Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML), a PSU under the ministry of defence, plans to expand its portfolio of ground handling equipment for both the civilian and defence markets. The company, which currently manufactures three ground handling equipment, plans to form a joint venture (JV) with a US company for this purpose. |
"At present, we are in talks with a US company for transfer of technology and product support and a joint production of a wide range of ground handling equipment and components in Bangalore. We wish to manufacture and market them in both the domestic and export markets." said V RS Natarajan, chairman and managing director, BEML. |
He said the company had initial talks with the US firm, which is the second largest producer of an entire range of ground handling support equipment in the world. |
"We will continue to increase our range of ground support equipment for civil and defence sectors," said Natarajan. |
The details of the JV agreement with the US firm are being worked out and will be firmed up shortly, he said without naming the company. |
At present, BEML manufactures aircraft towing tractor, crash fire tender, aircraft weapon loading trolley and radar carrying vehicle. |
"For the first time in India our engineers have developed a two-in-one product called ATT-GPU by clubbing aircraft towing tractor and auxiliary power unit. This is on display at Aero India 2007. We have received a lot of enquiries for this product. We are planning to export this product," he said. |
"The product is a standing example of BEML's in-house innovative R&D. Like this, we want to get into the production of many ground handling equipment in collaboration with the US firm," he added. |
BEML targets Rs 5,000 crore turnover by 2013-14. The company, which reported a turnover of $490 million (Rs 2,252 crore) in 2005-06, is expecting a growth of over 20 per cent to touch $600 million (Rs 2,758 crore) in the current financial year. |