New Delhi: As India’s manufacturing ecosystem accelerates toward greater scale and sophistication, factories are increasingly turning to modern material-handling technologies to stay competitive. Manual load movement once the norm on most shop floors is no longer sufficient for today’s high-volume, fast-paced production demands. Manufacturers are now embracing advanced solutions such as Electric Overhead Travelling (EOT) cranes to save time, improve workflow management, and unlock higher productivity. 

With automation, digital controls, and precision-engineered systems becoming more accessible, these cranes are helping industries streamline operations, reduce downtime, and enhance workplace safety, making them indispensable tools for the next generation of smart factories. EOT cranes, commonly visible in workshops and industrial sheds, play a vital role in lifting and transporting materials with precision. With rising production volumes, tighter delivery schedules and stricter safety norms, industries are adopting these systems to reduce physical strain on workers and streamline day-to-day operations.

A key driver behind this growing adoption is the emergence of Indian manufacturers who design cranes suited to local factory environments. Over the past three decades, companies such as LOADMATE have supplied EOT cranes, electric chain hoists and wire rope hoists to a wide range of sectors, from engineering and fabrication to textiles, chemicals and heavy manufacturing. Their familiarity with local usage conditions has resulted in systems that are robust, economical to maintain and aligned with Indian industrial requirements.

According to Manish Agarwal, CEO of LOADMATE, customization has become an important factor in equipment selection. “Every factory has its own layout, workflow and load-handling needs. When lifting systems are designed around these specific conditions, the result is better efficiency and better safety. Indian manufacturers are able to understand these needs more closely. The availability of service teams and spare parts within the country also gives long-term confidence to plant owners,” he said.

According to experts, imported cranes are often harder to service and more expensive to modify. For MSMEs operating on tight schedules, local manufacturers have filled a crucial gap by offering solutions tailor-made for load capacities, spans, duty cycles and operational environments. This allows factories to upgrade without major alterations to infrastructure, making the transition more cost-effective.

This shift mirrors a larger nationwide trend. As Indian factories adopt leaner processes and modern automation, reliable lifting systems have become integral to improving throughput and reducing downtime. The preference for domestically built cranes has also helped minimize delays related to maintenance and spare parts availability, challenges that previously disrupted production cycles.

Last Updated:November 21, 2025, 16:17 IST

Equity benchmark indices slip on Friday, ending a two-day winning run, as weak global cues dampened investor sentiment.

Equity benchmark indices slipped on Friday, ending a two-day winning run, as weak global cues dampened investor sentiment. The BSE Sensex declined 400.76 points to settle at 85,231.92, while the NSE Nifty fell by 124 points to end the day at 26,068.15.

Among the 30 Sensex shares, 17 stocks closed in the red. Among the top losers were Tata Steel, Bajaj Finance, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finserv, and BEL falling by up to 2.58%. On the other hand, the gainers were Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors PV, ITC, and Asian Paints rising by up to 1.17%.

Key factors behind Friday’s market decline

1. Nifty Metal index slides

The Nifty Metal index fell 1.4% after the government extended exemptions from mandatory quality-control rules for certain steel and stainless-steel grades — a move expected to increase imports and pressure domestic prices. Except for Adani Enterprises, all constituents traded lower, with Hindalco leading the decline.

Hindalco was also the top loser on the Nifty 50, dropping over 2% to ₹783.45, after a fire at its Novelis aluminium plant in Oswego, New York, on November 21. Novelis — which contributes nearly 60% of Hindalco’s revenue — had already recorded a $21 million charge in Q2 due to an earlier fire. The Oswego unit supplies aluminium for Ford’s F-150 truck line.

2. Selling pressure hits IT stocks

IT shares also declined as concerns over stretched valuations resurfaced. The slump in US tech stocks overshadowed Nvidia’s better-than-expected quarterly results, adding further pressure to domestic IT counters.

3. Weak global cues

Asian markets were broadly lower on Friday, tracking the sell-off on Wall Street. South Korea’s Kospi plunged more than 3%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped over 2%. Markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong also opened weak, extending the negative global sentiment. Overnight in the U.S., all major indices closed in the red, with the Nasdaq Composite falling 2.15%, the S&P 500 down 1.56%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 0.84%.

Currency movements further weighed on sentiment. The yen hovered near a 10-month low, though it saw a brief rebound after Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama hinted at possible intervention to limit excessive volatility. The U.S. dollar continued to strengthen and was on track for its strongest week in more than a month. Meanwhile, Japan’s latest stimulus package is projected to have an overall economic impact of $265 billion, adding another factor for markets to consider.

4. Fading hopes of a U.S. rate cut

Renewed uncertainty over US monetary policy also weighed on sentiment. Stronger-than-expected September job growth reduced the likelihood of a December rate cut. Higher U.S. rates typically pull capital away from emerging markets like India.

Adding to the caution, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, in a speech at Georgetown University, flagged risks to the financial system — including the rapid expansion of private credit and hedge-fund activity in the Treasury market — without providing clarity on near-term rate moves.

5. Volatility spikes

The India VIX jumped 13% to 13.68, signalling heightened uncertainty and potential for wider market swings.

Despite the early decline, analysts noted that markets remain close to record highs, and buying on dips could emerge later in the session, supported by improving earnings and firm domestic flows.

Nifty Technicals

On the technical front, Anand James, Chief Market Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, said the breakout above a month-long range keeps Nifty’s 26,550 target intact. However, Thursday’s move above the upper Bollinger band — followed by a close below — points to limited upside in the near term.

A failure to hold above 26,237 or a drop below 26,160 could shift momentum to the bears, with downside levels at 26,028–25,984, he added.

Aparna Deb

Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More

Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More

Read More

A meeting of the National Finance Commission (NFC) has been scheduled for December 4 to discuss the implementation of IMF conditions and the new financial award.

According to sources, the meeting will focus on IMF proposals regarding changes to the NFC Award. To consult on the matter, the federal government has invited all provinces to attend the session.

Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, along with the finance ministers of the four provinces, is expected to participate in the meeting.

The IMF is anticipated to support the proposals for the new National Finance Award. Sources indicated that if multiple sessions are required to finalize the award, the process could take six to eight months.

The first scheduled NFC meeting had earlier been postponed at the request of the provinces due to flood-related disruptions.

Separately, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) highlighted that corruption remains a persistent challenge in Pakistan, urging the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to publish its first annual report.

In its Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment (GCDA), the IMF stated that corruption poses serious risks to economic development and public trust.

The Fund called on the government to enhance transparency, strengthen governance structures, and immediately begin implementing a comprehensive reform agenda.

According to the report, the IMF has called on the SIFC to develop clear protocols for its operations and significantly improve transparency to ensure effective oversight and accountability.

It further recommended that the SIFC must publish its first annual report, detailing all investment deals it has facilitated, including any tax, policy, regulatory, or legislative concessions granted—along with the full rationale and the monetary value of each concession.