A formidable fleet of Volvo EC 210 series excavators assists SVA Blue Metals in its mining operations at Karanampettai.

On the face of it, one would dismiss it as just another piece of stone. But blue metal aka jelly is a lot more than that. It is among the most mined materials in the world. For good reasons, too. Blue Metal is indispensable to building foundations and road building on account of its predictable, uniform properties and its value as a low cost reinforcement material that binds well with expensive cement to form concrete.

"Apart from roads and building foundations, you will also find our blue metal used on rail tracks too. We may not be noticed but we are there... everywhere," says R Ramakrishnan, Owner, SVA Blue Metals, a mining firm based at Karanampettai in Tirupur district of Tamil Nadu , a stone's throw away from the bustling city of Coimbatore, figuratively speaking. "Ours is a family business that's been around for three decades. We are proud of all we have achieved over the years. And yes, we are very proud of our Volvos."

A concrete success story

Assisting SVA Blue Metals in its mining operations at Karanampettai is a formidable fleet of Volvo EC 210 series excavators. They are going about their job tirelessly, day in day out, cutting into the hard rock and digging out massive boulders of stone. SVA Blue Metals brought their first Volvo Excavator back in 2007. Now there are four of them in action and plans are afoot to add more. Explains Ramakrishnan, "In our business, demand grows by the day. So it makes sense to invest in Volvo Equipment because that means you can meet the ever-growing demand comfortably, for years."Ramakrishnan strongly believes that when it comes to quality and fuel-efficiency, Volvo equipment are second to none in the business. He also believes the life of Volvo excavators and components are high, which means less machine down-time and greater productivity.

Delivering more for less

All this, according to Ramakrishnan, only adds to the top and bottomlines of his business. "Just think about it. On the one hand, you spend a whole lot less on fuel. And on the other, you get a significant boost to your daily productivity. No wonder, we are raking in the profits!" he says with a genial smile. Ramakrishnan is also pleased with the personalised service and attention his company gets from the Volvo dealer in the area, Advanced Construction Technologies. "They are a breed apart in professionalism and efficiency," he says. "If there is a service issue, they will rush to the spot to sort out the problem. And they are always there to lend a helping hand to our operators!"

Ramakrishnan is also President of the Karanampettai Blue Metal Quarry Owners Association. He is widely respected both by peers in his business community and by the industrial people in his area. It is easy to see why. Ramakrishnan cares more than anyone else about the welfare of his association and well-being of its members. He is modest, though. "I just do my bit to help my colleagues in the business. Actually, all credit must go to them," he says, pointing to the Volvo excavators in action at the site.

Thanks mainly to Ramakrishnan's shared experiences and strong recommendations, many quarry owners in the area now own Volvo equipment. "And the point to note is, not one of them has been disappointed.

My reputation remains intact," he signs off. Trust begets trust, after all.