Indian MHE market rapidly shifting to tier II and III cities
Could you please provide an overview of your company and its role in the material handling equipment (MHE) sector in India?
Jungheinrich, a global leader in intralogistics solutions, has established a strong presence in India, playing a crucial role in the country’s rapidly evolving material handling landscape. We offer a comprehensive range of MHE designed to optimise every stage of the warehouse process, from incoming materials to outgoing shipments.
Our product portfolio encompasses a wide range of solutions, including electric pallet trucks, electric forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, and very narrow aisle trucks, racking and AGV’s. These machines are engineered to handle both palletised and non-palletised loads, facilitating efficient floor-to-floor movement and storage within racking systems up to 18-m high. We cater to the unique needs of diverse industries, including automotive, engineering, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, FMCG, retail, and paper.
Our solutions find applications across various warehouse environments, from docking stations and racking systems to manufacturing areas, storage locations, and shipment areas. Our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction is reflected in our comprehensive service network across India. We provide prompt and reliable support, including dedicated technicians, readily available spare parts, and comprehensive maintenance programs. Our focus on sustainability is evident in our energy-efficient equipment and solutions, minimising environmental impact and contributing to a greener future.
How do you perceive the current state of the MHE market in India? What are the key trends and developments shaping the market landscape?
The Indian MHE market is evolving faster than ever; there is significant shift towards tier II and III cities. These regions are becoming increasingly important as businesses seek to consolidate their warehousing operations experiencing growth in tier II and III cities and establish a stronger presence in emerging markets. The rapid expansion of quick commerce and e-commerce companies has fueled a surge in demand for E-HPTs. These businesses rely on E-HPTs for last-mile deliveries, while traditional businesses are increasingly adopting them to replace manual hand pallet trucks and enhance efficiency.
Customers are increasingly recognising the value of autonomous MHE as a solution for enhanced efficiency. The past two years have highlighted the fragility of traditional manual handling practices in the face of supply chain disruptions and workforce constraints. Jungheinrich Mobile robots offer a compelling alternative, providing a reliable and consistent solution for material movement within warehouses and across locations. Our cutting-edge technology and warehouse automation solutions will greatly assist our customers in achieving improved warehouse productivity, reliability, and error reduction. Our Mobile robots designed to meet the growing demand for future warehouse automation, offering unmatched flexibility and operational reliability.
What are the major challenges faced by MHE manufacturers in India?
The ongoing geopolitical landscape has significantly impacted global supply chains, leading to steeply rise the ocean freight costs and unpredictable delivery delays. This poses a significant difficulty for MHE suppliers in India, as they strive to maintain consistent supply and meet customer demands. The availability of skilled manpower, particularly MHE operators, remains a critical concern. The industry faces a shortage of trained professionals, impacting operational efficiency and safety. By proactively addressing these challenges, MHE suppliers in India can continue to contribute to the growth of the sector while ensuring sustainable success in the long term.
What sets your products apart from competitors in terms of technology, innovation, and quality?
Jungheinrich offers a complete range of products and solutions for all types of warehousing setups, starting from manual hand pallet trucks to the full automation of warehouses, reaching a maximum height of 44 m. This includes very narrow aisle truck with warehouse navigation and logistic interface alongside our digital products, ASRS systems and AGVs. We also maintain 800+ fleet of equipment available for short-term rental, including electric pallet trucks, stackers, reach trucks, and electric counterbalance trucks. Additionally, we refurbish equipment from our fleet for second life of the machine contributing to circular economy.
Our extensive solutions in racking system ensure the perfect setup in your warehouse. With broad range of economic solutions that fulfil your requirements in terms of storage and order picking for optimum utilisation of warehouse space.
Jungheinrich forklift trucks with lithium-ion batteries already consume around 20 per cent less energy in daily use. Our lithium-ion solutions provide numerous advantages, including a longer service life through deep discharge prevention via our Battery Management System (BMS), opportunities for fast charging, a maintenance-free and gas-free system, a five-year warranty, high availability of trucks and batteries, energy savings compared to conventional chargers, safe and easy battery charging, and the elimination of the need for battery changes and expensive infrastructure. These batteries are significantly more efficient, offering 6 to 10 times more cycles, allowing for 100 per cent discharge, and being far more environmentally friendly compared to traditional lead-acid batteries.
Our after sales focus on providing prompt, efficient and timely service to our customers. Our widespread network of engineers ensures that we attend any customer complaint within 48 hours in any part of the country. Our professionally qualified engineers spread across all the locations in India not only solve the existing complaint but also guide you proactively regarding preventive maintenance to avoid any future disruptions in your operations.
Jungheinrich is dedicated to providing innovative, efficient, and sustainable intralogistics solutions, backed by exceptional customer service. We are committed to helping our customers achieve their operational goals and maximise their success.
Can you share examples of successful projects or partnerships with clients in India?
Successful implementation of Jungheinrich’s lithium-ion forklift initiative in the beverage industry:
Initiative overview: Jungheinrich collaborated with a beverage industry customer to address challenges related to forklifts using lead-acid batteries. The implementation involved a detailed application study, proposing a shift to forklifts powered by lithium-ion batteries.
Challenges faced:
- Long charging time: Lead-acid batteries required eight hours of charging, leading to the need for multiple forklifts and spare batteries.
- Harmful fumes: Charging lead-acid batteries produced harmful fumes, requiring a large charging room with separate ventilation.
- Inefficiency: The process was cumbersome and inefficient, particularly for meeting the 24x7 demand for beverages.
Initiative details:
- Application study: Jungheinrich conducted a detailed application study and proposed the use of lithium-ion batteries.
- Customer acceptance: The customer accepted the proposal and implemented the solution.
Results and impact:
- Charging time elimination: Switching to lithium-ion batteries eliminated the 8-hour charging time.
- Environmental benefits: Harmful fumes were eliminated, contributing to a cleaner and safer working environment.
- Energy savings: The initiative delivered a 20 per cent reduction in energy consumption.
- Optimisation: The number of forklifts was optimised, and spare batteries were eliminated.
Customer partnership: After successful implementation, the customer decided to partner with Jungheinrich and replace existing trucks at multiple sites.
A-303, Navbharat
Estates,
Zakaria Bunder Road,
Sewri (West), Mumbai - 400 015,
Maharashtra, India
+91-22-24193000
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