“BEML with its well-established manufacturing & R&D infrastructure, and skilled manpower is fully geared up to support and meet the present and future needs of the Mining Industry.”

BEML has a vibrant R&D in-house set up with NABL accredited testing laboratories to develop, acquire, and integrate the latest technologies in its equipment and has been continuously improving and incorporating the latest technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) features in its range. In an exclusive interview with EQUIPMENT TIMES Dr. Deepak Kumar Hota, Chairman & Managing Director, BEML Limited shares his views the technology trends, growth prospects, and challenges in the Mining Sector.

How do you assess growth prospects of the mining sector, especially with the move of the government allowing commercial mining?

The mining sector is inexorably linked to the overall development of infrastructure in the country. Projected growth in Manufacturing; specifically Steel & Metal Industry, Thermal Power Projects, Cement, Road Projects, Railways, Dams & Canals, Airport Projects, Housing Sector etc, have a direct impact and result in growth prospects for mining equipment.

The initiatives of Government of India in coal and power sectors will certainly boost the mining sector and in turn lift the mining equipment market in India. The need for power is ever increasing and with thermal power still being a major source of energy; coal mining will continue to grow. Further, Coal India Limited the major producer of coal in India plans to achieve 1 billion Tonnes of coal target by 2023-24.To increase production and in turn reduce the import of coal; Government of India has planned for auction of coal mines. This may lead to reduction in coal production costs, as the private sector will also step in.

And what do you think the potential for high capacity equipment such as dump trucks, shovel and wheel loaders etc?

To boost for coal production in India; coal companies are planning for higher yield opencast mining projects; which obviously requires deployment of higher capacity mining equipment with latest technology. Further, mines are getting deeper and for economical operations high capacity mining equipment are essential. Hence, there would be a surge in requirement of high capacity mining equipment such as dump trucks, shovels, wheel loaders, etc.

In line with the ‘Make in India’ policy of Government of India and ‘AtmaNirbharta’ drive towards our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s emphasis on self-reliance; BEML has been
focusing on indigenous development and manufacture other higher capacity mining equipment in order to reduce the imports of mining equipment into the country.

Could you please also brief about the latest offering from your stable?  What are the unique features of those products?

BEML has indigenously developed and manufactured latest technology high capacity mining equipment such as BH150E Electric Dump Trucks with payload of 136 MT and BH205E Electric Dump Trucks with payload of 186 MT. Both the electric Dump Truck are fitted with AC drive technology for trouble free and long-life operations.

These equipments have been supplied to M/s. Coal India Limited against a trial order and have successfully met the stringent evaluation parameters. Further orders have been received for BH150E Dump Truck (07 Nos.) and BH205E Dump Truck(08 Nos.) and BEML is in the process of executing the orders.

BEML also developed BE1800E,a 180 Ton class Electric Hydraulic Excavator, that has been supplied to M/s. Singareni Collieries Company Limited and the equipment has completed five years of operations and clocked more than 20000 hours. BE1800E Electric Hydraulic Excavator has won ‘Raksha Mantri’s Award for Excellence’ 2014-15 for ‘Design Efforts’. Based on the performance of the first equipment, BEML received regular purchase order for five BE1800E Electric Hydraulic Excavators from M/s. Coal India Limited. BE1800E Electric Hydraulic Excavator is powered by an Electric Motor and hence the equipment is environment friendly and cost effective, while not compromising on productivity.

BEML has received order from M/s.CIL for the other newly developed products such as BD475 Bulldozer and BE1800D Hydraulic Excavator. The BE1800D Hydraulic Excavator is powered by Diesel Engine, hence the equipment has easy mobility. Design and development of new products such as 240 T dumper & 21 cu.m Rope shovel are under progress.

Apart from the above, BEML has been continuously improving and incorporating latest technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) features in its equipments. Some features that have been developed are; Sleep/Fatigue operator alert system on Dump Trucks, Predictive Maintenance of Mining equipment through Data Analytics and Telematics enabled system, AI Based 360 degree surrounding view monitoring system, AI based automation water sprinkling system and AI based Mobile health and diagnostic system.

As an equipment supplier, what are the technology trends being witnessed in the mining sector?

BEML has a vibrant R&D in house set up with NABL accredited testing laboratories to develop, acquire and integrate latest technologies in its equipment. Some of the prominent technological trends witnessed in the mining equipment are: Tier-IV / CEV Stage IV compliance engines, Fuel efficient, Closed Centre Load Sensing System (CLSS) Hydraulic system, Hydrostatic drive Transmission for Dozer and Wheel loader, Battery operated electrical excavator for urban operation, Hybrid (Diesel-Electric) Dozers and Wheel loaders for urban operation, AC drive system for Dump truck, shovel, and dragline, GNSS/GPS based Telematics for monitoring equipment health and tracking & Remote/Autonomous operation of machines.

With high capacity equipment replacing labour force and resistance from trade unions to adapt to these technologies and high-end equipment, tell us about the issues being faced & solutions offered to cater to this situation.

The emphasis on ‘Make in India’ by the Government with major policy initiatives and major customer like M/s Coal India Limited providing opportunities to local suppliers/local equipment manufacturers in expansion of projects to meet production demand and also for import substitution, augers well.  With these positive developments, more employment opportunities are being generated in mining, mining equipment manufacturing segment and other mining related industries.

How do you assess the future growth trends and how geared up is BEML to meet the challenges in the post Covid scenario?

Government of India’s strategy to increase coal production, steel production and undertake infrastructure development with a goal to take Indian Economy to US$ 5 trillion by 2024-25; we expect that there will be continuous growth for latest technology mining equipment post Covid-19 pandemic.

BEML with its well-established manufacturing &R&D infrastructure, and skilled manpower, is fully geared up to support and meet the present and future needs of the Mining Industry. Further, BEML is also planning to enter into technology partnerships with other global players to develop and bring latest technology equipment to India.

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