We ensure to deliver superior uptime in mining application.
Dinakar B, Senior Vice President Sales, Marketing and Aftermarket, Volvo Trucks India. Globally we have extensive innovative features and also working on the autonomous trucks for mining application. There is so much talk about disruptive technologies being introduced in
Dinakar B,
Senior Vice President – Sales, Marketing and Aftermarket,
Volvo Trucks India.
Globally we have extensive innovative features and also working on the autonomous trucks for mining application.
There is so much talk about disruptive technologies being introduced in every equipment verticals. What does the scenario look like in heavy duty truck segment?
We have introduced the first 8×4 concept tipper with air conditioned cabin in India way back in 1999 and today this 4 axle tipper has become a benchmark in the industry. We have been constantly providing the most innovative solutions and been consistently setting new benchmarks in terms of high performance delivering profitability for our customers. Our approach has been to deliver the lifetime profitability for our customers by offering technologically advanced solutions backed by strong Aftermarket services delivering superior value proposition for our customers.
I-shift for mining, the best in class automated transmission technology has been developed with most of the inputs from Indian mining operations. Today drivers love to drive I-shift trucks in the mines. Dynafleet, our telematics solution allows customers better maintenance; manage their fleet and also driver management efficiency.
Globally we have extensive innovative features and also working on the autonomous trucks for mining application. Testing is being done in an underground mine in Sweden.
Automatic traction control is yet another revolutionary feature that gives instant all-drive traction only when needed and thus improves manoeuvrability and fuel efficiency when it is not functional. Automatic traction control engages and disengages the front wheel drive automatically. Sensors on the rear wheels detect when the truck starts to lose traction, and all-wheel drive is instantly engaged. A dog clutch then transfers the power to the driven front axle, and the truck continues without dropping either torque or speed. The driven front axle remains activated until the driver releases the accelerator pedal.
Please elaborate us the changing trends in product support side.
We have pioneered our approach to provide customized support services to our customers that are considered to be benchmark in the industry today. We continue to innovate not just in products but also services. Our business model is quite unique as we provide after-market services directly from the company and we do not have many dealers doing this for us. This is what differentiates us from the rest.We have introduced the site support mechanism even at the remotest sites to ensure our trucks deliver higher productivity with maximum reliability and minimum downtime.
We have 200+ touch points that indicate the strong service network including remote mining sites thus ensuring we are closer to our customers operations.
We are the first to introduce container workshops in the mining sites to offer comprehensive service support at the customers door step. Tailored service contracts to ensure quality service and parts availability throughout truck lifecycle. Along with the genuine Volvo parts and lubricants, we even offer cost effective solutions which are next best option to genuine parts that offer similar functionality without compromising on quality through renovated parts.
What has been Volvo Trucks performance in the last couple of quarters (2017-18), compared to the same period in 2016-17. How do you expect to end this fiscal?
Coal scenario has not been favourable so far in this fiscal and coupled with the BS IV emission norms regulations kicking in towards fag end of previous fiscal has resulted in clearing of a large chunk of BS III trucks
across the industry in the month of March’17. Accordingly this has impacted the high performance
trucks industry so far this fiscal. TIV is lower by almost 30% as compared to same period last year. However, recent developments in terms of improving industrial output, surge in demand for coal as stocks at most of the thermal power plants falling to critically low levels will likely drive the demand for coal and we have a positive outlook for the next half of this fiscal.
Brief us on the range of mining trucks offered by Volvo Trucks for mining?
In tippers portfolio, currently we offer 8×4 tipper trucks and 10×4 dump trucks with body capacities ranging from 19.5 CU.M to 33 CU.M.
FMX 460 8×4 I-Shift: Volvo FMX tipper is exclusively designed and built for tough operating conditions in the mining and construction segments and is extremely robust, powerful and efficient. FMX 8X4 comes with 19.5 cu m, 22 cu m and 33 cu m load body for overburden and mineral applications. Depending on the moisture content of material to be transported, we offer rock body, box body and exhaust heated body variants.
FMX 10×4 dump truck: We have set new benchmarks through innovation in mining industry and 10×4 dump truck is a five axle dump-truck built on the robust FMX platform. Primarily these dump trucks offer the productivity in terms of a dumper while the efficiency and flexibility of a tipper in overburden transport application. We offerFMX 520 10×4 dump truck with 26.1 cu.m body and this is the largest capacity multi-axle tipper in India.
FMX 460 33 cu m tipper: Volvo FMX 460 with a 33 cu m on sturdy FMX platform and with a unique U-type body design enables light weight body and thereby providing enhanced payload for hauling coal (Washed / raw coal). We also offer customized product offerings depending on the application requirements and operating conditions like 45 cu m tip-trailer for mineral/coal transportation application. For coal haulage application through a dedicated haul corridor, we offer 148 cu m road-train solutions thus offering superior productivity with minimum number of truck fleet.
Tell us about the features in-built to bring down the operation cost?
We have introduced several innovative solutions and features focusing on enhancing our customer’s profitability through higher productivity, best-in-class fuel efficiency and customised Aftermarket support to deliver superior uptime even in remotest mining operations.
High performance engines:Volvo engines are engineered very meticulously like optimized combustion chamber, high gas-fill ratio and electronic controlled injection to deliver superior performance and power without compromising on the fuel efficiency. FMX 460 8×4 has 13 ltr engineproducing 460 hp at 1400-1900 rpm and generates 2300Nm of torque @ 1000 – 1400 rpm. This means our engines deliver peak torque at a wide rpm range and also peak torque meets the peak power that provides incredible acceleration and pleasurable ride comfort at speed. A wide economic speed range of 1000-1500 rpm helps to get the maximum fuel efficiency.
Engine management system: The Volvo EMS (Engine Management System), a wholly electronically controlled system which provides precise and efficient engine control. The engine control module takes in data from several sensors on the engine and the vehicle and adjusts fuel quantity, injection timing accordingly, throughout the engine’s operation. Volvo EMS is integrated with the truck’s electronic system and permits advanced communication with the driver via the information display.
I-shift: I-shift feature is another superior innovation from Volvo that ensures precise torque from the engine is available at wheels through electronic control unit even when the truck carries heavy loads. This means driver can focus on maneuvering the truck and the driving experience is extremely easier, safer and comfortable. As against the manual transmission technology, I shift offers fuel savings benefit up to 3%.
Dynafleet: Dynafleet is the intelligent fleet-management system which captures the data from the truck on a real time basis to follow the performance of trucks and generate user friendly reports to spot the trends and implement necessary changes in operations to achieve maximum fuel efficiency. Volvo Vehicle Management also provides the benefit of simple and accurate fault tracing, by connecting your truck to our computerised diagnostic system. This also means fast and correct repairs if the truck indicates a problem.
As a solution supplier what are the major challenges you face?
Mining industry with relevance to our presence in the mining transport solutions face several challenges in terms of drivers shortage, pressure on execution of projects with strict time lines, better control on overall fleet to enhance the utilisation and efficiency, rising fuel costs etc. In order to address these challenges, customers have been embracing new technology improvements in their operations.
Tell us about driver training initiatives.
We have established driver training centre even before we introduced our truck in 1998. Such is the importance we provide on enhancing the driver development to achieve the best out of the man-machine interface. So far we have trained over 60000 truck drivers in India. Equipped with the right training and tools, our aftermarket team has delivered some outstanding results
for customers, like ensuring 7000 hrs. of operations in a year and availability of >95% at the remotest of locations
in India.
What has been the impact of demonetisation and the roll our GST on the demand scenario for mining equipment?
From a broader perspective, demonetisation did not have a severe impact on the high performance trucks segment.Considering the customer profile, many of them are large fleet owners and most of the high performance trucks sales are loan financed, hence demonetisation did not have a major impact.
We are positive on the long term benefits of GST roll-out. Pertaining to niche segments, we have passed on the benefits post GST to our customers. In the post GST scenario, customers are able to avail the benefit of input tax credit. However the new tax regime will take some time to normalise and there could be some challenges pertaining to working capital. With the government’s commitment towards execution of the projects in the Infrastructure, mining and construction segments will drive the demand for mining trucks going forward.
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