- Ramesh Palagiri, MD & CEO, Wirtgen India

What are the latest products and solutions from the company for mining applications? 

Wirtgen is global market leader in the manufacturing of machines for cutting rock in open cast mining operations. Wirtgen surface miners cut primary resources such as coal, gypsum, iron ore, salt, phosphate, bauxite, limestone or granite, achieving high degrees of purity in the process. They are increasingly used as primary extraction equipment also in newly opened-up opencast mines or extensions of existing opencast mine operations. Wirtgen has varied range of surface miners based on the applications and cutting depth- 220 SM, 220 SM 2.5, 220 SM 3.8, 280 SM.

Which are the trending features and technologies in your range of mining equipment?

Wirtgen is the market leader in surface mining, offering a technically mature product portfolio for opencast mining, which has been tried and tested in operations around the globe. The surface miners from Wirtgen cover the full performance range in mining, earthworks and rock construction to up to 15 million tonnes of mining material per machine per year- this is truly unique! Wirtgen surface miners offer cutting widths ranging from 2.20 m to 4.20 m and cutting depths of between 20 cm and 83 cm. Wirtgen is the only manufacturer covering a scope of performance ranging up to 3,000 tonne per hour with direct loading by conveyor belt. Wirtgen surface miners cut primary resources such as coal, gypsum, iron ore, salt, phosphate, bauxite, limestone or granite, achieving high degrees of purity in the process. They are increasingly used as primary extraction equipment also in newly opened-up opencast mines or extensions of existing opencast mine operations.

How do you look at the revival in the mining market after the Covid-impact?

Wirtgen Group has been operational in the eastern part of India in the mining sector – even during the lockdown, where our machines were working for coal extraction to ensure uninterrupted power supply, all our depos were open and we were offering breakdown services. As of today, most of our parts depots – all over India, are open and ready to deliver parts. However, service engineers are being deputed based on the local rules and regulations but we are available for supply of parts and service.