Industrial overhead cranes are mainly used to handle heavy loads in manufacturing sector. The major manufacturing sectors include, steel, paper, automobile, textile, cement and all engineering product manufacturing. Apart from manufacturing industry, overhead cranes also find applications in construction, power plants, shipbuilding, and transportation industry. Electric Overhead Traveling (EOT) cranes are one of the most commonly used types of overhead cranes and plays a crucial role in various industrial applications. EOT cranes have parallel runways, and a travelling bridge crosses the gap. The hoist is mounted over the travelling bridge. These cranes are operated electrically with a control pendant station or an operator’s cabin attached to the crane.

Market scenario

The performance of the industrial cranes has been cyclical in nature over the years. For the past couple of years the market has been challenging due to slowdown in across the manufacturing segments. The current pandemic condition has prolonged the slowdown further. However, there is scope for a revival due to the sheer requirement of more steel and such materials for the anticipated infrastructure development in the country. According to Tushar Mehendale, Managing Director, ElectroMech Material Handling Systems (India), the pandemic had put a pause on the entire activity in the market for a few months. “However, the market has almost got back to the pre-pandemic days and business seems to be back to normal,” he says. Regarding the order for industrial crane, he comments, “In a projects business, the ongoing projects simply cannot be stopped and these need to be completed and taken to their logical conclusion. Hence, when it comes to crane orders for big projects under execution, the orders are still being finalised in the industry.”

The steel industry has the toughest and most demanding operating conditions, so the requirement is specific. Industrial cranes are heavily relied on for work in extreme and varied conditions of steel mills. Even a single day of disruption in work can cost steel mills hugely. Crane demand is directly proportional to the steel production capacity of the steel mill. Thus, the performance of steel sector will have a direct impact on the industrial cranes market.

Positive outlook

In spite of the current pandemic scenario, the steel companies are doing better starting the second quarter. According to a CARE Ratings update, output of steel sector grew by 0.9 per cent in September, its first positive growth after six consecutive months of negative growth. This corroborates the picture revealed by some of the steel companies which have seen good demand especially from the construction and auto sector. Steel demand is picking up with demand coming from automotive, railways, and infrastructure segments. The government’s push for infrastructure growth is inviting new demands for steel in construction sector. Projects such as the metro, airports, smart cities and high-speed rail connectivity are expected to attract more sales for steel sector in the coming years. Also, the support to the MSME and defence equipment, and special focus on Atmanirbhar Bharat will push the growth of steel which will be a welcome trend for industrial cranes.

“Due to this short term slowdown, there is a lot of pent-up demand in the market that needs to be catered to on a priority. Hence, we anticipate a quick bounce back recovery from the bottom with urgency increasing in the markets to service the customer demands. This is going to create a good tailwind for future growth by getting into a virtuous cycle of growth fuelling more growth.”

The pandemic-related slowdown has halted the infrastructure development activities for a short period, which is again picking up now. And it is imperative that these projects which have already started should be completed at the earliest and new announced projects in the pipeline need to be started. So the demand is here to pick up at a faster pace for sure.