Terex have a complete range of products for safe and efficient working at various heights and reaches, and we follow the best safety norms applicable in access equipment in the world. Our products strictly comply with all relevant safety standard for access equipment in accordance with the American National Standard Institute (ANSI)/EN-280, says Rakesh Kumar, Country Manager - AWP, India & Saarc Countries, Terex India. Excerpts from the interview.

What is the market potential for access equipment in India? Given the present scenario, how do you look at growth potential?
There is a huge potential for access equipment in India. As we all know, the present state of infrastructure is not adequate for the size of the country. We definitely require a massive scale of infrastructure development in all sectors viz, power, road, port, aviation, railway, internal transport, etc. All such construction activities hold great potential for access equipment. The growth of the access market has been around 20 per cent YoY in last few years but this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Tell us about the product range and services offered by Terex in the access equipment segment.

Terex offers the Genie branded access equipment. Genie is the market leader in access equipment across the globe. We have a complete range of products for safe and efficient working at various heights and reaches. We have material lifts of various sizes mainly used for plumbing and ducting installations, manufacturing and warehouses industry. Our portable small aerial work platforms are a favourite for maintenance jobs especially with industrial, construction, hospitality and aviation sectors. Scissor lifts have a wide range of applications from indoor industrial application to outdoor rough terrain major construction application. Genie offers both telescopic and articulating booms ranging from 30 ft to 135 ft for both industrial and construction application.

Genie teams traditionally have been customer friendly and maintain the highest level of customer support across the globe; in India, too, we are trying our best to provide a similar experience to our customers.

How do you find the industry practices here in India?
The Indian construction industry is in a transitional phase and gradually they are also adapting best practices in all areas. There has been an increase in focus on safety at all construction sites. As this access equipment is also cost-productive as well as safe, I am confident that all Indian construction sites will have a full range of access equipment in the near future similar to other sites around the world.

Brief us about the current safety norms and regulations in lifting and loading machinery.
Terex follows the best safety norms applicable in access equipment in the world. Our products strictly comply with all relevant safety standard for access equipment in accordance with American National Standard Institute (ANSI)/EN-280. These norms are quite stringent towards safety aspects and any up-gradation in these norms is automatically complied with.

What are the safety features (optional/in-built) in the Terex range?
The Genie ranges of products are the safest product for work at a height. All the necessary and backup safety features are inbuilt to take care of any exigency in both the horizontal and vertical movement. Our products have auxiliary power, emergency backup, tilt alarm, fully proportional control, drive enable switch, etc.

Safety is always a factor for the customer when it comes to shifting to access equipment from traditional scaffolding. Landed cost of equipment may be a little high for this part of the world but I feel safety cannot be compromised and all the inbuilt safety features should continue to be a part of machine.

Do you think tightening the safety norms could help augment the growth potential of this segment?
We require such legislation for safer working at heights in our country. I am hopeful that same will be in place sooner or later. However, the legislation alone cannot make our working conditions safer; general awareness towards safe working is important and this awareness will definitely help the industry.

What is the kind of effort being taken on the safety front by companies like Terex?
Terex is conducting regular training for operators for safe operation of access equipment. We are also conducting awareness programmes for safe working practices. We are sure that our efforts will contribute towards making the workplace safer.

Which is the segment where awareness is fast picking up?
Although all the segments are still at an initial stage, in the recent past, a lot more interest has come from the industrial construction and shipyard industry. Terex had already made inroads in all the major segments and continues to work on all those segments.

How do you look at the potential for rentals of this kind of equipment?
Rental is a major segment for the access equipment globally. However, the rental segment in India for such equipment is at a very nascent stage. The rental mode had always been very critical for the success of access equipment and it will play a major role here, too. This will increase the visibility of these machines across the industries and will be of great help in enhancing the industry awareness.

What are the latest product and technology trends in access equipment?
The induction of latest available technology for safer working and upgradation of products accordingly are parts of a continuous process at Terex. Product innovation has been synonymous with the Genie brand and we are launching new products regularly. This year we have already launched a few new models of battery-operated scissor lifts for in-house and rough terrain application. We will be launching more new products in the near future.

How do you look at the competition in this segment and what makes Terex different from the competition?
Competition l plays a role in creating awareness for access equipment, which is very critical for the success of this industry. I take their role as a supplementary, a positive one for this segment growth. Terex product quality, distinguished after market support and our customer friendly approach makes Genie the first choice at any worksite.

TEREX VALUE PROPOSITION

• Our major value proposition is safety. Safety comes first with Terex.
• Our customer promise pillars:
• Quality: A company wide mindset of ensuring the best in materials, design and processes to drive brand preference;
• Solution: Trustworthy advice; fixing problems with creative answers;
• Support: Leveraging our history of providing superior customer service to provide the best in everything we do before, during and after the sale.