With the Government increasing focus towards industrialisation and infrastructure development, the demand for access equipment has been on rise. Policy initiatives like FDI in retail ‘Make in India’ and development of smart cities has created a positive impact on the access equipment industry. Large scale construction projects, growing investments in real estate and infrastructure, increasing installation of street lights, CCTV cameras, and power cables, organisation of festivals, corporate events, and tournaments are driving the need for AWPs across India. Nirav Doshi, Managing Director, Nido Machineries Pvt Ltd shares his views on the major factors buyer should consider before making decision of buying access equipment.

Current trends
The trends in procurement of access equipment have changed in the last few years due to a rebounding of construction sectors. Talking about the current trends in procurement of access equipment, Doshi says, “Although the prices of access equipment have trended upward, it is quite marginal and price volatility is extremely low. This has given a chance to buyers to take time in finalising their purchase decision. Higher availability with extensive safety features and easy to use of imported access equipment has also proved beneficial to buyers because imported products are generally far less expensive than their domestic counterparts and have helped keep average prices down.”

Buying factors
According to Doshi, following are the major buying factors a buyer should consider before buying access equipment:
• Safety features: The access equipment should have all the necessary safety features to work safely and efficiently at different height and reaches.
• Platform height and horizontal reach: Access equipment with proper height and reach will help you to reach the work area without any sort of hassle. Battery powered telescoping booms are the ideal choice for construction applications where maximum height and outreach are required.
• Quality of the equipment: A good quality machine can help to get optimum result with virtually eliminating all types of accidental injuries. A buyer should make sure that the platform has adequate working area to accommodate the weight of the operator as well as other supplies.
• Working conditions: Buyers should always consider whether they will be using the access equipment for indoor or outdoor activities. Slopes, obstructions, poor ground condition, traffic and noise can determine the choice of equipment.

Lease or buy?
Speaking on the factors a buyer should consider while determining whether to rent or buy access equipment, Doshi says, “Initial cost is a major factor considered by buyers when deciding whether to buy or lease.” However, he highlights some other factors which a buyer should consider while taking the final call:
• Current monetary situation: Buying may require one time larger fund outlay but it can be a better investment option especially when you are going to use it for several months or years. You can also think of buying good quality used equipment or renting one to reduce initial financial burden.
• Cost of ownership versus cost of renting: The buyer should always estimate the cost of ownership versus the cost of renting the equipment. When you own the machine, you need to pay for insurance, taxes, depreciation, maintenance costs, operation costs and other fees. Renting is generally an inclusive cost, so you may get better flexibility.
• Project length and job frequency: Project length and job frequency could be the most important factors in whether to buy or rent the equipment. If it’s a short term project and you need the equipment for one-off job, renting might be a better choice. Buying the machine can be an ideal choice when you are working on a long project.

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Initial cost is a major factor considered by buyers when deciding whether to buy or rent.

Nirav Doshi, Managing Director, Nido Machineries Pvt Ltd