[sarathlal]

BEML has always been in the front line of building out some of country's first and biggest machines, and here they are with yet another one.

• Country’s biggest dump truck.
• Indigenously designed and developed at Mysuru plant.
• Modular common rail Electronic Engine with 2300 HP
• Weighs 335 tons when fully loaded

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/nationa...cle6962852.ece

[phamilyman]

This is fantastic. Looks impressive. Any information on the engine powering this beast?

stupid question - how are such trucks transported to their end use sites? It seems too big even for a two lane highway, or maybe that's just optics?!

[srishiva]

Here's more information from BEML. It has telescopic and tilt steering and our car manufacturers give us nothing.
http://www.bemlindia.com/documents/P.../BH205E-AC.pdf

Interesting that they mention diesel-electric drive as high durability with lesser moving parts. Why is it difficult on cars? Should help in having good stop/start with battery being used for initial roll on.

[condor]

Originally Posted by srishiva

Interesting that they mention diesel-electric drive as high durability with lesser moving parts. Why is it difficult on cars? Should help in having good stop/start with battery being used for initial roll on.

Diesel-Electric is also what is used in locomotives. This combination helps to generate the required power/torque to move huge load - something that would not be done directly with a diesel.

[null]

Long back, in the 90's, BEML used to display these kind of trucks at the annual Mysore exhibition where they used to have a stall (along with other govt agencies). I don't recollect seeing them afterwards in any public shows/events here.

I was not familiar with their capacities, but used to look at them with awe. Their tires used to be twice the height of the normal human (just like in the picture above). Even I used to wonder how do they transport them to the show (considering the roads then).

Will be nice if someone can post the other models as well. Also, wonder how much they would cost like now.

[sajusherief]

Originally Posted by condor

Diesel-Electric is also what is used in locomotives.

The diesel engine is just to generate the electricity required for the electric motors.


On a lighter side, look at the wheel stoppers in the front, will it be of any use to stop this Juggernaut ?

[Ketan T]

I guess they assemble it onsite. These are almost exclusively used for mining.

[D33-PAC]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

This is fantastic. Looks impressive. Any information on the engine powering this beast?

stupid question - how are such trucks transported to their end use sites? It seems too big even for a two lane highway, or maybe that's just optics?!

They are sent in pieces from the factory. Everything goes in pieces except the dump body.

I saw a couple of these being transported to Singareni's coal fields in Ramagundam, Telangana. Those were Caterpillars though.

What I dont understand is why compete in such a market ? Caterpillar, Liebehrr, and Terex, along with Komatsu are all established experts. What could an Indian product such as this possibly have to offer . Unless the price is significantly different than that of established brands, I don't see much traction for such a product. Even Eastern Europe has such products under the Belaz brand and I don't think they're much of a success outside that region.

It's a great achievement, but I just wonder whether it will really sell and compete internationally in a market dominated by experts.

It takes a lot of technical know how to build one of these things. The chassis alone is a work of engineering art. If I am not mistaken they are full cast aluminium or cast iron and just the molds in which the metal is poured in can be as big as a bus .

Then you have expert welders who put it together. If the product itself isn't amusing the process behind it is just as amusing, and to think that there are such skilled laborers in India as far as metallurgy goes is interesting !

[Zappo]

Originally Posted by D33-PAC

It's a great achievement, but I just wonder whether it will really sell and compete internationally in a market dominated by experts.

BEML as a company is in this business. The acronym stands for Bharat Earth Movers Limited. It is one of those government companies from the socialist era when getting anything beyond rudimentary from the foreign shores was a herculean effort if not impossible. To support our needs many such niche companies were created. Today BEML is a mini navratna, billion dollar company. It makes many niche technology products including many which have deep strategic impact for our armed forces. In many cases it even works in collaboration with our defence PSUs like DRDO. From dry span bridges for the armed forces to snow cutters for the border forces at the freezing altitudes of 18000 feet to slat jigs for our air force it makes things that are very niche.

Now start thinking of these vehicles from strategic POV besides the regular mines operations also. And here is the last bit. BEML is extremely successful (a billion dollar company, right!) and exports to many coutries across the world. It even exported huge tunnel borers to France. BEML exists as a registered company in countries like Brazil (to cater to the Latin America markets) and Indonesia.

By the way, BEML is under the control of MoD, India.

[599gto]

Originally Posted by D33-PAC

They are sent in pieces from the factory. Everything goes in pieces except the dump body.

I saw a couple of these being transported to Singareni's coal fields in Ramagundam, Telangana. Those were Caterpillars though.

What I dont understand is why compete in such a market ? Caterpillar, Liebehrr, and Terex, along with Komatsu are all established experts....

It's a great achievement, but I just wonder whether it will really sell and compete internationally in a market dominated by experts......

I see a lot of these regularly. Almost on a daily basis when I am back home.
And as far as I recall a majority of these heavy payload dump trucks are from BEML, apart from a few Caterpillars.

My hometown has 3 cement plants in close proximity, and only one of them has one lot of Caterpillar dump trucks (75 tonnes class), rest have all been from BEML(varied payload classes).

As far as I know Liebherr is still to start full fledged operations. Though they have been quite actively marketing/showcasing their products all over the country. Service is a major concern with new entrants in the market.

And BEML has a pricing advantage, and because these things have a long list of consumables that need to go in every few 100/1000 hours, I guess BEML products make more sense. Caterpillar machines and their parts are still majorly not-made-in-India!

[rangarx]

Indeed they are assembled on site. Typically the wheels and body are dismantled and the chassis+cabin combo would be shipped separately. Wheels are stowed in to the body. The assembly happens at site with the dealership's help.

There are some RORO models available on export route as well, where they are Rolled On and Rolled Off the ships as CBUs. Typically they are smaller models in comparison.

That aside, this machine does look impressive. Kudos for indigenous development!!

[vineshpikale]

Originally Posted by D33-PAC

What I dont understand is why compete in such a market ? Caterpillar, Liebehrr, and Terex, along with Komatsu are all established experts. What could an Indian product such as this possibly have to offer . Unless the price is significantly different than that of established brands, I don't see much traction for such a product. Even Eastern Europe has such products under the Belaz brand and I don't think they're much of a success outside that region.

It's a great achievement, but I just wonder whether it will really sell and compete internationally in a market dominated by experts.

It takes a lot of technical know how to build one of these things. The chassis alone is a work of engineering art. If I am not mistaken they are full cast aluminium or cast iron and just the molds in which the metal is poured in can be as big as a bus .

Then you have expert welders who put it together. If the product itself isn't amusing the process behind it is just as amusing, and to think that there are such skilled laborers in India as far as metallurgy goes is interesting !

Time for sincere Make in India my friend! We have to invest in these capabilities. Besides I'm sure from the intial cost perspective and maintenance costs perspective these would bring in value to owners if manufactured in India.

[D33-PAC]

Originally Posted by 599gto

As far as I know Liebherr is still to start full fledged operations. Though they have been quite actively marketing/showcasing their products all over the country. Service is a major concern with new entrants in the market.

And BEML has a pricing advantage, and because these things have a long list of consumables that need to go in every few 100/1000 hours, I guess BEML products make more sense. Caterpillar machines and their parts are still majorly not-made-in-India!

Ahh. That could be the reason why I rarely ever see Liebherr trucks in a mine. Excellent point on the consumables. Just wondering, Besides tires, what else could be consumed easily over a period of time ? It's not like the chassis breaks every 3 years right so I wonder what other things could possibly be needing change.

[dreamliner17]

Finally a made in India behemoth for the Caterpillar/Belaz/Liebherr earth moving segment ! And that's one colossal monster

400-546 litres of coolant, 245-261 litres of engine oil, 950 litres for the hydraulics system, 40 litres each for its gearbox and 3550 litres of fuel. That's some mind numbing numbers!

Total fuel capacity of my spark roughly equals the single gearbox oil capacity

[DevilzzzzOwn]

Not that I intend to buy it, but what is the cost?

And the eternal Indian question, "Kitna deta hai"?