Potain's Pune pioneer helps quadruple orders
4 January 2012Manitowoc has reported the first Potain self-erecting tower crane delivered to India has completed its first job, helping to build a movie theatre on top of a shopping mall in Pune.
According to Manitowoc, Tricon Infra, the two-year-old but rapidly expanding construction company that purchased the 4t Potain Igo 32 self-erector, has quadrupled the size of its order book since investing in Potain cranes.
Tricon Infra decided to use the Igo 32 because space on roof of the mall undergoing work was limited by the proximity of an existing shopping mall.
Along with the space constraints, time was also a factor on the job. A strict six-month programme of works had been decided on to minimise disruption to the existing retail operations in the building.
However, with the crane’s 4t capacity and compact dimensions, Tricon Infra reported the project completed within the allocated schedule.
Impressed with the crane’s performance, Abhijit Lunkad, a partner at Tricon Infra, commented, “The Igo 32 is the best crane we have ever bought.”
Adding to this, another partner at Tricon Infra, Brajesh Singh, highlighted the importance of the crane’s capabilities for this job, saying, “After seeing other crane brands, I would say using a Potain crane for the first time is like driving a car with power steering for the first time.
“It is much smoother to operate, more convenient, uses less energy and helps us manoeuvre faster. If you want a top-of-the-line crane, you buy a Potain. You get access to Manitowoc Crane Care and excellent after-sales service. We know any crane we buy from Manitowoc will arrive on-time and as promised.”
The firm also owns MCI 85 A and MC 125 top-slewing tower cranes.
Manitowoc India’s national sales manager for Potain cranes, Ashwani Matoo, believes there is increasing scope for the making the Igo range of cranes a popular choice in India.
“There is a huge amount of development taking place in India, and as job sites become tighter, contractors must be more creative in what cranes they send and where they put them when on site,” he said. “Potain self-erecting cranes are hugely popular in Europe and North America where customers value their speed, simplicity and smooth operation—not to mention their ability to get into difficult spaces.
“The concept is still relatively new to customers in India, but they can already see the advantages of these cranes.”
