Dubai's Manlift starts renting in India

Dubai-based access rental company Manlift has opened a branch in New Delhi, India, to rent and sell aerial platforms. Manlift previously operated only in the Middle East where it has a fleet of around 1200 aerial platforms.

Manlift, which has close links to Riwal in the Netherlands, already has staff and facilities in place in New Delhi and said it was now searching for more local and international staff. In addition to conventional aerial platform rentals, Manlift India said it will offer "operators...trained to the standards of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) of which Manlift Middle East is an accredited training centre".

Manlift said India represented an attractive market, with infrastructure and commercial developments as well as ‘mega projects' becoming more commonplace. The company cited the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, the Reliance Industries' KG-D6 gas development project and the Mundra power project for Tata Power.

Mr Atul Sharma, finance and operations manager at Manlift India, said; "We have been witnessing a recent shift in the construction processes being implemented by Indian contracting firms and developers towards safer and more economic projects.

"There has been a surge of reforms in terms of time, resources and overheads and how best to achieve targets in the market. Our manlifts considerably reduce the need for scaffolding structures thereby reducing both cost and time."

John Ashcroft, Manlift's group managing director, said; "We are excited about this new venture and feel that our services and products will be highly attractive in this developing market."