Showcasing INNOVATION & COLLABORATION in India’s Mining Industry

IME 2023 Kolkata served as an ideal platform for showcasing new initiatives, machinery, products, and technologies, fostering joint ventures, and cultivating international and regional relationships.

The 10th edition of the prestigious biennial international exhibition, ‘IME 2023,’ centered on mining, equipment, minerals, and allied industries, took place from November 6th to 9th at Eco Park in Rajarhat, Kolkata, India. This event coincided with the 10th Asian Mining Congress, jointly organized by TAFCON and MGMI.

The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from mineral-rich Indian states, Public Sector Units (PSUs), large corporates, and small to medium-sized organizations.

The exhibition saw high-level trade delegations and country group participation from various nations, including Australia, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Russia, the UK, and the US. Additionally, leading mining equipment and machinery manufacturers from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe contributed significantly to the event’s success. Notably, it also featured active involvement from minerals-rich Indian states, PSUs, large corporates, and small to medium-sized organizations.

Concurrently, the 10th Asian Mining Congress, hosted by The Mining, Geological & Metallurgical Institute of India (MGMI), spanned three days and attracted speakers and delegates from over 20 countries. The Congress facilitated meaningful interactions between attendees and exhibitors, enabling debates, discussions, and knowledge exchange on pivotal mining and allied sector issues. With the participation of more than 600 delegates from across the globe, it proved to be an invaluable international gathering.

Moreover, the exhibition hosted a concurrent buyer-seller meet, featuring presentations from major industry players. Interactive sessions were organized, connecting coal and allied sector companies, technology and equipment suppliers, and service providers. This buyer-seller meet, a recurring highlight across previous editions, added substantial value to the event. Notably, key players in India’s coal and other mineral sectors presented their insights and innovations during this informative session.

Leaders Speak…

Amrit Lal Meena, IAS, Secretary – Ministry of Coal, said, “In 2020, the Honorable Prime Minister launched the commercial coal block auction, marking a shift from the previous end-use specific allocations. Since then, 91 coal blocks have been auctioned for commercial purposes, allowing flexibility in the usage of the extracted coal. Unlike before, where the coal mined was tied to specific purposes like power generation or skill development, the commercial approach permits mine owners to sell coal anywhere. Contrary to suggestions of mines being returned, the reality stands quite different. Out of a total of 152 mines, including those auctioned commercially and those allocated for captive purposes, 51 mines are currently operational. Additionally, around 60 captive mines are in various stages of development. This translates to 51 mines contributing to production last year, yielding a total of 116 million tonnes of coal, approximately 14% of the country’s total production. Looking ahead, this year is poised for further progress. With the existing operational mines and the anticipated commencement of 7-8 new mines, the production is projected to reach 162 million tonnes, roughly 15% of the country’s total output. It’s noteworthy that none of the holders of commercial or captive mines are returning them. The process to operationalize these mines takes around 51 months due to the various necessary clearances. The Ministry of Coal, in collaboration with state governments and the Ministry of Environment and Forest, is actively facilitating these clearances for all mine auction holders, effectively expediting this process.”

Shantanu Roy, Chairman & Managing Director, BEML, said, “Our primary focus revolves around enhancing our mining equipment capabilities. A significant shift towards sustainability drives our second initiative, transitioning from diesel-powered to electric-powered operations. The third priority entails addressing the non-coal sector. Diversification marks our fourth key area. This year, our emphasis on the underground mining sector has gained considerable traction. It’s noteworthy that among Indian PSUs, we stand alone in manufacturing HEML for open-cast mine overburdens. Our aspiration is to become the premier or sole PSU dedicated to manufacturing underground mining equipment, a segment presently overlooked by Indian PSUs. We aim to escalate our focus on underground mining, targeting a growth from the current 25 million tons to 100 million tons over the next seven years, requiring approximately 19 high wall miners. Furthermore, while open-cast mining equipment has its limitations in terms of depth, the future of mining lies in continuous miners for deeper mine exploitation. Developed nations have adopted underground mining extensively due to its benefits: no land acquisition, no displacement, and minimal environmental impact. This aligns with our commitment to sustainability and positions underground mining as the future of the industry, addressing various environmental concerns. Our strategic objectives are threefold: to fortify our existing product portfolio, to organically diversify, and to expand into new areas.”

BKR Prasad, General Manager – Marketing, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Company, said, “The focus of the IME revolves entirely around mining equipment. Historically, the exhibition used to be relatively small, but over the last 2-3 editions, it has experienced substantial growth. It’s now become a magnet for stakeholders, drawing in equipment manufacturers, vendors, and suppliers.

In recent editions, it has significantly expanded both in size and influence. This time around, our decision to participate was driven by the introduction of our new model, the ZAXIS 490H ULTRA. The main motive was to strategically leverage the platform, as it directly caters to all stakeholders, including Coal India, its subsidiaries, and the mining contractors they engage with.  The successful launch affirmed the trust our customers place in us, resulting in the delivery of three machines yesterday. Among the showcased models, the ZAXIS 670H stands out—a product introduced last August that has gained considerable traction in the market. Another highlight is the 5-tonne wheel loader ZW 225, launched last year, specifically designed for mining job sites and coal handling, addressing a significant demand in the industry. Alongside these machines, our displayed attachments are tailored to meet specific mining requirements, featuring the vibo ripper, drum cutter, and rock breaker, all compatible and curated for mining purposes. This comprehensive line-up embodies Tata Hitachi’s commitment to the mining sector.”

Helen Gibson, General Manager, Underground Soft Rock, India, Komatsu, said, “We proudly introduced the first continuous miner package to India back in 2002. However, we’re not resting on past achievements; instead, we’re leading a technology transformation in underground coal to elevate our customers’ performance to new heights. Yet, the current performance expectations in India seem a bit subdued and our customers are more than capable of achieving tonnages that match up to global benchmarks.”

Anup Nair, Managing Director, Martin Engineering, said, “India has now become the fifth largest economy in the world and is poised to grow to become the third largest economy soon. So infrastructure development in India is important and that depends on a strong and steady supply of essential raw materials like steel and cement. Now, as far as companies like Martin Engineering are concerned, our innovative products and solutions support the efficient and safe production of steel and cement. So, we see a very good growth potential in the next few years in India.”

Kevin Hambrice, Chief Executive Officer, TerraSource Global, said, “Our standout this year revolves around our crushing equipment. The recent acquisition of the Elgin Business alongside the TerraSource team, coupled with the merger of their product technologies, positions us to introduce and establish those esteemed legacy products and brands within the Indian market. Building upon our longstanding success in India with our established base business, we now have the opportunity to leverage this momentum and introduce the crushers’ product lines catering to the aggregate and minerals in the mining industry. This represents a significant thrust for us at this juncture.”

Michael Rai Anderson, PE, President – O&G/ Industrial Products, Elgin Separation Solutions, said, “We have a deep appreciation for the significance of coal—whether thermal or other types—and our recent conversations have revolved around its importance. Our extensive global experience in this field positions us as knowledgeable partners in the responsible processing of this crucial mineral. The timing seems opportune, supported not just by our perspective but also echoed by feedback from numerous customers and partners who believe this is an advantageous moment for our involvement. This validation energizes us. However, our focus isn’t singularly on coal. Recognizing India’s wealth of natural resources, we aspire to contribute to the processing of various minerals—be it sand, phosphate silica, or coal. Our intent is to integrate ourselves into this landscape. Leveraging our manufacturing base in Baroda, we foresee significant expansion. TerraSource and Elgin are already esteemed brands in India, and our established presence, coupled with enhanced capabilities, allows us to broaden our impact and involvement in mineral processing.”

Prasanta Ganguly, Head – OTR Marketing (Domestic Sales), Balkrishna Industries (BKT), said, “As a mining exhibition, our focus revolves around the mining industry, particularly specializing in a diverse range of mining tires. We’re eager to engage in this platform to spotlight our newest product line. One standout feature is the 40.00R57 E4 BKT EARTHMAX SR468 TL tire prominently displayed outside, representing our latest addition. This event serves as a crucial opportunity for us to delve deeper into these innovations, which is why our team is fully committed to participating and sharing our advancements with you. The distinctiveness lies in the fact that these tires aren’t your typical ones. They’re specifically designed for colossal 240 and 190-ton Rigid Dump Trucks used in rigorous mining operations. The conditions they endure—long haul routes, soaring temperatures, and immense loads—create an incredibly challenging environment. Crafting these tires demands a wealth of technological innovation. Each mine presents unique circumstances; there’s no universal terrain, situation, or operation in mining. It’s a highly site-specific scenario. Our process involves exhaustive technological analysis and meticulous study of each individual mine to cater to these specific needs.”

Apurba Chakraborty, GM, Head Domestic Channel Business, Groz Engineering Tools, said, “Our latest product VGP-Q marks a significant shift in perspective, focusing on optimizing the overall cost of owning a product. It’s not just about the initial purchase cost; it’s about understanding the comprehensive expenses associated with ownership. Consider this: how frequently do you charge your phone? Beyond the visible price tag, there’s an intangible cost—electricity. In a similar vein, our product, named VGP, embodies both a branded and generic identity, much like how ‘Fridge’ is synonymous with ‘Refrigerator’ or ‘Dalda’ is associated with vegetable oil. In the realm of lubrication equipment, VGP stands as a unique hybrid—a term that bridges Groz’s brand and a standard 6kg lubrication bucket. Let’s delve into the cost dynamics. Traditionally, using a bucket requires a two-person operation: one to manually pump and another to hold the hose for greasing. However, with introduction of VGP-Q we’ve revolutionized this process by introducing a quick-use coupler a universal fitting compatible with various greasing points across equipment. By integrating this coupler into our product and launching it in the market, we’ve transformed the scenario. Now, a single operator can effortlessly pump and grease the equipment.”

Ankush Sengupta, Director, Hella Infratech, said, “During IME 2023, our primary goal was to establish meaningful connections with industry stakeholders and gain firsthand insights into their evolving needs within the mining sector. we strategically participated in this event to capitalize on the growing interest in drone technology and its potential applications. One of our key achievements during IME 2023 was successfully fostering relationships with key players in the industry. Through networking opportunities and engaging discussions, we established connections that not only strengthened our existing partnerships but also opened doors to potential collaborations. This was instrumental in expanding HELLA network and enhancing our understanding of the industry landscape.”

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