Automation is transforming material handling: Ravi Hissaria

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Automation is transforming material handling: Ravi Hissaria

Automation is transforming material handling: Ravi Hissaria

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Jun 26,26

In this interaction, Ravi Hissaria, MD, Tippers & Trailers India Pvt Ltd (TNT India), discusses advancements in material handling technologies, the company’s latest offerings and its future plans.

Automation is transforming material handling: Ravi Hissaria

Tippers & Trailers India Pvt Ltd (TNT India) is one of the leading players in crane solutions and storage systems sectors in India. In this interview, Ravi Hissaria, Managing Director, TNT India, highlights the company’s manufacturing strengths, advanced material-handling technologies and future plans.

TNT India has expanded its presence in both crane solutions and storage and racking systems over the last few years. What have been the key growth drivers for these businesses?

India’s growing manufacturing, infrastructure, logistics and warehousing sectors have been key drivers of demand for both our crane and storage solutions businesses. The increasing emphasis on safety, productivity and efficient space utilisation is encouraging companies to invest in modern material-handling systems. Our major customers come from the engineering, steel, automotive, power, heavy fabrication, logistics, warehousing and e-commerce sectors, all of which are actively upgrading their material-handling and storage infrastructure to support growth and operational efficiency.

Your crane division combines indigenous crane manufacturing with advanced lifting technologies through partnerships such as STAHL Germany. How have customer expectations evolved over the years?

Customers today expect much more than basic lifting equipment. Safety, reliability and maximum uptime have become critical requirements. Features such as overload protection, fault diagnostics, anti-sway technology, remote monitoring and predictive maintenance are increasingly in demand. By combining our manufacturing expertise with STAHL Germany’s advanced technology, we provide solutions that meet global safety standards while delivering higher productivity and long-term operational reliability.

The rapid growth of e-commerce, logistics and warehousing is creating new requirements for storage infrastructure. What trends are you observing in the adoption of modern racking and storage systems across India?

We are witnessing strong demand for high-density storage systems, pallet racking, mezzanine floors, cantilever racks and automated storage solutions. Businesses are focused on maximising warehouse space, improving inventory visibility and enhancing operational efficiency. The adoption of warehouse management systems, automation and digital tracking technologies is also accelerating, particularly among e-commerce, logistics and third-party warehousing companies.

Many industries are investing in automation and smart factories. How is this trend influencing the design and deployment of cranes and material-handling systems in manufacturing facilities?

Automation is transforming material handling. Modern cranes are increasingly being equipped with IoT-enabled monitoring, automated positioning, sway control, collision avoidance systems and predictive maintenance capabilities.

Customers are looking for intelligent systems that integrate seamlessly with smart factory environments and help improve safety, productivity and process efficiency. We are continuously enhancing our solutions to support these evolving requirements.

What are the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the Indian material-handling industry today?

India’s industrial growth, infrastructure development and expanding warehousing sector present significant opportunities for the material-handling industry. Increasing awareness of workplace safety and automation is also driving demand for advanced solutions. The key challenge remains educating customers to view material handling as a strategic investment rather than merely a cost, as efficient and safe handling systems directly contribute to productivity and operational performance.

Since launching the EOT Crane Division in 2020 and the Storage and Racking Systems business in 2023, what key milestones has TNT India achieved, and what differentiates your offerings in an increasingly competitive market?

Since launching our EOT Crane Division, we have established a strong presence in the lifting solutions market through quality products and advanced technology partnerships. The addition of our Storage and Racking Systems business has enabled us to offer comprehensive material-handling solutions under one roof.

Our key differentiators include a modern 1.5 lakh sq ft manufacturing facility, strong engineering capabilities, customised solutions, global technology support and a strong focus on safety, quality and customer service.

With space utilisation becoming a priority, how is TNT India addressing the market demand for pre-engineered buildings (PEBs) integrated with high-rise racking systems?

As industrial real estate costs rise, vertical expansion has become essential. TNT India provides specialised turnkey capability in integrating PEBs with complex high-rise racking systems. We specialise in sophisticated clad-rack warehouse solutions, where the high-rise storage racking itself acts as the structural steel framework of the building, carrying the roof and side wall cladding directly. This integration eliminates traditional heavy building columns, maximizes storage density, and significantly reduces overall structural construction costs.

By meticulously engineering our racking systems to simultaneously withstand massive payload capacities and environmental building loads, we deliver highly safe, seamless, and optimised vertical space solutions for our clients.

Looking ahead, what are TNT India’s strategic priorities for the next three to five years?

Our focus will be on product innovation, manufacturing expansion and strengthening our market presence across India. We are developing advanced process cranes and an in-house European-model hoist designed to deliver global-quality performance at competitive prices.

We also see significant opportunities in automation-driven material handling, warehousing infrastructure and export markets. Our goal is to continue delivering innovative, safe and efficient solutions that support India’s industrial growth.