India 'could take 6000 scissors'

The Chennai–based company, which manufactures access towers and material handling equipment, is looking for partnerships to help it manufacture scissors in India, and said it would consider all types of arrangements, from manufacturing joint ventures to licencing of existing scissor designs.

Rakesh Modi, mtandt director, told Access International that there was a demand for diesel scissor lifts from the many contractors – including major international players – who are involved in India's massive infrastructure projects, which includes 10 new airports alone.

The key, he said, was to manufacture these units in India; “We feel we can reduce the cost by 30 to 40% if we manufacture in India.” He said import duties of between 30 and 40% as well as freight and insurance costs further increased the price of imported units. Mtandt wants to sell the models under its own brand, although Mr Modi said they would consider dual–branding.

Nevertheless, a target of 6000 units next year is extremely ambitious, Mr Modi says total sales of new platforms in India last year was less than 500 machines, and he thinks the market could reach 1000 units this year.