I expect the demand to grow in mining applications
You’ve been a part of several exhibitions in the past. You’ve always aimed to launch something new and innovative. So, what are your plans for this time?
We have a display showcasing around 30 different types of equipment. Now, if we talk about new launches, we have a few exciting things to share. Starting with the piling rig and foundation machinery, we are introducing a new grab machine – the SH 700. Moving on to our cranes and lifting machinery division, we have an entirely new series of aerial work platforms. This includes scissor lifts, articulated lifts, and telescopic lifts. All three types of scissor lifts will be displayed, and we are planning to launch them during the activation of sales. We’re expecting to ship around 75 to 80 units through this year itself.
Could you share some insights on Sany’s performance, both in the construction and mining verticals? Also, what are you anticipating for 2025?
If we look at our performance from January to November this year, we’ve achieved a total growth of about 23 to 24 per cent in sales. All our divisions have experienced substantial growth, nearly in the same range. In the mining sector, for instance, we’ve seen around 30 per cent growth, which is the highest growth in any of our divisions. Excavators, with the support of some new models, have grown by about 20 per cent. The biggest growth, however, has been in the port and road machinery segments, where we’re seeing growth of almost 70 to 80 per cent.
There’s a lot of activity happening in the mining segment. Can you tell us more about the demand in the mining segment?
There’s a lot happening in the mining sector, largely driven by the huge demand for coal from the power sector and the increasing need for cement and iron ore due to infrastructure growth. Customers are gradually moving away from traditional mining methods and adopting larger, more fuel-efficient equipment. We’re seeing a shift towards larger excavators and trucks instead of small ones. In line with this trend, we’ve introduced a series of new products that offer significant operating cost advantages over traditional models. Some of these will be the first of their kind in India.
What about the demand for electrically driven dump trucks in the mining sector? Is there an increasing interest in these, given the environmental concerns?
Electric trucks are a relatively new concept in the industry. But they’re proving very suitable for certain mining applications and they can save over 80 per cent of the operating costs. There’s definitely a high level of interest in these trucks. While the current demand isn’t massive, we’ve already sold a good number of units in the past year.
Looking ahead, I expect the demand to grow, especially in mining applications where electric trucks are most suitable. Of course, there are some areas where they might not be as efficient, particularly in situations where energy recapture is minimal. But overall, I anticipate the demand to rise, and we expect to sell close to 100 units of large mining electric trucks this year.
All of the mining trucks, including the electric ones, are made in India at our Pune plant.
In applications like iron ore mining, when the truck operates downhill, how long would the battery last?
In downhill applications, like iron ore mining, the battery can last anywhere between 300 to 400 km, depending on the conditions. In some cases, the batteries are perpetually charged, so they don’t even need additional charging. However, in reverse situations, where the truck needs to move uphill with a load, the battery endurance may drop to just 20 to 30 km.
Talking about smart technology and automation, how is it integrated into your new products? Is there a role for technologies like IoT and AI?
All our equipment is now equipped with telematics, which allows us to monitor the equipment remotely. This means we can track performance, operations, and even the location of the equipment, often through mobile phones. We can also access maintenance records for these machines. As we move forward, we’re enhancing these telematics capabilities, and they can even be integrated into a fleet management system. Additionally, the equipment can be integrated into the operator’s software system, allowing them to access the machine data directly from their own system.
We are also working on driverless machines—fully automated equipment. This is an exciting area of development, and it holds great potential for the future.
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