By IANS
Mysore : State-run Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) will manufacture high capacity electric dumpers in 150-360 tonnes range for the mining sector in technical collaboration with the US-based Terex Corporation, a company official said here Tuesday.
“The opening up of the mining sector and entry of multinationals in the mining and construction industry has fuelled demand for heavy-duty rear-dump trucks in the range of 150, 240 and 360 tonnes and above,” BEML executive director Subrat Kumar Das told reporters here.
“With Terex know-how, we will manufacture high capacity dumpers for state-run enterprises such as Coal India Ltd (CIL) and other private firms at truck and engine divisions here,” he said.
The $7-billion Terex is the world’s third largest mining and construction equipment manufacturer after Caterpillar of the US and Komatsu of Japan. It makes a range of products for surface mining, quarrying, refining, shipping and transportation industries.
The BEML will also manufacture critical components for the heavy-duty dumpers after technology transfer from Terex.
As preferred supplier to heavy users of its equipment to CIL and other customers, the firm will leverage its expertise in manufacturing a whole range of high-end mining and construction equipment for public and private sector firms.
“The spurt in construction and mining activities across the country over the last decade has made even small and medium operators to make use of bigger dumpers with a host of features for higher productivity and operational efficiency,” Das noted.
In the last fiscal, the BEML received enquires for 22 high capacity machines from CIL for captive use. Once orders materialise, the company plans to roll out rear-back dumpers from the third quarter of this fiscal (2008-09).
“As the main facility for manufacturing trucks, dumpers, loaders and excavators, we have been specialising in rolling out a range of vehicles for private as well as defence sectors. Tie-ups with global majors such as Terex and Bucyrus International, also of the US, for mining shovels will enable to compete for a share of the growing pie in the sector,” Das said.
BEML’s Mysore complex will also manufacture higher capacity aircraft towing tractors (ATT) for defence and civilian use and aircraft weapon loading equipment for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
“We are planning to increase the ATT capacity to 22 tonnes from 12 tonnes for handling heavier fighter aircraft in the defence sector and civilian aircraft used for passenger and cargo operations,” Das averred.
Opening up of the civil aviation sector and entry of private players in the construction of greenfield airports and modernisation of existing airports across the country will create a huge demand for ATT in the coming years.
“Similarly, IAF modernisation programme leading to the induction of Sukhois and Hawks (advance jet trainer) has led to greater demand for our towing tractors,” Das added.
Designed by the CABS (Centre for Airborne Systems), the aircraft weapon loader (AWL) is capable of loading a variety of bombs and warheads, including nuclear, on the wings and belly of different type of fighter aircraft.
Interestingly, the company’s AWLs are powered by a Maruti Omni engine coupled to a hydro-power transmission. The loaders are capable of carrying about 1,000 kg payloads of the IAF.