Hailstone talks about the trends and the state of the market for the mining industry in an exclusive interview at IMME 2022.

How far is efficiency a critical factor in equipment procurement and its performance?

The most important factor when purchasing capital equipment is operational expenses (OPEX), not capital equipment, which we refer to as CapEx because capital equipment is only bought once. In contrast, operations last a lifetime, perhaps for 10 to 15 years, depending on how long the product is expected to last.

We always concentrate on product lifecycle management (PLM) because that’s where all the attention is paid to our design, features, and product advantages compared to our competitors and market demands. We concentrate more on operational costs, such as oil and fuel consumption, the cost of spare parts, and the kinds of operations we perform. For instance, if we state that a spare part lasts 400 hours, we ensure it lasts 400 hours. There are situations when we could run into a hard rock, unfavourable market circumstances, a product not being handled by a skilled individual, or someone needing to be more experienced to manage the equipment.

Suppose a product is not handled by someone skilled enough to manage the equipment or lacks the necessary expertise. There are rare instances where the product loses appeal with time. Proper training programmes are essential for the machine’s smooth functioning, but we ensure that the design has unique characteristics to cover operating expenses.

How do you see the adaptation of non-fossil fuel machines in the Indian market?

It has only reached biodiesel and bio engines; it has yet to get our type of equipment, but I don’t anticipate a lengthy wait given how quickly advances are taking place. Additionally, given that India is one of the biggest importers and there are fuel shortages, the situation with the dollar and rupee parities and India’s GDP are all influenced by the country’s imports. We must cut back on imports. We also need to consider biofuels and green fuels since they will develop, and we will undoubtedly use them.

What are your views on global supply chain trends? How is it impacting international market interests?

Today’s supply chain is similar to a friend buying from another friend, an enemy, or a pair of foes. So, the market is experiencing that type of circumstance right now. As a result, there will be several logistical and supply chain challenges due to the Arctic geopolitical scenario. The best part is that the products will be manufactured in India. We are a 25-year-old firm that is fully built for manufacturing, production, supply, and services in India. Given this, we will be capable of resolving any supply chain issues, and we already have a significant localisation advantage.

Digitalisation is impacting all kinds of businesses around the world. How is it transforming mining businesses?

The ease of doing business is what we are focusing on now. We are looking for how easily we can provide a solution to the customers because, in digitisation, we are looking for how easily and how simply they can monitor their productions, and that is how we are improving our technology.

The advantages of digitisation have been emphasised across industries to the point that most companies now use construction software to some extent. Integrating digital technologies is critical in digital transformation since it helps operations run more smoothly and efficiently.

What are the innovations we can expect from you shortly?

The advancements show that timing is our primary concern in mining. Mining is also a concern with the project schedule; we will only receive the output if you pitch at the appropriate moment. The most important thing would be to reduce the time it takes for installation and supply deliveries so they can take place even the next day.

Additionally, innovation is not just limited to quarrying; we also began using it on dams to enhance dam capacity and water quality. We always believe that by eliminating the trash and utilising it for sand and aggregates, we can reinforce the dam.