The Hindu Business Line : Kalmar to expand in India

EXPANSION MODE: Mr Raimo Ylivakeri (left), Executive Vice-President, Kalmar Industries, and Mr G. Vijay Kumar, Managing Director, Kalmar India, at a press conference in Mumbai on Friday. - Paul Noronha

Mumbai , June 9

Kalmar Industries, part of the Cargotec Corporation engaged in manufacture and operation of container handling equipment at ports across the world, has major plans in India, thanks to the growing container traffic at major ports.

Kalmar Industries recently acquired 51 per cent stake in Indlift, which has been its agent in India during the last six years, to form the joint venture company, Kalmar India.

Apart from bringing in new container handling equipment and services, Kalmar is considering the option to set up a manufacturing base in India.

It opened a manufacturing facility in China recently.

According to Mr Vijay Kumar, Managing Director of Kalmar India, some 290 machines, including Rail Mounted Gantry Cranes, reach stackers and forklifts, were deployed in India, a bulk of them being in Jawaharlal Nehru port, India's leading container port.

"Estimates put India's container cargo to increase from 5.8 million TEUs in 2006-07 to 10 million TEUs by 2010. By that year, India will need some 800 machines. Kalmar finds this a huge market for its products," he said.

Kalmar recently bagged a major contract from Gateway Terminals, which is setting up the third container terminal at JNPT, involving supply of 29 RTGs and four reach stackers. Other key projects in India include the delivery of four 32-tonne FLTs to Essar Steel and four more units to Adani port. The company will also be strengthening its network to cover all major ports.

Mr Jouni Pitkanen, Vice-President (Service) of Kalmar India, said the company's expansion plans in India included increasing the scope of after-sales services.

"We want to bring in sophisticated simulators, with which we want to train all those who will actually be operating our equipment," he said.