Beyond Piling: Sunward Now Eyes India for Mini Excavators & AWPs

Since entering India in 2017 through Action Construction Equipment, Sunward has sold over 200 piling rigs. Now, the company is broadening its focus to include mini excavators, rock trenchers, and aerial work platforms. Xiao Yang, Country Manager, International Market Development Center – Sunward, shares the company’s expansion plans in India, including establishing new dealer partnerships across the country.

What was Sunward’s focus at CICEE 2025 and what new products did the company display?

Our goal at CICEE 2025 was to connect with global customers, build brand visibility, and explore dealer partnerships in emerging markets. Europe is currently our largest international market for mini excavators. Sunward has been exporting to Europe since 2003, and we are the largest Chinese exporter of mini excavators to European countries—shipping around 7,000 to 8,000 units annually. We’re now looking to replicate this success in fast-growing markets like India.

At the exhibition, we showcased our range of mini excavators of 2-ton, 2.5-ton, 3.5-ton, and a newly developed 6.6-ton zero-tail model. These compact machines are ideal for urban construction and confined spaces, and they reflect our continuous innovation in the compact equipment segment. They are already well-accepted in markets like Europe and the U.S., and we are now positioning them for Indian and Southeast Asian markets.

Besides piling rigs, what other category of products do you plan to bring to India?

Since our entry in 2017 through Action Construction Equipment, we’ve sold over 200 piling rigs in India. Building on that success, we’re now diversifying our offerings with mini excavators—particularly the 2.5-and 3.5-ton range—rock trenchers for mining, and aerial work platforms (AWPs).

We’re also in discussions with developers in South India to supply advanced piling models such as the AVP and Winch 800P series; these are high-capacity, leader-class rigs suited for large-scale infrastructure projects.

With rising demand for mechanized solutions and our commitment to smart automation, we believe Sunward is well-positioned to become a key player in India's construction and infrastructure future.

What potential do you see for Aerial Work Platforms in India?

We’re fully aware of the growing demand for AWPs in India, particularly in sectors like real estate, hotels, pharma, industrial maintenance, and infrastructure. We’ve recently entered this segment and sold our first units to hotel and pharma clients. Our product range includes scissor lifts (6–16 meters) and boom lifts (18–32 meters). To support growth, we’re actively scouting for dealership partners to expand our presence across the country.

We’re investing in innovations like our Advanced Worksite Automation Platform (AWAP), which boosts operational efficiency, enables remote control capabilities, and sets the stage for autonomous equipment—something we believe will strongly benefit Indian contractors.

Are you planning local manufacturing or assembly to support your India operations?

As the Indian market continues to grow and as our dealership network matures, we’re evaluating local assembly or manufacturing. This would make us more competitive on pricing and allow us to respond faster to local customer needs.

We’re currently working closely with Indian distributors to ensure smooth supply, after-sales support, and service. As part of our long-term commitment, we also plan to participate regularly in major trade shows such as EXCON and Bauma Conexpo India, which will help us further establish a stronger brand presence and deepen our customer engagements. We’re also collaborating with the media and industry partners like NBM&CW to improve our visibility and support our expansion strategy.

Media coverage, product features, and collaborative promotions can help us connect with potential dealers, contractors, and project developers. As we deepen our commitment to the Indian market, partnerships like this will be crucial in making Sunward a household name in construction and infrastructure sectors.

"India is not just a market for us—it’s a long-term strategic partner in our global growth journey."

Are you facing any challenges in expanding your business in India?

One key challenge is the visa process for our teams, which limits our ability to provide in-person support, training, and form new dealerships. Despite this, we are fully committed to the Indian market and are confident about our roadmap for expanding our business here.

We noticed an excavator in your facility in Changsha with both crawler tracks and wheels. What does this hybrid design entail?

That is one of our innovative designs. This hybrid excavator was developed for a Chinese client involved in railway and road maintenance work. It combines the functionality of tracks for stable excavation with the mobility of wheels for rapid movement across work sites. It has generated interest from international buyers too, and we see good export potential, including from India.

We’re the largest Chinese exporter of mini excavators to Europe—shipping 7,000 to 8,000 units annually. We’re now looking to replicate this success in fast-growing markets like India.

What’s the significance behind the different machine colors you use—green, red, and blue?

Our standard brand identity is “Sunward Green.” Red machines are generally OEM versions that we build for brands like Atlas, which sells them under its label in Europe and Israel. The blue units represent a second-tier brand which we’re developing. Colors help us distinguish our offerings across markets and business models while accommodating local branding preferences.

Which segment contributes the most to Sunward’s global sales—piling, AWPs, or excavators?

Our complete solutions include drilling, excavation, transport, screening, and crushing equipment. We are very strong in China, particularly in the mini excavator segment, where we hold over 30% domestic market share. Our piling rigs and foundation equipment also maintain a robust presence in the local market.

Globally, excavators contribute the most to our revenue. Rock drilling equipment is our second-largest category and is gaining traction in mining and tunneling applications. Piling equipment is also a strong pillar; we are exporting over 200 rotary piling rigs and 200 diesel hammers each year, many of which are already working successfully in India.

Are you involved in international associations like the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI)?

Yes, we actively participate in global foundation associations like DFI. These platforms help us stay aligned with global standards and give us the opportunity to showcase our technology to a wider audience. We look forward to participating more actively in Indian chapters and contributing to knowledge exchange.

What’s your long-term global outlook for Sunward in the next five years?

In the next five years, while we expect a slight slowdown in China’s domestic market, international markets like Southeast Asia, India, and South America are poised for growth. Customers are becoming more professional and are demanding smarter, higher-quality equipment. We’re investing in smart features such as our Advanced Worksite Automation Platform (AWAP), which allows for remote monitoring and partial automation. These developments are setting the stage for fully autonomous operations. We’re confident that Sunward will become a global leader not just in equipment volume, but in technology leadership too.