Shipping price increases cause raw material prices to rise

“Availability of steel and other inputs at pre-Covid rates will help this sector focus more on local manufacturing,” Daniel Vanak Managing Director, Vanjax Sales Private Limited.

How did you successfully manage your business in Covid times? What were the key drivers for your growth? 

When a nationwide shutdown was declared on March 23rd, 2020, we were not prepared for anything. As the lockdown continued to be extended week after week, we could only hope for a return to normalcy soon. Our team was constantly in touch with all our employees, as their welfare was our top priority. VANJAX provides facilities to both the defence and agricultural sectors, which fall under essential services; because of which we could get Permission from the collectorate to work from 22nd April 2020 onwards. However, it was a logistical nightmare that made us realise we are not an island, and how interdependent we are all with various segments of the industry. 

Slowly, very slowly, the processes started falling into place and we started limping back to so called normalcy. We took encouragement from small successes every day as we countered the numerous difficulties, but we also found several helping hands that were not just sympathetic but also willing to go that extra mile to help each other. 

How do you evaluate the recovery in the access equipment market so far? 

The access market was at its nascent stage even before the Pandemic. The market has virtually vanished since construction and other infrastructural projects came to a halt. VANJAX was fortunate to bag some large orders during the pandemic from the government sector as the budgets were already allotted before Covid. This propelled us to continue the long march towards recovery. 

What are the significant factors impacting productivity in your sector? 

Government impetus is essential for the revival of the infrastructure sector. As most access equipment is capital intensive, the revival depends on the influx of large Capex. Secondly, the current unrealistically high shipping costs for both exports and imports have had a significant impact on dispatch and the inward of components and raw materials at various process points. 

What kind of policy/regulation/investment support is required for the market revival? 

The pre-Covid market was flooded with Chinese imports. However, several factors during 2020 have changed the locus-standi. The government has put in place several country-specific investment barriers. The availability of steel and other inputs at pre-Covid rates will help this sector focus more on local manufacturing. Incentives for investment in MSME by the TN government recently are another encouragement. However, the most important support required are not just from the government but all industry and infra support providers to regulate and put in place minimum safety measures to be followed for working at heights beyond 3 metres. This, once implemented, will be enough to propel the market revival.

How do you assess the growth prospects for the next 5 years in the concrete equipment market? 

Already we can see the demand coming back with a vengeance in some sectors where the market is unable to support it, and it will not be too far off for me to make a guess that it is poised for a boom in the concrete equipment market and the access equipment market in particular. 

What are your latest and upcoming offerings to the access equipment sector? 

Vanjax is in a unique position as a manufacturer to have prepared for Make in India both the Telescopic Aerial works Platform, as well as the self-propelled Scissors Lift. Working height ranges from 8 to 16 meters, and the lift has been upgraded with new features and is CE certified. VANJAX will also be introducing Made in India, the Zee Boom designed, battery-operated, and self-propelled aerial access platform with a 16-metre working height.