Universal Construction to expand operations

Pune-based Universal Construction Machinery has chalked out an expansion plan that includes setting up manufacturing units in five regions across the country and tapping newer markets overseas.

Among the largest manufacturers of construction equipment in India, Universal Machinery is planning to set up five assembly shops at Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Nagpur SEZ (Special Economic Zone) to cater to growing demand for its products.

Ranjeet Moray, managing director, Universal Construction, said the expansion will involve a fresh investment of Rs 10 crore and will be complete in one year. He said that Universal's products enjoy a strong presence across the country and are distributed through its 76 associate offices and five regional offices.

"The new locations will help us reduce transport costs, strengthen presence in local markets with better sales and service facility," Moray said.

Expansion of Universal's plant at Shirval near Pune, where the company has set up a modern assembly line and a paint shop for manufacturing innovative equipments and heavy machinery, is already underway. The plant has also been augmented with in-house fabrication shop that was set up recently at an investment of around Rs 1.25 crore, Moray said.

The expansion at Khed Shivapur includes a new plant that will manufacture 50 units of passenger cum material handling lifts, 75 units of passenger lifts, 150 units of batching plants and 600 units of mini-batching plants, during the first year.

Commenting on the company's export initiatives, Moray said the company has plans to open offices and assembly shops in Fiji, Munich, New York and Dubai in addition to its offices in South Africa, Middle East and Sudan. "The company currently earns 20 per cent of its income from exports," he said.

With its strong research and development (R&D) initiative, Universal will soon add many new import substitute equipments to widen its range of products, which include pan mixer, planetary mixer, batching plant, works platform, hanging platform, bar bending & cutting machine, sand-making plant, tower crane hydraulic, hydra crane 8-10 tons and universal engine, Moray said.

"The company, with its new plans and overseas expansion, expects to cross the Rs 100 crore turnover mark in five years," Moray added.