IMME 2008 Focus on Value Based Mining Engineering

The just concluded 9th International Mining and Machinery Exhibition (IMME 08) proved to be an ideal platform for equipment manufacturers displaying innovative and value added hi-tech mining and engineering products with varied range of applications in construction, mining, material handling and mineral processing, Partha Pratim Basistha reports.

In a way, the hi-tech construction and mining engineering was on display in its entirety at the four-day event held in the sprawling Salt Lake Stadium Grounds in Kolkata. Covering 50,000 sqm of ground space with 300 exhibitors from fifteen countries presented a vast spectrum of innovative products, mining and engineering equipment.

The event was wellplaced in terms of products positioning by exhibitors, as they displayed equipment of wide varieties, varied value chain with potential of higher productivity, low operating costs exactly matching the current market trends and demands scenario.

A large number of exhibitors in conversation with NBM&CW admitted that they were exhibiting products meeting both short–term and long–term requirements and also match to the buying behavior of price sensitive Indian customers.

Loaders & Excavators Segment

Matching the requirement in the context of Indian scenario, Dozco India Private Limited displayed Kawasaki's 19 ton 85ZIV-2 wheel loader with 2.8-3.7 cubic metre bucket capacity blended with features for high productivity and minimum maintenance cost. This loader with direct injection, turbo charged 161 kw (216 HP) engine for tough assignments and low fuel consumption.

It has a computer controlled automatic gear transmission, adjustment free dependable brakes, one touch open top radiator grille and to facilitate cleaning of the radiator. The wheel loader comes with optional items of log clamp, slide fork, snow remover, sides dump bucket. The equipment is applicable for both constructions, industrial and mining applications.

Dozco also displayed the new 46 ton 115 ZV Kawasaki wheel loader with a bucket capacity of 5.9-6.8 cubic metre.

According to Mr. Sandeep Bangur, Director, Dozco, “The Kawasaki wheel loaders are competitive in their product positioning from the order of lesser fuel consumption, lower operating cost per ton in the output of the machine.” He said adding that Dozco also displayed the Yanmar compact excavators along with Soosan rock breakers among others.

Doosan exhibited its high productivity and less operating cost excavator models in the range of 20 tonne, 30 tonne, 34 tonne, 50 tonne, and wheel loader of 6 tonne class.

As per Mr. Manjunath.S, Regional Manager, Sales, Doosan Infra Core, “The excavators are 50 percent cheaper to maintain than their counterparts with easy ground access and improved maintenance through SMS (PC monitoring system), besides cheaper components.” He added that well synchronized line up with the arm-bucket and hydraulics makes our machines more stable and adds to its high breakout force as far the product is concerned. He informed that the Doosan engines make the machine more fuel efficient and are priced at par with Kobelco, Volvo, or Caterpillar.

With wide range of excavators from 20 to 50 tonnes, the products portfolio would fit well into the assorted demand requirement of the market in the present context when equipment utilization has diped and also for future when utilization level will gain ground, Manjunath added.

Divulging utilization details of the 50 tonne excavator, he said that it is suitable to meet the requirements of a hirer with a long term contracts while a 20 tonne would take care of the requirements of a low to medium time hirer. Now, given the inbuilt features of the machines leading to low fuel consumption and low maintenance, the hirer would be able to save on diesel and EMIs.

Doosan is poised to start manufacturing activity in India. The company has acquired land near Sri Perumbudur in Tamil Nadu. Doosan has set up a manufacturing unit of machine tools close to Bangalore and is looking for exporting components for its manufacturing units in China, Korea, and Belgium.

In addition, excavators with higher productivity were also displayed by Hyundai Construction Equipment India Private Limited. Hyundai displayed its 20 tonne Robex crawler excavator, which is said to be 20 percent fuel efficient in terms of product offering. The company plans to launch 8-11 tonnes excavators for the Indian market in near future.

The company, which has recently completed its plant at Chakan in Pune, has begun the production of its 20 tonne excavators. The Pune facility which has an annual production capacity of 2,500 excavators can be scaled up to 10,000 units per annum. To ensure competitive prices Hyundai would indigenize its components very shortly.

Multi–product Placement

Construction and mining equipment major Telcon displayed its range of products including EX series hydraulic excavators, Zaxis Series hydraulic excavators, backhoe loaders wheel loaders, Tata Lebero compactors, and motor graders. The company also displayed its Tadano manufactured rough terrain crane. Based on Hitachi technology, Telcon claimed that its machines are powerful.

Most importantly, Telcon chose IMME 2008 to launch its recently acquired Spanish Serviplem transit mixers bearing a model TM 6W with a nominal capacity of 6 cubic metre. The Telcon Serviplem has a feature of unique drum metallurgy which as per the company is designed to last longer, require less maintenance, and deliver better operating economics.

Construction and Engineering giant Larsen & Toubro Limited put up an impressive display of Mining Equipment at the exhibition. Live display of the giant Kamatsu HD785-7 Dump Truck along with the latest Komatsu D155A-6R Dozer and L&T-Komatsu PC450LC-7 Hydraulic Excavator could effectively demonstrate and reinforce company’s and Komatsu’s strong presence in the mining sector and the role of a major player in the industry. It was also a platform for demonstrating its continued commitment to provide comprehensive fleet solutions for the mining sector. This includes fleet optimization, full maintenance annual contracts, site support agreements, equipment overhaul, service station facilities, and dedicated spare parts warehouses.

Another L&T’s outdoor stall exhibited Scania Tipper Truck Model P380, which is a Swedish technology truck and has been creating waves in the Indian mining industry with its robust design and reliable performance. Offering for the mining sector from the company’s Kansbahal Works were on display in the indoor stall displaying working models as well as photographs of the wide range of equipment including Surface Miners, Jaw Crushers, Apron Feeders, Feeder Breaker and Impactors.

In another indoor stall, the company’s fully owned subsidiary, Tractor Engineers Limited TENGL displayed its products ranging from undercarriage and crawler system to customized track frames and apron feeders, for varied applications. L&T Finance Limited which is involved in financing equipment also participated in he indoor display with a model of a mining project and its offerings.

JCB launched its new product “Lift all” pick-n-carry crane. As per Mr. Amit Gossain, Chief General Manager, “The newly launched crane is competitive in terms of its product offering and the machine comes with a heavy duty boom, which is well–tried and tested. Besides, the machine ensures proper visibility to the operator with the full extension of the boom. Significantly, the machine has an important indigenized component fitted with Kirloskar engine. Lift all JCB would now be available to its customers an integrated product line ranging from earthmoving to material handling.”

He added that to make available benefits of economies of scale to its customers, JCB has a wide network of 330 dealer outlets across the country for providing component and service back up support. JCB has a 92,000 square feet parts centre in Pune with additional centres at Chennai,Ballabgarh, and Kolkata.

New product launch was also made by Chinese construction equipment major Sany. The company launched its QY 25C truck mounted mobile crane. Sany has a product offering of concrete pumps, boom pumps, motor graders, pavers, batching plants etc for the Indian construction market.

According to Mr. Brahmanand Pandey, Chief Marketing Officer, Sany Heavy Industry India private Limited, “With procurement cost of equipment on the higher side coupled with slowing down in finance, we would look to make the cost of the equipment competitive by laying emphasis on indigenization apart from laying stress on inventory management.” He said adding that Sany would be looking into the indigenisation of its crawler lattice boom cranes and other products from April 2009. To provide economies of scale to its customers, Sany will expand its dealership network from three to twelve by March 2009.

Value Beyond Conventional Technologies

While a segment of exhibitors made their mark in the event by displaying competitive products, others created theirbrand value by highlighting multipurpose products created on innovative technologies to provide optimum output.

World Wide Machinery Solution (WWMS) which is the exclusive dealer of Vermeer's surface miners for the Indian Sub-continent. WWMS launched its T1255 series of terrain leveler surface mining equipment in India in January 2009.

Highlighting the feature of the equipment, Mr. Navneet Mathur, Partner, WWMS, said, “The new Vermeer terrain leveler is designed to eliminate the requirement of primary crushers, large loaders, large mining haul trucks and associated permits, besides rippers and vertical drills. One terrain leveler attachment can single handedly perform site preparation and excavation of mine material, stabilize contaminated soil and remove roads, thus cutting down cost required on separate equipment and labor deployment.”

He added that the machine is much economical in terms of its placement as with its inbuilt features it can yield higher mining output per tonne. The machine has its application for surface mining, site preparation, road construction, overburden removal and soil remedial measures.

For civil construction use like road construction, the terrain leveler is much ideal as it offers a great way to excavate rocky areas in preparation of new roads. They also provide an excellent method for roughing out house pads in new construction. He said adding that the top down cutting technology utilized by these units helps ensure higher production on road removal projects. The terrain leveler attachment simply combs the concrete off of the steel rebar.

To launch and display innovative products for higher output on low operating costs was Terex Finlay. Terex launched the J-1160 Jaw crusher during the event. According to Nigel Irvine Sales and Marketing Manager and Mr. Jaideep Shekhar, Country Manager-India and South West Asia, Terex Finlay, the high performance 1000 mm x 600 mm Jaques jaw chamber, the J-1160 offers many unique and innovative features. Designed to suit both recycling and demolition and quarry applications, the J-1160 has proven a bit aggressive in both applications.

Both mentioned that the highly versatile machine has undergone extensive testing in variety of applications and has recently enter the contractor recycling and quarrying market in a big way. The key features of the J-1160, which Terex claims is compact and easily transportable includes, high output reduction ratio, rapid set up time, grizzly feeder with integrated prescreen, selectable discharge to bypass conveyor or main conveyor. The machines are also equipped with advanced electronic control system with colored user–friendly interface.

Highlighting the advance features of the machines which leads to low output and low operating costs was Terex Pegson. According to Mr. Rajen Khoda, Director Sales South Asia and Middle East, as fuel costs have been passing through volatile stages, the fuel economy benefits of Terex Pegson X400S series have become a major purchase drivers for those seeking the best value mobile jaw crushers.” He informed “Terex Pegson that is renowned for producing high performance jaw crushers that are suitable for quarries, recycling and contractors. The ground breaking Terex Pegson series are high performance primary jaw crushing plants that are easy to set up, versatile and engineered for quarrying, demolition, that requires high production capacities. The X400S series have been launched recently in the Indian market.

“Terex’s products with its distinctive features are solution providers in its entity, which is well–placed to suit the demand of the Indian market both in short when utilization in the present context is modest and long term when utilization will gain ground, he added.

Displaying products as solution providers was Asia Motor Works Limited, with its wide range of tipper trucks for mining and construction applications. According to the company their its trucks are more fuel efficient compared to products offered by their counterparts. Besides with the advanced features of the vehicles the uptime vehicle availability is as high as 85–90%.”

Similarly, Eastern India based, Torsa Machines Limited, displayed its new Nomad series mobile crushing and screening plants. The Nomad series mobile plants are built on wheel mounted chassis. The primary mobile chassis consists of electromagnetic feeder, primary jaw crusher and delivery conveyor. The drive is taken from electric motors. The secondary mobile chassis contains the cone crusher, secondary jaw crusher an the circular motion vibrating screen.

Commenting on the qualities of the machines Mr. Gopi More, Managing Director Torsa Machines said, “The features of the machine are much versatile as the classification size of the crusher product can be set and adjusted according to product requirements. Significantly, the Nomad Series plants are built on wheel mounted chassis and can be erected in a short period of time and can easily be shifted from one site to another.” Torsa has recently entered into a distribution tie-up with Minyu Machinery Corporation of Taiwan to meet high capacity crushing solutions for the Indian market above 150 TPH.

Minyu’s cone crushers have highly competitive features which in turn makes them highly productive. He informed that the cone crushers have inbuilt features omprising computer controlled automatic gap and tramp release system, hydraulic assembly with controlled interface, hydraulic setting and lifting system, all makes the machine to get simple operation and lower operating manpower apart from conforming to a longer life of the drive device.

Selecting IMME 2008 to inform about new product launch based on advanced technologies was South India based Puzzolana Machinery Fabricators. As per Mr. Abhijeet Pai, President Puzzolana Machinery, the company is in planning stages to launch truck mounted crushers with a capacity range of 100-250 tonnes per hour.

On the features of the new equipment to be launched, Mr. Pai mentioned that our crushers will have automated features constituting of “programme logic control,” which will ensure optimum utilization of the machine apart from cutting down plant breakdown drastically. Puzzolana has a product line of cone crushers, horizontal shaft impact crushers, jaw crushers, vertical shaft impact crusher, and classifiers among others.

IMME 08 was chosen as a platform by equipment major to exhibit their new and existing product range and also to disseminate information about their newly introduced products.

According to Mr. Mrityunjaya Singh, Managing Director, Volvo, We have been participating at this show since its inception. The show helps us in terms of business and building prospective customer space. It will be an understatement to say that it feels very good to participate. Our involvement in the event undoubtedly boosts our sales and revenues. Volvo has exhibited its invention-the articulated hauler. He said adding that the company has planned to set up plants or operational manufacturing units in India other than the three existing ones in Bangalore.

Likewise construction and mining equipment manufacturer Caterpillar also participated in the show and their major component was the haul road system 140 H motor Grader. The company has promoted their new concept of haul road maintenance. Along with providing complete solutions to customers to prolong the lives of the machines, Caterpillar is sustainable development and environment-friendly mining equipment. Rebecca Dailey, Supervisor, Marketing communication, Asia Pacific Marketing said that IMME is a great show where Caterpillar has generated good business.

China based company Liugong mainly manufacturing mining equipment has for the first time participated at IMME. The company displayed its engines, hydraulic systems, loader, bucket, and so on at the show ground. The company expressed its pleasure for the good arrangement and exposure during the show.

A premier engineering manufacturing company BEML has selected this show to display its D4 75 Dredger for the first time in India. The company also makes debut of BH100 dumper, BE1000 and BE220 excavator, BEML 656 loader, BL 15 load Haul dumper, and so on. Mr. V.R.S Natarajan, Chairman Managing Director, BEML said that IMME displayes new equipment and “creates global visibility of India among the International mining world.” He added that the show offered great opportunities to display products and thereby increase Company’s market share.

NAWA Engineers specializes in crushing and screening equipment launched Spiral (Screw) Classifiers and dewatering and fine screening machines for metallic and non metallic mineral processing at this mega show. Screws from 600 mm dia to 2100 mm dia have been developed to wash and rake-up 24 TPH to 300 TPH of different mineral fines. This equipment finds extensive use in iron-ore slime recovery, mineral beneficiation and sand washing.

At IMME, the company displayed its 900mm dia 6.5m long spiral classifier and 2.1m wide 6.0m long 2-deck dewatering screen that received wide appreciation from the mining fraternity for their features, workmanship and their application spectrum in mineral washing, fine screening and de-watering.

Titagarh Wagons Ltd (TWL) manufacturer of Mining Equipment as well as construction cranes, utilized for plant erection and maintenance, handling at ports etc has also made debut of its product range. The company is looking at leveraging the Hyderabad Industries LTD (HIL) facility that is acquired at Uttarpara near to roll out a new product ine in heavy earthmoving Mining equipment (HEMM) segment besides looking for foreign collaborations.

Similarly, Sandvik Mining and Construction, a leading global supplier of machinery, cemented carbide tools, services and technical solutions for the excavation of rocks and minerals in the mining and construction industry has for the first time took part in this show. Sandvik availed the event to launch DH 150 DTH Drill rig. This Drill Rig takes down the hole drilling performance to a new level with a compact design and powerful hydraulic tramming motors. Powered by an on-board diesel engine and oscillating crawler tracks it ensures good mobility, high grade ability and rough terrain maneuverability.

Mr. Roger Jansen, President, Region Asia Pacific said that “the first time response at IMME has been very positive. There were serious customers for doing positive business transactions and was a platform for varied knowledge sharing with customers.” Mr. Jansen added that participating in shows like IMME not only strengthened customers base but also boosted business transactions.

CDE Asia designer and manufacturers of tailor made equipment for the sand, wastewater, materials handling and quarrying industries displayed its flagship product OreMax along with Atrofeed and the mini thickener and filter press at the event.

AtroFeed is CDE’s unique feed delivery system for minus 20mm. The design not only slurrifies feed for subsequent screening and washing but it also imparts extreme attrition to material. This makes the system invaluable for plastic and contaminant bound or dirty feeds; particularly minus 5 and 10mm materials.

The OreMax^TM releases the true potential within even the lowest grade feed stocks. Accurate density separation coupled with the extreme attrition offered by the integrated AtroFeed delivery system generates final ore product with maximum Fe value and substantially reduced silica, clay and alumina content; ideal for downstream processing in furnaces or kilns.

Cutting Edge Technologies & Solutions

IMME 2008was the forum where new product launch and display was made built on cutting edge technologies. In accordance with this, Cummins India launched its state-of-the-art engines for dumpers, excavators, dozers and surface miners. The 11 litre (QSM 11), 15 litre (QSX 15) and 223 litre (QSK 23) engines were on display. Mentioning the features of the machines, Mr. G.K. Sharma, Senior General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Cummins India Limited said the construction and mining industry is witnessing technological boom in terms of demand of cleaner, productive and higher capacity equipment. The release of these electronic controlled emissions compliant engines built to deliver greater levels of productivity, durability and uptime reinforces Cummin’s mission is to introduce best products.”

In sync with the new electronic features, consisting of controls in construction and mining equipment, Cummins created electronic engines to streamline the productivity of the equipment in greater order.

Showcasing product created through refined technology based on sound R&D skills was component manufacturers at the show as well. Prime among these was ball bearing manufacturing major, Timken India Limited. The company displayed its range of bearings. Mentioning on its product placement, Mr. A. Rajesh Premachandran, General Manager, Mobile Industries, Timken said that based on the customized demand requirements, Timken is able to provide its component availability.

He clarified that to meet the customer's solution requirements, Timken has put in place its customer technology centre at Bangalore, which is one of the 4 Timken innovations and development centres around the world. It provides our Indian customers the unique opportunity of accessing our global pool of engineering resources and bringing them the latest technological advancements. Customer profile of Timken in India consists of, Caterpillar, JCB, BEML, Telcon among others.

Positioning products on sound R&D support was hydraulic solutions provider, Gates India Private Limited. The company said that the components are created through a complete technical back up from our customer solutions centre at Denver which is one among the best R&D centres in rubber industry across the globe and also part of Gates Corporation. He added, “Gates hoses and couplers are best in its reliability and safety.”

German Pavilion

Germany as a partner company of this exhibition has put up the largest exposition of latest equipment and engineering technologies for the mining sector. This year 22 leading German manufacturers of mining equipment, together with the VDMA-Mining Equipment Association, has exhibited a wide range of underground, open cast and processing technology. The trade relations between Germany and India are developing for years now. For the German Industry, India has become the most important market in South Asia. According to Mr. Peter Jochums, President of Mining Equipment Association within VDMA, This is for the 4thtime an official German participation took place at IMME, under the support of VDMA and sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economics & Technology.

He further added that Germany leads the world in engineering technology, especially in mining equipment. Many German companies have close ties to Indian mining houses. Some German firms also have local production in India, which has become a very important export market for German mining equipment. In recent years German exports to India have grown from 1,3 Mio.(2003) to 61,7 Mio. Last year. Until August 2008 Germany exported mining equipment worth 59,5 Mio. to India- an increase of some 80%.

Focus Country-Australia

Australia’s mining sector is one of the most successful export industries. Representing the Australian Government at the IMME 2008, Minister for Resource and Energy expressed his gratitude for the invitation by the CII to attend the International mining event. He said that Australia is proud to be the focus country as the relationship between India and Australia is very important to the Australian Government and its masses on many fronts.

He added, we want to invest in the development of India’s mining industry to help unlock its wealth for the Indian nation and we will continue to welcome Indian investment in our resources and energy sector. The Australian mining services and technology sector wants to offer its leading products and services to the Indian mining industry to help improve exploration, mine safety, environmental management and the efficiency in resource extraction.

No Meltdown in Mining Sector

The global financial crisis and meltdown has little impact on the Indian mining sector with nearly no downturn in the growth in demand of mining equipment although sales of construction equipment are down indicating that the crises has already hit the construction sector.

Bharat Earth Movers, Chairman & MD VRS Natarajan said “People connected with the cycle of mining will be benefited,” JCB India MD & Chief Executive Officer Mr. Vipin Sondhi said, “The Sales of the company’s construction equipment have already started going down. By the fiscal end the company may register a 15 percent negative growth.”

According to the Indian Earthmoving Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association estimation, the demand for construction equipment in India was growing by 30 percent in the last five years, making India the highest growth market, said Sondhi.

IMME 2008, which coincided with the temporary phase of subdued equipment utilization was a good opportunity for equipment manufacturers to exhibit products with advanced features for higher output both with a short and long term selling strategies, he added/