- Souma Ray, Director, Haulotte India Pvt Ltd Haulotte Group is one of the topmost leading full range manufacturers of access equipment in the world. We talk to Souma Ray, Director, Haulotte India Pvt Ltd, on their products and safety standards. What are your views on the ongoing trends in advanced construction practices? India has started moving to adapt new advanced construction practices like pre-engineered steel building systems (PEB) and prefab which help construction work move ahead at a rapid pace. In order to match this requirement of increased productivity, it is imperative that modern equipment aid in working at heights, safely and productively. They are different variants of Aerial Work Platforms (AWP) - Push Arounds, Scissor Lifts, Articulated and Telescopic Boom Lifts - that can be used both indoors and outdoors based on the application. The AWPs are used for people lifting and for material lifting, Telehandlers work like a telescopic Forklift. Please share some insights on the equipment you manufacture. Our product portfolio include: Aerial Work Platforms: Seven products ranging over 60 models, which include, Articulating booms (from 12 to 41 m working height); Scissors lift (from 6 to 18 m working height); Telescopic booms (from 14 to 43 m working height); Vertical masts (from 6 to 10 m, used both outdoor and indoor); Push around (from 7 to 14 m working height, designed for fragile floor surfaces); Trailer booms (from 12 to 26 m, compact and lightweight, can be towed to any site). Telehandler range: The Haulotte telehandler (or telescopic handler) offers maximum stability (obtained by locking the rear axle, thus solidifying the chassis), unmatchable handiness giving operational flexibility, progressiveness and precision. We have six models of 10 m, 14 m, and 17 m working height with maximum lift capacity. Do you develop customised solutions to meet specific requirements? We offer various options that can be ordered and which assist while working at heights, like welding generator, glazier pack, pipe holder, working lights, soft touch system, etc. Share your initiatives in the direction of ensuring safety. Haulotte Access equipment is manufactured as per European CE standards confirming to EN280, which are among the most stringent in terms of safety. There are safety cut-off systems which prevent the machine to be overloaded or work at an outreach. We offer comprehensive training to our customers and operators are trained to operate the machines. The additional safety feature that Haulotte provides for our AWPs is an anti entrapment system from operators on platform, known as active shield bar (ASB). Our service team at Haulotte has the expertise to train operators on our machines. We offer comprehensive training to our customers. Besides, operators are trained to operate the machines, to perform daily checks for maintaining the machines, and are also imparted training to perform minor maintenance work in times of exigencies. Do you see the global aerial work platform (AWP) truck market reach $8 billion by 2022? I certainly see this happening, and although today, India is a very nascent market for AWPs as compared to the rest of the world, with a buoyant economy and growth in infrastructure by 2022, India will certainly be a major market for AWPs in the future. At Haulotte, we hear our customers and their needs, and hence, are continuously innovating in terms of our R&D by introducing newer and user-friendly technology, and are also working to expand our product line. What is your strategy to move ahead in the people lifting equipment industry? Haulotte has been the front runner when it comes to new machines sales in India. Haulotte machines have been sold across sectors to a broad spectrum of important customers in corporate, private and government sectors across the country. We strive to see that our customers get the best product and service support at all times. The principle that we follow strictly is ´customer proximity´ and ´customer satisfaction´. Perhaps, today in the country, we have the most comprehensive after-sales support vis-a-vis competition. (Communication by the management of the company)