Indian warehousing & materials handling sector : The backbone

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Mr. S. A. Mohan, CEO, Maini Materials Movement Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. S. A. Mohan, CEO, Maini Materials Movement Pvt. Ltd.

“The Indian warehousing & materials handling sector is one of the most promising sectors of India’s new economy. Though nascent and not as technologically advanced as its western counterparts, the sector is creating a huge buzz globally by virtue of its sheer potential for growth.,” says S.A Mohan, Chief Executive Officer, Maini Materials Movement headquartered in Bangalore. Maini is a leader in materials handling and warehousing equipment. It offers the entire gamut of in-plant materials handling products. A strong spectrum of after market services from the company includes a few unique service offerings like the ‘complete customer care’ This makes it a preferred partner of choice for valued customers. P.K. Balasubramanian speaks to Mohan to know more about the company’s capabilities and commitments in the materials handling field. The interview also portrays the industry scenario and its growth prospects. Excerpts:

Q. What’s the economic scene in India and how conducive is it to business and growth?
The economic scene in India is replete with paradoxes and surprises. India has the potential to achieve growth rate of 8 per cent per annum. The current dip in GDP rate is due to the impact of multiple factors, nationally and internationally.

Despite the current global financial crisis, India remains one of the strongest growth economies and one of the most promising markets worldwide. Indian manufacturing companies today compete with giants across the globe and on their turf. The recent rise of the Indian retail sector now has global players from across the world eyeing the Indian market. While these trends alone demand investment in superior logistics services and upgraded infrastructure, India’s steadily growing affluent middle class with its increased spending capacity on high quality consumer goods is indirectly making it critical for all companies to invest in logistics solutions.

India is the world’s second largest two wheeler market, Asia’s third largest Passenger Vehicle market, world’s fifth largest bus and truck market (by volume) and world’s fourth largest commercial vehicle market

The Indian Warehousing & Material Handling sector is one of the most promising sectors of India’s new economy. Though nascent and not as technologically advanced as its western counterparts, the sector is creating a huge buzz globally by virtue of its sheer potential for growth. Indian economy has continuously recorded high growth rates and became an attractive destination for investments. These factors have formed the foundation for sound business and ambitious growth

Q. What’s its cascading effect on the materials handling industry?
The cascading effect of current economic scenario on Warehousing & Material Handling Equipment industry is promising. Cost competitiveness, increasing demand, easy financing schemes, new product offerings, infrastructure development and an enabling regulatory environment are the key growth factors for the Indian Warehousing and Material Handling Equipment industry.

India is an emerging global manufacturing hub for low cost compact cars. Low manufacturing costs due to economies of scale, low R & D and sourcing costs are increasing affordability which in turn is driving domestic demand for Warehousing and Material Handling Solutions.

Q. What’s your niche in material handling and what’s your significant contribution to the industry and economy?
We hold a leadership position in the In-Plant Material Handling Equipment market. In order to cater to the increasing demand for more complex equipment, we forged a strategic alliance with NMHG – one of the top three Material Handling Equipment manufacturers, globally.

With Yale as a Global partner, we are powered to manufacture European designed Forklift Trucks and Warehouse Equipment’s for the rapidly developing Indian Market, at competitive price points. Armes Maini, our JV with Armes SpA, Italy is a leading manufacturer of Industrial Racks and a One Stop Solution for a large spectrum of storage needs. We have made significant contributions to the industry and the enterprise by offering technologically superior product basket. We are renowned to be the first in India to design and manufacture Battery Operated MHE. Maini Group has pioneered Electric cars in India and continues to be the largest electric car manufacturers in the world.

Forklift
Forklift
STACKER
STACKER
Hand Pallet Truck
Hand Pallet Truck
TowTruck
TowTruck
Electric Pallet Truck
Electric Pallet Truck
Dock Leveler
Dock Leveler

Q. What’s your range of manufacture and which are your unique products with technological edge?
Our range of manufacture comprises of:

  • In-Plant Material Handling Equipment
  • Outside Plant Material Handling Equipment
  • Storage Solutions
  • Buggies/ Battery Operated Vehicles

All equipment’s at Maini are developed in-house. We are one of the few companies in India who design and develop technology and testing systems. Our in-plant MHE for Stacking, Floor transportation, Towing & Hauling come with AC drive technology and hence offer superior performance, effortless operations with thoughtful features. Our Forklift range comes with Next Generation technology from Yale, making them the most ergonomically advanced and productive truck range in the market, today. We manufacture specific Yale products in India; thereby becoming the pioneers to manufacture of European designed Forklift Trucks locally. The manufacturing of Yale products in India is benefitting our customers significantly, as European designed products are available at competitive price points.

With the introduction of Yale-Maini co-branded 3 wheel RCF truck, the markets started experiencing new technologies which provide reliability, safety and significantly enhanced efficiencies. Our Racking and Shelving solutions offer a basket of technologically advanced unique features. Our buggies also come with AC drive technology and come with a basket of technologically advanced features.

Q. What have you to say about your manufacturing excellence and Quality Obsession?
We have a best-in-class manufacturing technology deployment in a 45, 000 Sq. Ft of build-up area, with a potential to build another 70, 000 Sq. Ft. Our manufacturing system is flexible, as majority of our solutions being are customized. We are committed to manufacture customized products of the highest quality standards at relatively short lead time.

Our R & D Facility has several Pro Engineer Stations (3D) including facilities for design, static and dynamic analysis and prototyping. We are committed to a policy of total quality in all aspects of our operations. We manufacture our products to deliver performance excellence through defect prevention and continuous improvement programmes to meet and exceed customer requirements. All employees are trained to understand the requirement of quality standards, regardless of their function as quality affects every aspect of the business. Every employee is mentored on the importance of quality in their role, to ensure that our customers receive ‘high quality’ products and services.

We believe that achievement of an International Quality Standard is not a single event but an on-going commitment, which remains a continual obligation. Maini Materials Movement Pvt Ltd is accredited with ISO 9001-2008 by TUV Nord for our Integrated QualityManagement System
Q. Do you have anything like the ‘first time in the country’?

  • We pioneered the design and manufacturing of Dock Levellers in India
  • We were the first Indian company to introduce the concept of Total Solutions.
  • We were the first to introduce a complete range of material handling equipment in India. Prior to that, there were only the hand pallets and the fork trucks as primary material handling equipment
  • We pioneered the design and manufacturing of battery operated MHE, in India
  • We pioneered the design and manufacturing of Buggies/ Battery Operated Vehicles in India for people transportation in gated campuses
  • Maini Group is one of the first companies to introduce electric vehicles worldwide. Mahindra Revacontinues to be the largest electric car manufacturer in the world. Incidentally Reva is still the world’s lowest priced electric car.

Q. Could you throw some light on your customer base and reach?
Over the years, we have served prominent companies from varied industries and Government institutions. Our customers range from Indian Defence, Consumer Electronics, Retail, Pharmaceuticals, Automobiles, FMCG, Logistics, IT, etc.

Q. What’s the shape of things to come in your sphere of business?
Warehousing and Material Handling industry in India is still in a nascent stage and carries a potential for an exponential growth. There is a growing demand for best-in-class technology. Increasing throughputs will necessitate companies to adopt technology, either by choice or due to competition.

Q. How do you look at the future?
The industry’s prospects look very promising over the mid-term. With the expected introduction of GST, the ramping up of infrastructure and the increase of India’s share in the world trade, this industry is set for an explosive growth in the coming years.

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