For Siemens, the decision to produce inverter and controller components in India is the next step in its strategy for manufacturing mining products.
Wieland Simon, head (media relations), said capacity for 20 units has been planned for now. The project cater not only to the domestic market but also the export market. The first two units have been exported to Brazil's steel and mining major, Vale.
"We selected the Nashik factory for the inverter/control manufacturing because of its long history of producing traction inverters for Indian Railways, which use similar equipment and technology as the shovel drive system," said Walter Koellner, director, marketing and development for mining, Siemens Energy & Automation.
"By manufacturing in India, we will cut back on time and help us better serve India's demand for mining equipment," he said. Siemens VAI has identified India as one of its focus countries for the mining technologies business.
Although Siemens has been supplying electrical drive systems and automation equipment for bucket wheel excavators and conveyors for more than two decades in India, the production of shovel and truck electrics for the world's third largest producer of coal, marks a significant step for Siemens' strategy in mining technologies. The idea is to tap the explosion in demand for raw materials in India.
Siemens recently developed a new generation of smaller AC drive systems for mining shovels, which provide improved productivity with lower maintenance costs. In addition to the shovel drive system, Siemens' offices in Mumbai will procure transformers, medium and low-voltage switchgear, cable and installation materials.
Siemens will also provide project management, software and hardware engineering and commissioning services for equipment used by India's largest coal producers. The first three machines are slated to be delivered in the first quarter of 2009.
(The reporter made the trip to Krakow at the invitation of Siemens VAI)
