Action Construction Equipment (ACE) has entered into a strategic joint venture with Japan’s KATO Works Co, Ltd to manufacture advanced mobile cranes in India, marking a significant step towards strengthening the country’s heavy equipment manufacturing capabilities. The partnership will see an investment of approximately Rs 200 crore over the coming years to establish a dedicated manufacturing facility for next-generation lifting equipment.
The proposed facility will produce a range of truck-mounted and all-terrain cranes by integrating KATO’s globally established crane technology with ACE’s manufacturing expertise and extensive domestic market presence. The initiative is designed to support India’s growing demand for high-capacity lifting solutions across infrastructure, construction, mining, ports, industrial projects and other heavy engineering applications.
The investment will be implemented in phases, covering the development of manufacturing infrastructure, technology transfer, product localisation, research and development, and future production expansion. A key objective of the collaboration is to develop a robust local supply chain for critical components, increasing indigenous value addition while improving overall manufacturing competitiveness.
By combining ACE’s nationwide sales and service network with KATO’s engineering capabilities, the joint venture aims to deliver internationally benchmarked crane solutions tailored to Indian operating conditions. In addition to serving the domestic market, the partners also plan to leverage the facility as a manufacturing base for exports to select global markets.
The collaboration aligns with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ vision by promoting domestic production of advanced construction equipment and reducing reliance on imported mobile cranes. With sustained investments in highways, metro rail networks, renewable energy projects, ports, mining and urban infrastructure, the venture is expected to contribute to the expansion of India’s construction equipment industry while creating skilled employment opportunities and reinforcing the country’s position as a global manufacturing hub for heavy machinery.