V. Senthil Kumar, Managing Director
Propel will launch several new equipment at Excon and display more than 20 products.
Our new products include Track Mounted Scalping Screen designed for high output and extremely accurate classification of end product; Track Mounted Cone with On-board Screen designed for maximum throughput and excellent product shape in a wide range of crushing applications; 350 TPH Cone Crusher that offers benefits like lower installation costs, heavy duty design with optimized wear parts to keep operating costs down; 350 TPH Gyratory Cone Crusher that delivers increased capacity with reduced maintenance and downtime; Integrated Washing System that offers extremely accurate classification, high output, and is also environmentally friendly.
All these equipment are designed based on customer surveys and our in-house analysis on market needs. Customers will have a first-hand experience of the superior build quality, technology, and performance of these machines at our booth.
Our IoT architecture is driven by three goals: reducing process variability, increasing productivity, and improving plant uptime.
Propel R&D has focussed on improving plant efficiency and uptime. We use a data driven proactive method to help analyse the condition of our plants and predict problems before they occur. This helps us prevent sudden outages, engine trips, and reduces maintenance costs and downtime.
Continuous monitoring of machines helps us analyse performance, usage patterns, and detect diagnostic alerts, and we give MIS reports to customers which pinpoint areas where productivity improvements are possible. The data collected also helps our R&D team to decide parameters when we upgrade our machines for better performance.
We have a range of mobile equipment like Track Mounted Jaw, Cone, VSI and Screens in the range of 200 TPH to 400 TPH, which offer advantages like ease of transport, quick set up time, and lower operating cost. We have launched dual powered tracks which run on both electricity and diesel; this offers customers greater flexibility and lower fuel cost with 8 to 10% savings. Propel has introduced motorised pulleys which offer higher efficiency, lower power costs, and ease of maintenance.
We use digitization and programme logic module to offer specific solutions to problems faced in the plant by the end-users.
Our Cone Machines have PLC (Programmable Logic Controls), and based on sensor feedback, the feeding is optimized, and productivity improved by 15%, compared to manual control.
Based on our MIS reports, customers are able to increase productivity, for example, sensors detect how many times the machine stopped due to detection of metal. With this information, customers can take preventive action.
AI, IoT and Big Data are increasingly being used in the crushing and screening industry. They help achieve better efficiency and lower operating costs, which are imperative for the success of a crushing plant in today’s highly competitive market. With the government’s huge push on big infrastructure projects, there is a growing demand for higher capacity plants and mobile equipment.
Initially as with any new technology there was resistance from customers as well as plant operators. The Propel marketing team was able to convince customers with detailed cost benefit calculations and other benefits of using new technology. The operators are given training on the handling of new high-tech machines during our regular O&M training sessions. Now, the operators are slowly accepting the new technologies and becoming confident in its use. The detailed MIS reports we send customers also gives them an overview of equipment usage patterns and how to improve plant operation.
The government’s vision of making India a 5 trillion economy by 2025 rests hugely on massive infrastructure spending.
The government’s recent budget has been very promising for the CE industry. The National Infrastructure Project (NIP) has been expanded to cover 9000 projects covering 34 infrastructure sectors and is following a coordinated technology driven approach involving all stakeholders. This augers well for the long-term prospects of the CE industry, as there will be a steady increase in demand for construction equipment.
The CE industry is poised for tremendous growth. Rising cost of raw materials especially steel is the only area of concern for the CE industry. We hope the government takes measures to keep prices in check.
