Can you please tell us about BEML's manufacturing capacities & capabilities facilities?
We have plants located Bangalore, Kolar Gold Fields, Mysore and Palakkad manufacturing equipment for Defence land systems, Rail & Metro rolling stock, Construction & Mining equipment. The capabilities cover the entire spectrum including production of engines, transmissions, axles, hydraulics and structures. The complexes are equipped with Plate shop, Fabrication shop, Machine shop, Gear shop, Heat treatment shop, Tool room and assembly shops. Laboratories for material testing and Metrology are available to support the production
activities. Test track and testing grounds are available for evaluation assembled equipment.
We also have one of the best infrastructures for manufacturing stainless steel rail / metro coaches with the installed capacity exceeding 300 vehicles per annum. Specifically, we have trained manpower resources, streamlined manufacturing processes with facilities such as Laser cutting machines, Robotic welding machines, Jigs & fixtures, Electro-mechanical testing, etc. Also, BEML has well maintained regional / district offices to enable easy networking and services.
Research & development plays an important role in the manufacturing sector. Tell us about your R&D efforts?
BEML has well established Research & Development (R&D) centre to provide complete technical solutions for supplying the Rail & Metro vehicles. R&D is central to our operations where in over 56% of the turnover comes from R&D developed products in an environment where 80% of orders are secured through competitive bidding.
Innovation cell in BEML has galvanized the Intellectual property related awareness among the R&D engineers and training has been organized on patenting which has led to filing of eight patents till date. Another ten patents are under drafting to secure the IP rights for the company.
Structured discussions with leading academic institutions like IISc are in progress for engaging them in the development of new technologies required for Noise reduction, Explicit analysis, Computational fluid dynamics, Clutch simulation, etc. This is expected to yield significant breakthrough in development of critical aggregates and import substitution products. IIT- Kharagpur have been engaged for cooperation in the areas of bogie design, three phase propulsion system controls, EMC/EMI studies, alternate car body material.
BEML has entered in to MoU with ARAI, Pune for execution of projects in the area of Emission reduction and Noise control and has become a member of ARAI with access to their test facilities. Close cooperation with research laboratories of DRDO like CVRDE, VRDE and R&D Engineers is maintained for joint development of products and systems.
How do you foresee Indian market in the defence manufacturing sector growing in coming years?
Make in India policy aims to strengthen the defence-industrial base through measures like reforming the cap on FDI. Publicprivate partnership in defence in the country is being encouraged to step up arms exports and licensing system has been liberalized. Our proactive and concerted approach has resulted in indigenization level of 100% in Pontoon Bridge System, to more than 80% in case of high mobility heavy duty trucks. BEML's overall business strategy is to transform itself into a system integrator by outsourcing a substantial part to Indian vendors by leveraging the strengths especially of the MSMEs. The indigenization drive aims to gain competitive edge by moving towards the goal of ‘pushing the boundaries with innovation, technology and indigenization'. The growth of BEML vendor base in the last 3 years has been to the tune of 5-6% annually.
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