At Voltas, we use smart engineering to ensure smart and timely maintenance.

– Sharad Thussu

Head- Mining & Construction Equipment Division, Voltas

Mining is one of the key sectors which contributes immensely for infrastructure and helps develop economies. What do you think is the current market for mining equipment in India? 

The mining equipment market will be stable this year, with buying primarily from Coal India Ltd , as lasy couple of years have seen a lot of  capex infusion.. While mining machinery as an industry is quite advanced, the industry needs qualified and trained personnel to operate these machines. Companies that are skilled at operating machinery will have a tremendous advantage in such a circumstance. We see a lot of promise for ourselves in this area. We anticipate PSUs transferring their machines’ operations to companies like ours, where we handle everything from maintenance to operations. All PSUs, such as Coal India, NTPC, SAIL, and NMDC, are expected to enhance production, which will support the mining industry’s buying sentiment.

Which equipment do you think are the demand drivers in the mining sector and how geared up are you to meet this demand surge?

At Voltas MCED Mining Machinery Solutions, we provide a global distribution platform for a diverse range of auxiliary items for Earth Moving Mining Machineries from our Indian and international partners. This allows us to address our customers’ maintenance demands in a cost-effective and timely manner. We have created a proven track record in providing a one-stop solution for any OE / OPM components suitable to Earth Moving Mining Machineries over time. We provide Voltas branded solutions as well as products and solutions from well-known global competitors in our auxiliary product industry.Under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, Voltas also supplies excellent products from MSMEs. Some of the products that we think will drive demand are:

• VOLCAB Earth Moving Machinery Air Conditioner Customers can rely on VOLTAS Industrial Air conditioners on Earth Moving Machinery which can effectively maintain their expensive equipment’s from breaking down. With these air conditioners, our customers can cut down on expensive call backs for repairs and service on warranty. VOLTAS Industrial Air conditioners are engineered and designed for extreme ambient temperatures and altitudes. These items are so rugged that they can operate seamlessly on Sand and dusty operating conditions With a VOLTAS, Industrial Air conditioner installed on a HEMM, the fleet or mine owner can afford to have a better Return on Investment (ROI).
• Mine Safety Products – Voltas also offers a variety of safety products for mining equipment, including proximity devices, 360-degree rearview cameras, operator fatigue monitoring systems, seat belt reminders, and more.
• Wheel Wash – Voltas has teamed up with Wheel Wash to bring you eco-friendly wheel cleaning systems that include recycling and effective wastewater treatment options. These have been developed to save the consumer money on energy, water, and operational costs.
• Mesabi Heat Exchangers L&M Industrial, a global manufacturer and supplier of Mesabi precision-engineered OEM cooling and heat transfer solutions since 1957. Radiators, oil coolers, charge air coolers, gasoline coolers, tube & shell transmission and brake coolers, and other Mesabi products are used on Off Highway Dumpers, Excavators, Dozers, and other machines.

Technologies are changing mining industry’s future. What are the latest technological trends in your range of mining equipment? 

The latest technology advances in mining predict a strong industry move towards sustainability in the next few years. Digital technology is working harder than ever to create a fully modern, safe, and productive mine that meets the growing demand for mined resources. Because the mining sector is continually evolving, machine learning and artificial intelligence are having an impact on how mines today make future decisions. Finally, in insight-driven companies, artificial intelligence (AI) now drives decision-making, utilising smart data and machine learning to improve operational efficiency, mine safety, and production process

A series of technical changes are underway to help the mining and construction industries grow. The most basic is the use of drones for many purposes, which saves time. The mining and construction industries are undergoing an exciting transformation as geographical data becomes more comprehensive and clear than ever before. Drones, also known as unmanned aerial systems (UAS), have made strides in the mining business in recent years, producing the same results as a helicopter at a cheaper cost. Drones help the industry by delivering services such as safety and surveillance in hazardous locations, asset management, time-lapse photography, and stockpile inventory measurement when assigned to conduct operational tasks.

Geographic information systems (GIS) are also an important tool for understanding how geographic interplays affect the world around us. Mineral exploration, geochemical and hydrology data, sustainability and regulatory compliance, as well as report preparation, are all aided by GIS. Telematics integration in Powerscreen Crushing and Screening Plants is the most recent advancement in the equipment industry, and it has made site operations substantially easier. It benefits the machine by improving Engine life cycle management, allowing fuel consumption monitoring from office rooms, and assisting in cost-cutting initiatives, all of which serve to improve site operations.

What are the key maintenance practices to be followed for the upkeep of mining equipment?

At Voltas, we use smart engineering to ensure smart and timely maintenance. We try to create cutting-edge products and services that make life easier. We are constantly looking for ways to add value to our end-products in our quest to provide a better tomorrow. We offer maintenance services for all types of mining fleet, including rear and bottom dump trucks, wheel loaders, hydraulic excavators, and electric power shovels of any manufacture, to help our customers’ mining and construction activities run more smoothly.

What are the challenges as a major player you face and what are your suggestions to iron out these challenges in the mining equipment space?

The time it takes to finalise a contract, the sector’s uncertainty-and delays in project execution due to numerous approvals are just a few of the primary challenges we face while operating in overseas markets. However, we engage with local governments to overcome these challenges, and our International Operations Business Group is growing as a result of our North African and Middle Eastern projects.

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