Carter Pooler Engineering Company Limited (CPEL)

The operations of Carter Pooler Engineering Company Limited (CPEL) dates back to 1940, when it was established as a partnership company for the purpose of manufacturing forklifts. These forklifts were manufactured based upon the designs from Ms/ Clarke of The United States of America. As a matter of fact the first indigenous forklift truck was manufactured by the company in 1958. The company was converted into a private limited company in 1959. However, due to non optimal performance, the company was taken over by the Government of India in 1972 but went into liquidation in 1983.

In 1987, the company was bought over by the Government of West Bengal from the liquidator and was incorporated as a company of the Government of West Bengal. The company was set up to manufacture forklifts and has a rated capacity of 120 units per annum. However, ever since its incorporation in 1987, CPEL has manufactured only about 25 forklifts (2-3 ton capacity). The reasons for this poor performance include :

Technological Obsolescence - The forklifts manufactured by CPEL was based upon mechanical systems. Unlike most of its competitors, which use hydraulic systems. These was practically no market for forklifts which use mechanical power transmission systems.

Available Skill Set - Most of the key resources of CPEL, who were engaged in the manufacture of forklifts have retired and hence, even if CPEL acquires orders for forklifts, it does not have the skilled manpower to manufacture the same.

Limited Product Range and Stagnant Market - CPEL was engaged in the manufacture of 2-3 ton forklifts. Most of its competitors i.e. Voltas Ltd., Godrej, Punjab Tractors Ltd. etc have a wider product range. Also the overall market for forklifts has been largely stagnant. This in turn is due to slow rate of growth of industrial output.

Due to business downturn in its main line of business i.e. forklifts, the company had in the last few years diversified into fabrication of bus bodies. It also had developed prototypes of several other products under the overall banner of "public utility and disaster management equipment". Despite attempts to diversify, CPEL's financial performance continued to be sub-optimal.