How has been the equipment and machinery sector’s growth post the pandemic?
Overcoming the impact due to the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, the mining and construction equipment industry has risen to the challenge and found innovative ways to sustain in the business. The years 2020 and 2021 have been exceptional years and the pandemic has affected projects worldwide. In 2022, we look forward to the growing infrastructure and mining projects getting kick started giving us continued opportunities to match the demands.
Mining companies in India continued to be resilient and perform their operations, also lending a hand to government efforts in addressing the health pandemic in their regions of operations and the growth is further continuing post pandemic.
With regards to construction equipment, the government’s ‘Vision Plan 2030’ with a proposed action plan to become a manufacturing and export hub for construction equipment and propel the development of world-class infrastructure in the country the demand for construction equipment is expected to grow exponentially.
As far as BEML is concerned, we had achieved the turnover of more than INR 4,000 crore during the last fiscal year, during the post pandemic period.
What is your take on the recent developments coming into the road sector contributing to the pace of construction?
India is going to be a growth driver for the world in the coming decades, and much of this growth will come from infrastructure development in the country. During the next 25 years major developments are expected in roads, airports, railroads, waterways, ports, mass transportation and logistics infrastructure. Hence, the demand for construction equipment is strong and uniform across all regions of the country. BEML is in the process of developing products with advanced technology on par with the global standards to meet this demand.
What has been BEML’s contribution in aiding the pace of road construction? Which of your latest products have been real revolutions?
BEML manufactures the following range of products to cater road construction activity i.e., motor graders of 145 HP, excavators 7T and 20T, dozers 150HP to 180HP and backhoe loader of 1 CuM bucket capacity. BEML has developed BD50HST bulldozers (100 HP class) with hydrostatic drive transmission and with modular design which can be easily transported by means of helicopters. This equipment has greater applicability in hilly and tough terrain where road connectivity is not there.
All the above products developed by BEML for catering to the construction segment are incorporated with advanced technology to improve the productivity and reliability.
Being the leader in the equipment domain, what various challenges/hindrances are faced by you in roads and highways construction in the country?
Well there are quite a few challenges faced by the equipment manufacturers, out of which the prominent ones include input cost inflation, supply chain disruptions, continuing changes in emission norms and standards, demanding technological advancements at par with global competitors, innovative financing support from banks to the customers or the contractors, growing rental business in construction equipment segment, competition from low-cost Chinese players, dumping price strategy adopted by foreign players, and purchase of second hand machines.
According to you what policy modifications or new strategies should be plannedto bridge the gaps of infrastructure growth?
The National Infrastructure Pipeline offers a huge opportunity for creating world class infrastructure in the country. However, implementation of planned infrastructure projects in a timebound manner is critical for creating a sustained demand for construction equipment (CE). However, further support from our government will help to boost the local CE manufacturers and related industries.
There is a push required by the government to ensure the time gap between conceptualisation and implementation of infrastructure projects is reduced and the pace of projectisation has a continual rhythm to help achieve the infrastructure development targets of the government. Further, access to low-cost finance for buyers of construction equipment needs to be improved by providing the priority sector status to the CE industry at par with the infrastructure sector.
Also there is a need to encourage purchases through domestic tenders only and restrict imports. And finally, sufficient time needs to be given to the domestic manufacturers for development of new technologies locally and its subsequent implementation that will reduce the imports and cost.
How does the future of Indian road construction augur? What newness should we anticipate from BEML in the coming years?
BEML with its dedicated R&D are regularly designing and developing various latest technology mining and construction equipment as per requirement of customers, which are suitable for local mining condition and application. Further, BEML is regularly upgrading its equipment by incorporating latest technological features, latest emission norms compliant engines and safety features on the mining and construction equipment for optimum reliability and productivity.
The construction equipment presently manufactured by BEML are Crawler Dozers (Engine Power: 90 HP to 230 HP), Hydraulic Excavators (Operating Mass: 7T to 30T), Backhoe Loaders (FE Loader: 1 CuM and Backhoe Excavator: 0.24 CuM) Wheel Loaders (Pay load: 3 T and 5 T, Bucket Capacity: 1.7 CuM and 3 CuM), and Motor Graders (Blade Length: 10 feet, 12 feet).
Keeping in view of the demand market, BEML has invested its efforts in bringing the advanced technologies on its equipment in order to improve the productivity and safety. We make use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and autonomous technologies.
Some of the AI technologies introduced by BEML in its equipment are sleep/fatigued operator alert system on dump trucks, predictive maintenance of mining equipment through data analytics and telematics-enabled systems, AI-powered mobile health and diagnostic station, design and development of AI-based 3600 surrounding view monitoring system, AI-based automation of water sprinkling system, and AI-based lighting system (head lamps / fog lamps) on HEMM.
Further to above, BEML is also working towards introducing electric and hybrid products to the mining market.
