Volvo CE is working on a range of futuristic mining equipment from battery-operated and hydrogen fuel-cell-based excavators.

Machine learning, IoT and AI are new buzzwords powering the mining equipment market. Predicting the industry trends, Dimitrov Krishnan, Managing Director, Volvo CE India, talks about the latest mining ventures adopting a transformative approach to boost productivity and sticking to low-carbon, low-waste, health and safety goals.

How is the mining sector changing in response to the current infrastructure demand?
Mining is a core sector of the Indian economy. With the government keen on mineral exploration with minimal environmental impact, the accent is now on new-age mining equipment, cutting-edge digital technologies, remote operations and best business practices at all exploration and production stages. New mining ventures are adopting a transformative approach – boosting
productivity and operational efficiency while sticking to low-carbon, low-waste, health and safety goals.

What innovative equipment is used at mining sites to improve operations while protecting the environment?
Over several decades, Volvo CE has advanced trailblazing solutions that have revolutionised mining equipment used worldwide. Volvo CE has focussed on sustainable technologies to reduce fuel
consumption and noise pollution in India. Indian customers have the advantage of CARETRACK – a real-time digital monitoring solution designed to optimise machine productivity/uptime with much lower fuel consumption. Our large-class excavators come with Vibro Ripper featuring noiseless ‘Vibro-isolation’ technology. It protects the excavator from vibration and shock while delivering at least three times higher productivity than breakers.

How is the mining equipment market faring to expand its capacity?
The mining equipment industry in India is on a high-growth trajectory, given the unprecedented demand for extracting metals and minerals from the ground. Technology has emerged as the key differentiator among mining equipment makers thanks to rising environmental consciousness. 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.

The failure of mining equipment causes significant losses in mining operations. What are the preventative and predictive maintenance solutions for mining equipment available?
Besides productivity and fuel efficiency, machine reliability is the key to successful mining operations. 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.

What are your thoughts on the change from fuel-powered to battery-powered or electrical mining equipment?
The future of mining equipment is green. Volvo CE works on various futuristic mining equipment, from battery-operated and hydrogen fuel cell-based excavators and loaders to grid-connected
products. Volvo CE has set two ambitious targets by the year 2030: reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent in overall operations and achieve 35 per cent electro-mobility of total solutions.