Amit Kumar Vice President Eimco Elecon
What products and solutions is Eimco Elecon offering, particularly for foundation construction, underground mining, and other specialized applications?
Eimco Elecon manufactures and supplies equipment for underground mining, foundation construction and specialised applications, including piling rigs and diaphragm. We manufacture these products in India at our facility in Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, Gujarat, as part of our Make in India initiative.For Coal Mining, we are the only Indian company offering a complete continuous miner package. Our range includes continuous miners, roof bolters, shuttle cars and feeder breakers, providing customers with an integrated solution for underground coal mining. We have also recently developed a flameproof, battery-operated passenger carrier and a multi-utility vehicle in-house for various applications in underground coal mines.
Our chairlift man-riding systems (CLMRS) are widely used in underground mining by customers across India. Together, these products along with legacy products Side Discharge Loader (SDL), Load Haul Dumpers (LHD), Universal Drilling Machine (UDM), Pneumatic Powered Equipment enable us to offer a comprehensive range of solutions for underground coal mining.
Most of our equipment is developed inhouse, supported by global technology partnerships This enables us to offer globally benchmarked products manufactured in India. These products are made indigenously, with strong aftermarket support to customers.
For the continuous miner package, many companies import equipment or bring it into India in completely knocked down (CKD) form. In contrast, we manufacture the complete package in-house at our Anand, Gujarat facility. The products are 100% indigenized, which helps us offer greater control over quality, reliability and product support while improving productivity for customers.
In construction equipment segment, we have fully indigenously developed and manufactured diaphragm wall rig - the DW220 which delivers output and performance aligned with European standards while meeting the requirements of Indian projects. It offers customers a Make In India solution with optimised operating costs and has delivered good results in the field.
We are expanding our product portfolio to meet the requirements of different sectors, including industrial development, roads and railways. Each of these segments requires equipment with different capabilities and production capacities, so we are developing products to address these specific applications.
What digital technologies are you using to monitor and record key piling parameters?
Our piling rigs are built on the Hitachi base platform, which incorporates a state-of-the-art Human Machine Interface (HMI) that enables real-time monitoring of critical equipment parameters and machine performance. This is along with the MOBA system, which continuously monitors, records, and stores key piling parameters throughout the piling operation.The operational data collected is compiled into comprehensive reports through the Hitachi ConSite platform and shared with customers on a regular basis. This provides enhanced visibility into machine utilization, equipment health, and piling performance, enabling proactive decision-making, improved operational efficiency, and greater transparency for project stakeholders.
We recommend the right piling equipment, tooling and methods for different ground conditions by collecting the geological and geotechnical data provided by the customer. We assess the ground conditions based on parameters such as the Rock Quality Designation (RQD) value and compressive strength. Based on this assessment, we recommend the appropriate tooling and piling rig configuration for the project. This helps customers select the right equipment for the site conditions and achieve the required productivity.
How can customers reduce the total cost of ownership and operating costs of your piling and diaphragm wall equipment?
Our piling rigs and diaphragm wall equipment are manufactured using the proven Hitachi base platform, which is widely recognized for its excellent fuel efficiency, reliability, durability, and low maintenance requirements. Combined with Eimco Elecon’s design optimization and engineering expertise, this results in equipment that delivers superior fuel economy, optimized performance, and lower operating costs over its entire lifecycle.The robust design and high-quality components contribute to extended equipment life, reduced downtime, and lower maintenance expenditure, helping customers achieve a lower total cost of ownership. In addition, the efficient hydraulic and power management systems minimize fuel consumption while maintaining high productivity levels on site.
We also maintain close engagement with our customers and actively seek continuous operational feedback. This collaborative approach enables us to identify opportunities for product improvements and application-specific enhancements, ensuring customers consistently achieve better performance, higher productivity, and maximum return on investment from our equipment.
As a result, customers benefit from reduced fuel and maintenance costs, improved equipment reliability, enhanced sustainability, and lower overall lifecycle costs.
Customers once identified wall stiffness as a critical challenge, particularly because repairing a wall after a segment has been opened can involve significant costs. Based on this feedback, we have focused on maintaining tight manufacturing tolerances to ensure better wall quality and performance.
We take inputs from customers on technology, components and site requirements and incorporate the suggestions into our product development and manufacturing processes.
What after-sales service and support do you provide customers across India?
We have more than 10 sales and service offices across India to cater to customer service requirements. We have dedicated teams for specific product lines, including our continuous miner package, with personnel deployed at customer sites to provide technical and service support.To ensure timely availability of spare parts, we maintain regional stock points at multiple locations across the country. This network of service personnel and spare-parts inventory enables us to respond quickly to customer requirements and minimise equipment downtime.
What are some of the key challenges you are currently facing in the piling and mining equipment industry?
The piling and mining equipment industry is currently experiencing a highly competitive environment, with customers having access to a wide range of equipment options, including lower-cost imported machines and imported used equipment available in the market.At Eimco Elecon, our focus is not on competing solely on upfront cost. Instead, we concentrate on delivering equipment that meets customer expectations in terms of reliability, durability, productivity, long-term performance, and strong aftermarket support.
Another industry challenge is the evolving regulatory environment related to the import of used piling and foundation equipment. Greater clarity and standardization in this area would help create a more level playing field and encourage wider adoption of high-quality, technologically advanced equipment.
In the mining sector, regulatory support for technology advancement is encouraging. However, there is a need for greater clarity and well-defined guidelines to facilitate the adoption of emerging technologies, particularly in underground mining applications.
For example, battery-operated equipment and other advanced technologies would benefit from clearly established safety standards, performance requirements, and operating protocols to support their safe and effective deployment.
As a manufacturer, we are designing our products in line with global best practices and applicable safety requirements. We believe that a clear and progressive regulatory framework will help accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies, enhance safety and sustainability, and provide greater confidence to mine operators investing in next-generation equipment.
