality of our products is that we source raw materials and some of the components from the best in the world,” Sanctis says. Now the company plans to expand and double its capacities. “We are planning to introduce modern technology for mass production in India. With over 20 years of experience in the material handling equipment industry, I started off with the vision of manufacturing cranes and lifting equipment on my own. I am glad that it has been a success, thanks of course to the team. At the same time, it gives me great satisfaction to note that I can provide employment opportunities for people both from within the state and elsewhere. This has been achieved by investing in tools that give the desired output in line with human skills and expectations,” he states.