11.02.2008

Escorts launches IHI crawler cranes in India

Escorts Construction Equipment (ECEL) has signed up with the Japanese major, IHI Construction Machinery Ltd, to distribute its entire hydraulic crawler crane range to the Indian market.

The crawler cranes where launched at a ceremony in Hyderabad on Saturday when the first machine sold was handed over to Navayuga Engineering Co, a leading Indian infrastructure company.

ECEL, which manufactures construction and material handling equipment, will market the total range of crawler cranes of IHI Construction Machinery, according to Rajesh Sharma, its associate vice-president marketing and sales.

Speaking at the function, Sharma said IHI Japan is among the top manufacturers of cranes. With the infrastructure and real estate sector booming, the company plans to leverage the partnership.

Mr Tsuuneo Nagase, deputy general manager (Crane Group), IHI, and Mr Koji Hibino, GM (India Operations), formally handed over the key to Col S.B. Puri, director at Navayuga Engineering.
They said IHI will have to beef up its production facilities to meet the big demand from India that is expected for the products. Col. Puri said his company has already ordered two more cranes for the ongoing Krishnapatnam Port project in Andhra Pradesh