colombo machinery & equipment (pvt)

What colombo machinery & equipment (pvt) does

Colombo Machinery & Equipment (Pvt) Ltd (CMEL) is a Sri Lanka-based industrial machinery distributor and local agent for international manufacturers, importing and supplying heavy-duty equipment including Hangcha forklifts, Lanfeng fuel dispensers, conveyor belts and rollers, cranes, scissor lifts, hoists, diesel generators, container seals, and gas cylinders and regulators. The company was established in 1972 by M. Farook Deen as an approved government tenderer and incorporated as a private limited company in 1977 following Sri Lanka's import liberalization. Core technology is import-and-distribute rather than proprietary R&D, supplemented by a Biyagama workshop that performs custom fabrication of non-standard conveyor belts and bespoke industrial solutions.

CMEL serves two principal customer segments: Sri Lankan government and semi-government institutions — including Ceylon Electricity Board, Ceypetco, Ports Authority, National Water Supply and Drainage Board, and Ceylon Oils and Fats Corporation — and large private enterprises such as DHL Sri Lanka, Nestle, Unilever, Ceylon Tobacco, David Pieris Motor Company, and CBL. The revenue model is one-time equipment sales combined with turn-key industrial project execution (e.g., nine 30MVA substations for CEB at LKR 350M, a 20 TPH animal feed plant at LKR 140M, and a US$10M telecom network for CEB). Group turnover across CMEL and its three wholly-owned subsidiaries — Industrial Pressure Vessels (IPV), Integrated Communication Systems (ICS), and Soap and Allied Industries (SAIL) — exceeds LKR 350 million.

The business operates with principal-supplier relationships of more than 25 years standing across Japan, USA, UK, France, India, China, Korea, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the UAE, providing both competitive moat and concentration risk. The company's go-to-market is sales-led, enterprise field sales with tendering for public-sector projects and direct engagement with private-sector buyers, supported by a dedicated after-sales warranty and service capability anchored at the Siyambalape headquarters and Biyagama workshop.

Name

colombo machinery & equipment (pvt)

Legal name

Colombo Machinery & Equipment (Pvt) Ltd.

Website

https://cmel.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Colombo Machinery & Equipment (Pvt) Ltd is a Sri Lankan industrial machinery distributor and local agent for international principals, supplying heavy-duty equipment, conveyor systems, fuel dispensers, and turn-key industrial plant solutions to government institutions and large private enterprises across Sri Lanka.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Machinery and Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (33324), Conveyor and Conveying Equipment Manufacturing (333922)

SIC

Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Material Handling Systems (Belt Conveyors, Feeders, Stackers, Reclaimers) (IMAHABAH)

Keywords

• Industrial machinery distribution
• Material handling equipment
• Conveyor systems supply
• Fuel dispensing equipment
• Heavy equipment importer

Headquarters

HQ city

Siyambalape

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Industrial Machinery and Equipment Sales: Direct import and supply of heavy-duty industrial machinery including forklifts, conveyor belts, cranes, scissor lifts, hoists, generators, fuel dispensers, and container seals from international principals. Revenue is generated through product sales with associated after-sales services.
2. Industrial Raw Materials and Chemicals: Import and supply of high-quality industrial raw materials and chemicals from worldwide reputed suppliers. Large quantities can be provided in short periods of time.
3. Custom Fabrication Services: Workshop services at Biyagama for custom requirements including non-standard sized conveyor belts and other custom-built industrial solutions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CMEL imports, distributes, and supplies heavy-duty industrial machinery and equipment from international manufacturers to government institutions, semi-government corporations, and large private enterprises in Sri Lanka. Core product lines include Hangcha forklifts, Lanfeng fuel dispensers, custom-built conveyor belts and rollers, cranes, scissor lifts, hoists, and diesel generators. The company also imports industrial raw materials and chemicals, operates a Biyagama workshop for custom fabrication, and executes turn-key industrial projects including electrical substations, LPG storage, and processing plants.

Product overview

Colombo Machinery & Equipment (Pvt) Ltd (CMEL) is an industrial machinery and equipment supplier based in Sri Lanka. The company operates as a single unified offering model, directly importing machinery and equipment from international manufacturers and supplying them to government, semi-government, and private sector clients. The product portfolio includes heavy-duty material handling equipment (forklifts from Hangcha, hoists, scissor lifts, cranes), conveyor systems (custom-built belts and rollers), fuel dispensing equipment (from Lanfeng), diesel generators, and industrial accessories (container seals, gas cylinders). Additionally, CMEL undertakes turn-key industrial plant projects including solvent extraction facilities, animal feed plants, LPG storage installations, and electrical substations. The company also operates a workshop in Biyagama for custom fabrication of non-standard equipment. The portfolio spans core equipment sales, custom-built solutions, and large-scale industrial infrastructure projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hangcha Forklifts Heavy-duty forklifts imported from Hangcha, a Chinese manufacturer, designed for industrial material handling operations in warehouses, factories, and logistics facilities.
• Custom Conveyor Belts Custom-built industrial conveyor belts and belting systems tailored to customer specifications, including non-standard sizes, manufactured at the Biyagama workshop for material handling applications.
• Custom Conveyor Rollers Industrial custom-built conveyor rollers and roller systems for material handling applications in manufacturing and logistics facilities.
• Lanfeng Fuel Dispensers Durable hi-tech fuel dispensers manufactured by Lanfeng, designed for petroleum station operations and fuel retailing.
• Industrial Cranes Powerful industrial cranes for heavy lifting operations in manufacturing, construction, and port settings.
• Scissor Lifts Scissor lifts for lifting vehicles and equipment in maintenance, warehousing, and industrial applications.
• Industrial Hoists Industrial hoists available in all sizes and lengths for vertical lifting operations across industrial applications.
• High Power Diesel Generators High-power diesel generators for backup and primary power supply in industrial facilities.
• Container Seals All types of container seals including plastic and metal variants for shipping container security applications.
• Gas Cylinders & Regulators Large quantities of gas cylinders and regulators for industrial gas applications.
• Industrial Raw Materials & Chemicals Import and supply of high-quality industrial raw materials and chemicals from worldwide reputed suppliers, with large quantities deliverable in short periods.
• Custom Fabrication Services Workshop services at the Biyagama facility for custom requirements including non-standard sized conveyor belts and other custom-built industrial solutions tailored to local customer specifications.

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Industrial Pressure Vessels (Pvt) Limited (IPV)coreOthersSubsidiary company established by CMEL over the years to handle specific areas of business developed by CMEL, operating as part of the CMEL group with combined turnover exceeding Rs. 350 million.
• Integrated Communication Systems (Pvt) LTD (ICS)coreOthersSubsidiary company established by CMEL over the years to handle specific areas of business developed by CMEL, operating as part of the CMEL group with combined turnover exceeding Rs. 350 million.
• Soap and Allied Industries (Pvt) Limited (SAIL)coreOthersSubsidiary company established by CMEL over the years to handle specific areas of business developed by CMEL, operating as part of the CMEL group with combined turnover exceeding Rs. 350 million.
• Hangcha (China)coreTechnology or IntegrationCMEL supplies high power durable Hangcha forklifts, representing a principal supplier relationship for material handling equipment.
• Lanfeng (China)coreTechnology or IntegrationCMEL supplies durable hi-tech Lanfeng fuel dispensers, representing a principal supplier relationship for fuel dispensing equipment.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Konecranes Plc: Global crane and material handling OEM and service provider. Overlaps directly with CMEL's crane and hoist offerings but operates globally with manufacturing scale far exceeding CMEL's distribution scope.
• BEML Limited: Indian state-owned heavy equipment manufacturer covering mining, construction, railways, and defense. Overlaps with CMEL's material handling and heavy industrial equipment lines but at substantially larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Jungheinrich AG: German intralogistics and material handling equipment OEM. Comparable product overlap with CMEL's forklift, conveyor, and warehouse equipment offerings, but as a multinational manufacturer with proprietary IP.
• Toyota Material Handling: Global forklift OEM and material handling solutions provider. Directly competes with the Hangcha forklifts CMEL distributes but offers a much broader global product portfolio and dealer network.
• Hyster-Yale Materials Handling: US-listed global lift truck and material handling OEM. Comparable in core forklift/material handling product category to CMEL's distribution business, but at vastly larger global scale.
• Cargotec Corporation: Finnish global leader in cargo and load handling (Hiab, Kalmar, MacGregor). Operates broadly across material handling equipment categories that overlap with CMEL's forklift, crane, and conveyor portfolio, but as a multinational OEM rather than a regional distributor.

Others

• W.W. Grainger: US-based industrial equipment and MRO supplies distributor with global operations. Comparable distribution business model to CMEL but at vastly different scale, geography, and digital maturity, making it a thematic rather than direct peer.

Direct peers

• Action Construction Equipment (ACE): Indian manufacturer and supplier of cranes, material handling, and construction equipment. Directly comparable to CMEL's crane, scissor lift, and heavy-equipment offerings and similar customer verticals across South Asia.
• TIL Limited: Indian material handling and crane OEM/distributor serving ports, infrastructure, and heavy industry across South Asia. Highly comparable to CMEL in customer base (government, ports, large enterprises), product mix (cranes, material handling), and emerging-market distribution model.
• ElectroMech Materials Handling Solutions: Indian industrial material handling and crane solutions provider serving manufacturing, logistics, and infrastructure customers. Comparable to CMEL's hoist, crane, and conveyor offerings in similar emerging-market customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about colombo machinery & equipment (pvt)