Besides coal, iron-ore mining is gaining momentum which will trigger an increase in requirement for mining tires.

– Prasanta Ganguly

Head – OTR Marketing (Domestic Sales), Balkrishna Industries (BKT)

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

In India, the coal mining segment has been growing steadily to meet power plant consumption, which is expected to annex 130 million tons by end of 2024. Coal India, the largest coal mining company globally, has been focusing on larger mining equipment for mining machinery to enhance the production of coal. The Singareni Collieries Company Limited, on the other hand, is the second-largest coal company in India has been working steadily to meet its target production. Govt.’s decision to bring the private sector into the coal mining segment will give further rise in the mining activities.

Besides coal, iron-ore mining is gaining momentum which will trigger an increase in requirement for mining tires and we see exponential growth in mining tires for surface mining in the next 2 years. As regards underground mining tires, Hindustan Zinc – the largest zinc mining in the world, has been increasing its production and will contribute significantly to demand for underground mining tires.

In both, surface & underground mining segments, Giant earthmover machines like Rigid dump trucks fitting ultra-large earthmover sizes operate on very severe conditions like abrasive underfoot and temperature cross 48-degreecentigrade. BKT is all set to meet such requirements by constant up-gradation & innovation, supported by our world-class R&D center at Bhuj. We currently manufacture a range of over 3,200 SKUs, for our customers which are unique in the Off-Highway Tire segments.

What do you think are the demand drivers for mining equipment tires, and how geared up are you to meet this demand surge?

According to International Energy Agency (IEA), India’s growing appetite for coal was set to annex 130 million tons between 2021 and 2024 to meet the future electricity demand which will cross 7.7. billion units at a growth of 12.9% year on year basis. In connection to this, the mining sector in India – both coal and metal are expected to grow steadily, which will require customized mining tire and supporting these with the best services.

While there has been technological advancement to introduce large electric dumpers by some of the leading equipment manufacturers; in fact, some are under trial in different coal mines. The concomitant of this, the mining sector will require the latest equipment especially, the revolutionary all-steel radial tires. Worldwide, there has been a paradigm shift to radial tires, however, India has been late adoption of these technologically advanced tires. On the other hand, BKT has been championing the ‘All-Steel radial tire’. For example, the EARTHMAX tires are manufactured at the BKT plant in Bhuj, India. It is designed to equip rigid dump trucks operating in the most challenging conditions.

BKT is continuously working towards developing new solutions in this segment to meet all the needs and requirements of professionals in industries including mining, which has led to several breakthrough technologies about this segment. At BKT, we even augment our tire as per customers’ requirements.

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

BKT is an agile company dedicated to diversification and product development. We are constantly transforming the OTR industry and upping its benchmark. We use state-of-the-art technology to produce strong and trailblazing tires. We are augmenting our R&D facilities to ensure the most futuristic technology and support rapid expansion.

BKT’s radial tires combine the best of modernization and automation, offering superior technology to transform the mining sectors, and we are committed to ground-breaking steel radial tires.

BKT recently undertook an estimated capacity expansion of Rs 450 crore, which will focus on technological up-gradation of existing equipment and installation of automated material-handling systems. We combine the best of modernization, technology, automation, and use superior quality raw materials. Our brown field tire project, set to be complete in FY 2023 at Bhuj, will lead to an increase in our tire-production capacity by 50,000 MTPA to meet the growing market demand. With the cost of capacity expansion being approximately 800 crores, the venture is bound to further enhance our best-in-class offerings.

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

All steel ultra-large earthmover tires, weigh between 800 Metric Ton to 4 Metric Ton and with a price range of 3.5 lakhs to 22 lakhs, have a complex structural design, to meet the most severe and rugged mining operation. Such high-value tires simply can’t operate unless supported by a solid service backup. Service back-up of these category tires, which include proper fitment on the wheel, tire pressure maintenance, and temperature management on regularly repairing minor cuts at a very fast pace to reduce downtime of the vehicles. A high technology tire performance thus depends solely on solid service backup.

A transport machine operates at a high temperature, at times over-loading, or working in rough terrain conditions these are some of the cumbersome parameters that are common in an Indian mining environment. Hence the service package is good maintenance practice for which BKT is fully prepared. BKT already engaging with these service practices at various coal mining tires are used.

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

The mining industry faced production issues owing to Covid-19 in the past two years. However, by mid-2021, most mining companies are putting in their best to boost production to service the expected demand boom in the mining tire segment between 2022 and 2025.

Overall, there are many challenges like logistic support, high input cost, shortage of labor, and volatile raw-material prices that affected the industry. However, with great efforts by the team, BKT could over come this situation and have been successfully keeping our production in line to meet customer requirements during the pandemic. Irrespective of the challenges, BKT has been constantly maintaining its quality standards. As a result of the same, we were able to record our highest sales volumes in FY 21. Today, BKT is the only company to introduce revolutionary all-steel radial tires, with the most advanced technology to meet the future requirement of the Indian mining segment.

Quality regulation tests are well in place in many parts of Europe and North America. Their safety testing laws are very firmly established and widespread, whereas India is still evolving in terms of the legal framework and outreach of the testing facilities. Ride and handling, fuel efficiency, and other tests are not upgraded in several parts of the world, but have been implemented in India in recent times.

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