T.T. Paranthaman, Managing Director
At Excon, we will be launching our all-new geotechnical rig PRD GD3.
With Our Newly Launched GD4, which is made in INDIA for INDIA has proven that it is capable of substituting the usually imported Geo technical Drilling Rigs. GD4 is currently working in the Mumbai to Ahmedabad high-speed bullet train project line, with L&T, and getting a very positive feedback in its performance with total customer satisfaction. Now we are launching the new and customised PRD GD3.
PRD GD3 comes with best-in-class features like rubber tracks for superior mobility at project sites. This feature is being provided for the first time in India for geotechnical rigs. PRD GD3 also comes with advanced safety features that include radio remote controlled tramming.
We will also display a new attachment for the drill and blast; it features a specialized top hammer for small diameter drilling made for excavator attachments.
PRD is well-established as a global player in the drilling industry.
Founded in the year 1972 as an engineering workshop, the company grew to become a manufacturer of drilling rigs in 1985. It started by producing fully Pneumatic Drilling Rigs. PRD Started to delivering quality products, which earned us the trust of the end-users, and the reason why we are so well-known since the last 50 years in the business.
In the year 1991, we pioneered the hydraulic drilling rig for the waterwall segment and also started exports of the rigs, which made PRD a global player in the drilling industry. In early 2000, drilling technology evolved to become a computer programmed technology by programming of the PLC controls. The rigs began to operate more efficiently, using less labour, and are making the drilling process faster and more cost-effective.
We incorporate complete safety in the design and functionality of our rigs.
PRD is also one of the first drilling rig manufacturing companies in the country to be certified ISO 9001:2015; which assures world-class quality for our customers. We will soon be certified for Integrated Management System – making our export plant the only Indian Drill manufacturing company to get this certification.
Customers have become very brand-centric as they want a more productive and reliable provider for both products and aftersales services. PRD Rigs ensures superior quality and unmatched productivity, with high fuel efficiency in productivity vs operational cost ratio. This makes PRD Rigs the most reliable brand in Water well, Exploration, Mining as well as Construction (Geotechnical) Industries.
We always encourage buying new machines considering their reliable performance and uptime.
In the current dynamic situation, it is almost impossible to put a forecast on investment. When we were the worst hit by the pandemic, surprisingly, we saw more demand for minerals, metals, and water, which raised the demand for drilling rigs.
Drilling and Mining equipment are also supplied on a rental basis by the contractors. To meet demand, the contactors should focus on cost-effective, but high-performance machines in order to get the productivity and expected RoI.
To meet demand in global markets, PRD has set up one of the most efficient drilling rig assembly lines in the world.
We are adapted to industry 4.0 and have based our sub-assemblies on FMS (Flexible Manufacturing System). For a harmonious application of modern processes to increase output, we have implemented digitalization.
We aim to make our export plant at par with world-class standard so that we can produce world-class drilling equipment and solutions of the highest quality and thereby offer products that are worthy enough to make their mark in global markets.
Disruption in logistics, rising prices of steel, metals, and raw materials, and increasing demand are impacting not only our prices but also our production.
The impact is being felt across the entire supply chain from supplier to customer; which has affected the extraction of ores by drilling rigs. Market dynamics are seeing a shift from purchasing used equipment and rental options, over buying new machines.
Even though supply of Raw materials disrupted, we have addressed the challenge by finding innovative solution to deliver the machines on time. As we see a huge demand in market, keeping in mind the customers’ requirement.
In terms of an important segment of infrastructure and investment, Budget 2022 – 23 has factored in a significant increase in capital expenditure in FY 2023 to 7.5 trillion, which is 24.4% higher than 6.0 trillion in FY 2022.
About 60% of the Budget has been split into three major sectors, namely, Defence, Railways, and Roads. There was no specific allocation to the recently set up DFI National Bank for financing infrastructure and development. Allocation for railways has been increased by 14% with a higher focus laid on new line construction and safety. This will ensure that PRD Rigs will have its impact in the piling projects and geotechnical drilling enhancing productivity, safety, and reliability of construction.
Further capital outlay budgeted towards Mumbai – Ahmedabad high speed rail project rigs being developed under SPV national high speed rail corporation limited is budgeted at Rs 241 billion of which 191 billion is planned to be infused as equity. Metro segment capital outlay is budgeted marginally higher at Rs 191 billion in FY 2023 vs Rs 190 billion in FY 2022. About 105 km of the new metro line and 17 km of the new regional rapid metro transit system line (Delhi - Ghaziabad) is planned to be completed in FY 2023.
