Leading mining equipment manufacturers and technology experts provide their perspectives on increasing equipment efficiency, minimising machine downtime, and lowering O&M expenses. They delve deeper into the prospects of battery- and electric-powered mining equipment.

The mining equipment industry in India is on a high-growth trajectory, given the unprecedented demand for extracting metals and minerals from the ground. Thanks to rising environmental consciousness, technology has emerged as the key differentiator among mining equipment makers.

India’s metals and mining sector is expected to witness a major reform in the next few years, owing to reforms such as the “Make in India” campaign, smart cities, rural electrification, a focus on building renewable energy projects under the national electricity policy, and a rise in infrastructure development.

Adding capacities to mining equipment

The mining sector is one of the critical sectors in the Indian economy. It contributes about 2.5 percent of India’s GDP and employs over 7 lakh people directly and indirectly. The mining sector is undergoing a qualitative change, with more automation and continuous systems being introduced to meet the rising demand for minerals.

Considering the positive trends, Dheeraj Panda, COO of Sany Bharat, says, “We are faring well in meeting market demand, and our R&D team is working hard to bring in technologically superior products. At Sany, it is not just about expanding our manufacturing capacity; the focus is to stay true to our belief that quality changes the world.”

Detailing this further, Dimitrov Krishnan, Managing Director at Volvo CE India, says, “The emphasis is also on building machines that are more productive and less harmful to the environment.” Machine learning, IoT, and AI are new buzzwords powering the mining equipment market.

Procurement challenges

As the mining industry continues to emerge from a downturn, procurement and supply remain critical components of mining businesses’ ability to succeed and stay profitable. Looking at this trend surge, Tarique Salman, Segment Manager, Surface Excavation Machine, Vermeer India, highlights that lack of visibility in supply chains is one of the major procurement challenges. Visibility across the supply chain is essential for meeting regulatory requirements and mitigating risk.

Salman further believes that using software to trace solutions provides visibility over the entire supply chain. Supply chain management can be easily updated in real-time. Workflows are added automatically for urgent reorders and contingencies for critical shortages.

On the other hand, Adil Khan, Sales Manager of Shakti Mining Equipment Pvt. Ltd., explains how supply risk and budget allocation for purchasing and procuring equipment have been difficult for this industry. Procurement professionals usually have various vendors with a short lead time to address these issues. In addition, the projection for the quarters assists them in developing appropriate tactics. “Procurement managers and experts are now concerned about budget, which has led them to find more economical solutions such as acquiring minimum capacity equipment or sub-lending the projects to local vendors to avoid the risk of allocation in the mining industry,” he adds.

Innovating equipment to improve on-site mining operations
“A tendency in mining technology has also been toward addressing climate change concerns, and as a result, we are searching for solutions to reduce carbon footprints,” articulates Salman. Therefore, using more energy-efficient equipment and reducing fuel consumption are attempts in the right direction towards achieving reduced carbon footprints. Vermeer Terrain Leveler® Surface Excavation Machines are designed to deliver more power per kW, thus more fuel efficient.

Elucidating on the innovations in improving equipment efficiency, Indranil Roy, Director of Mining Business at ThyssenKrupp Industries India Pvt. Ltd., explains, “Almost all large mines are now adopting conversation and automatic waggon loading systems, which will increase mining throughput significantly.” Many mines have also introduced in-pit crushing systems using semi-mobile crushing plants. This is helping the mining industry increase production, lower costs, and reduce its carbon footprint.

Besides productivity and fuel efficiency, machine reliability is the key to successful mining operations, believes Krishnan. Volvo CE offers comprehensive solutions to ensure high uptimes, long life and consistent performance of its mining equipment. “A wide range of Repair & Maintenance Agreements address every predictive and preventative maintenance issue and assure customers of the best possible investment returns”,

Khan takes this opportunity to mention the trend of shifting towards battery-powered mining operations. Battery-powered mining equipment is gaining prominence by replacing diesel equipment at mining sites. This shift aims at cutting down CO2 emissions at project sites. “Moreover, it is environmentally friendly equipment with the same power as diesel engines. We wouldn’t be surprised if we saw all of this technology on Indian sites in a few years”, Khan says.

The mining industry is moving towards electric equipment
It is undoubtedly the need of the hour. Battery-powered mining vehicles are highly suited for underground mining. Reasoning this shift, Panda stresses that they do not emit exhaust gases. They reduce cooling and ventilation requirements, cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and maintenance costs, and improve working conditions. These machines are cleaner, economically viable, and sustainable as they create fewer fumes, making them an environmentally friendly option.

Therefore, the demand for electrical engines will drive the market for the mining and equipment sectors. Electrifying mining operations can reduce not only environmental impacts but also reduce energy costs. The future of mining equipment and vehicles, specifically, is in electrification, both from an environmental and economic efficiency perspective.

Machine learning, IoT, and AI are new buzzwords powering the mining equipment market. – Dimitrov Krishnan, Managing Director, Volvo CE India.

Battery-powered equipment is cleaner, economically viable, and sustainable as it creates fewer fumes, making it an environmentally friendly option. – Dheeraj Panda, COO, Sany Bharat.

Supply risk and budget allocation for purchasing and procuring equipment are two critical challenges the mining industry faces. – Adil Khan, Sales Manager, Shakti Mining Equipment Pvt. Ltd.

Most large mines are now adopting conversation and automatic waggon loading systems to increase mining operations. – Indranil Roy, Director of Mining Business, ThyssenKrupp Industries India Pvt. Ltd.

A tendency in mining technology has also been toward addressing climate change concerns, and as a result, we are searching for solutions to reduce carbon footprints. – Tarique Salman, Segment Manager, Surface Excavation Machine, Vermeer India.