Johnson Lifts, a manufacturer of elevators and escalators, has set up a new unit at Sengadu, near here, to produce 6,000 lifts per annum, said a top official.
“Foreseeing the growth in lift requirement, we have set up a new, integrated, fully-automated lift factory at Sengadu, by investing ₹125 crore,” said V. Jagannathan, executive director, Johnson Lifts Pvt. Ltd.
Capacity for 18,000 lifts
With this unit, the company will have four plants in India that can collectively make 18,000 lifts and 1,500 escalators a year.
“Besides, we have also expanded our Oragadam unit with an additional line for heavy duty escalators at a cost of ₹13 crore to produce 500 escalators per annum. The first line has a capacity to produce 600 commercial escalators per annum,” he said.
Asserting the firm had not been impacted by the economic slowdown, Mr. Jagannathan said the firm was aiming at a sales turnover of ₹3,000 crore for FY20 compared with ₹2,000 crore for FY19.
To a question, he said opportunities in government schemes, affordable housing and smart cities, upgradation of railway stations, airports, infrastructure projects and leveraging tier-II and tier-III cities and north eastern States will enable the firm to achieve its sales target.
“Last year, we sold 10,000 lifts and 1,400 elevators and this fiscal, our aim is to sell 13,000 lifts and 1,600 elevators. Besides, we will be entering new overseas markets,” said Yohan K. John, director, Johnson Lifts.
Albert Dhiraviyam, country head, marketing, said Johnson had orders from Chennai Metro Rail Phase-1 Extension work for ₹33 crore, Mumbai Metro for ₹247 crore and Central and Western Railways for ₹197 crore.
“Currently, Johnson Lifts caters to 70% of residential needs and 30% commercial. There is also a huge demand for ‘bungalow lifts.’ This segment is growing fast,” he added.
