Indranil Roy, Director - Mining, thyssenkrupp Industries India, shares some facts on the company’s presence in bulk material handling space and the market trend.

What are the latest products and solutions from thyssenkrupp for bulk material handling? What are the major demand drivers?
thyssenkrupp is a full-service bulk material handling company and probably one of the oldest global companies in this field. We offer solutions from conventional belt conveyors to long-distance trough conveyors, pipe conveyors wide range of stackers and reclaimers including bucket wheel reclaimers, scraper chain reclaimers, portal reclaimers, drum reclaimers, etc. We are also one of the major suppliers of wagon tipplers (side discharge and rotary type) and the largest supplier of twin-wagon tipplers in the Indian market. Besides, thyssenkrupp is well-known for its crushing and screening solutions that include a wide range of crushers like jaw crushers, gyratory crushers, cone crushers, impact crushers, double roll crushers, eccentric roll crushers, double roll sizers, etc.

Additionally, we also have various types of screens and feeders in our product range like linear screens, circular motion screens, banana screens, apron feeders, roller screens, chain feeders, plough feeders, etc. We also have a comprehensive grinding portfolio that includes different types of ball mills (trunion supported design and shell supported design), SAG mills, high-pressure grinding rolls, etc.

The coal mining sector is presented with many favourable announcements by the Government of India such as the auction of 41 coal blocks. Allowing private sector in commercial coal mining will certainly broaden business prospects in the sector and will propel India to step into the global league. Such announcements bring in positive sentiments for the bulk materials handling industry and with this, we expect sustained demand for material handling equipment, crushing and screening equipment, and coal extraction equipment (plough feeders) in the coal mining sector. Besides, I strongly believe that the iron ore mining sector as well needs a big push to be back on track.

What are the trending features and technologies in bulk material handling equipment?
Digitalisation and automation are the main advanced features witnessed in the bulk material handling equipment industry. In India, we aim to generate adequate employment opportunities and improve the living standards of the masses. Hence, instead of man-less operations, our focus in India is to use technological development – digitalisation – AI to improve the safety of operations, increase run-time, ensure planned maintenance and order of spare parts on time, etc. With technological advancements, we are focusing on providing a better customer experience with services such as digital dashboards, energy optimisation, on time intimations for ordering spare parts, identifying potential operating risks through sensors and ensuring that the operators are made aware of these immediately to prevent accidents/collisions, etc.

What are the new product development initiatives in your company?
We have introduced a number of digital solutions such as Maintenance Assistance Systems (MAS) for our customers. Also, we are planning to introduce digital dashboards to help operators/supervisors to increase safety, operational efficiency and reduce downtime.

We as a group give a substantial focus on R&D. Some of the unique products developed by us recently are eccentric roll crusher and next generation gyratory crusher. The eccentric roll crusher is a hard rock crusher, which requires significantly less headroom, making it a great product for the underground mines or plants having headroom constraints.

How do you look at the current market scenario of bulk material handling equipment?
We are optimistic about the growth prospects in the bulk material equipment market. Considering some of the steps undertaken by the government as listed below, makes us very bullish about the future of bulk material handling equipment industry in India:

Allowing private companies for commercial mining will be considered as an essential growth driver in increasing coal production from 700 MTPA to 1,000 MTPA

During April-August 2020, NHAI has awarded 744 km road construction contracts against 676 km in April19-March 20.

Ministry of Steel has planned increase of steel production from 140 MTPA at present to 300 MTPA by 2030