MYCRANE, a leading digital platform for the search and selection of cranes, has announced the appointment of an exclusive pan-India franchisee.

The free-to-use MYCRANE service will be operated in India by Mumbai-based Sahil Freight Express. Established in 1986, the company has extensive experience in the freight and logistics sector.

As an exclusive distributor for Scheuerle — a manufacturer of modular platform vehicles — in the past, Sahil was responsible for introducing the company’s globally-renowned SPMTs, modular platform trailers and semi-trailers to the Indian market.

In addition, Sahil has handled a number of heavy lift projects, and was the pioneer in establishing the concept of NVOCC/ LCL (less-than-container-load) consolidation as a service provided by freight forwarders in India.

The franchise partnership agreement was signed at Expo 2020 Dubai by MYCRANE Founder and Director Andrei Geikalo and Suhail Shaikh, Chairman and Managing Director of Sahil Freight Express.

Geikalo said: "India has one of the fastest digitising economies in the world, as well as a very positive outlook for the Indian cranes and construction sector, so we are delighted to be opening the MYCRANE service in the country.

"In Sahil Freight, we have the right partners who have a proven track record of introducing new products and services to the market. I have no doubt MYCRANE will be a big success in India."

The crane market in India is expected to grow strongly in the coming years. The ongoing expansion of roads and metro railways and the routine maintenance and upgrading of oil refineries, cement and power plants are all driving demand for cranes.

Shaikh commented: "While the crane market is expected to be very strong in the coming years, it remains a fact that the majority of the rental equipment market in India is dominated by smaller, informal players.

"MYCRANE, therefore, has a huge opportunity to make life easier for those seeking crane rental services, by connecting them with a wide range of reliable equipment providers who have been thoroughly vetted by our team.

"We are excited about the journey ahead and look forward to getting to work in the Indian market."

MYCRANE operates on a franchise basis and enquiries are welcomed from entrepreneurs who are interested in operating the service in their home markets.