A Project Professionals Group member has added plenty of muscle to the network's heavy-lift project cargo capabilities in India by offering cranes with a total lift capacity of more than 5,250 tons.

PPG's General-Manager Kevin Stephens said from the group's headquarters in Brisbane, Australia, that PPG member for western India, Express Transport Pvt., Ltd, now offered clients access to 450 and 340 ton cranes and 310 ton ringer attachment that delivered a total lift capacity of over 5,250 tons.

Mr. Stephens said Express Transport was an excellent example of the capabilities that PPG's specialist project cargo network offered clients around the world.

'Express Transport is one of the oldest project forwarding operations in India and is well placed through its specialist plant and equipment to assist clients in a rapidly expanding logistics market fueled by strong economic growth and investment,' Mr. Stephens said.

Express Transport successfully erected three digesters each weighing 165 tons and 20-meters long in a complex operation late last year at the Hindalco Alumina plant in Jharakhand, India.

Express Transport director Nailesh Gandhi said one 340-ton mobile telescopic crane and a 150-ton crawler crane were needed to position the digesters.

He said a ramp was specially constructed to raise the 340-ton mobile telescopic crane by four meters from ground level to complete the job safely.

'The entire execution was highly complex and taxing and to add to the challenges we were faced with space constraints,' Mr. Gandhi said. 'All three digesters were erected straight from the trailer and positioned without unloading onto the ground.'

Express Transport has a CRISL Rating of SME1 and is also an ISO 9001-2000 certified company.