Konecranes has received orders for the delivery of 173 cranes from Suzlon Energy Ltd. in India. The parties have agreed not to disclose the total value of the order.

The orders include industrial and process cranes, as well as a five-year maintenance contract for the equipment. The cranes will be delivered during the second and third quarters of 2008 and will be used in Suzlon's manufacturing process for wind turbines at production units in India.

Suzlon Energy Ltd., located in Pune, is the leading manufacturer of wind turbines in India and all of Asia, according to Konecranes, "with over 3,000MW of wind turbine capacity supplied in India and across the world". Suzlon is now expanding "massively" to increase manufacturing capacity, and the cranes ordered will be used in the Indian expansion.

The orders comprise a broad range of crane types, including electric overhead travelling cranes, including semi-automated solutions, and process cranes. The cranes are equipped with modern Konecranes inverter controls that enable crane movements at stepless speeds and PLC automation to maximise production efficiency.

Suzlon is a repeat customer for Konecranes, as they ordered over 50 cranes for their facility in Tianjin in China last year. The latest orders were signed with Konecranes China, and local installation in India and crane service will be handled by Konecranes India.

Sami Korpela, country manager, Konecranes India, said: "These large orders form a cornerstone on which to build our operations in India, and supports our strategy of combining equipment sales with long-term crane services."