BEML explained

BEML Limited
Type:Public
Traded As:
Industry:Heavy equipment
Defence
Railway vehicles
Location City:BEML Soudha,
No 23/1, IV Main, Sampangiramanagar,
Bangalore, Karnataka
Area Served:Worldwide
Key People:Shantanu Roy [1]
Products:Earthmoving equipment
Underground mining equipment
Railway equipment
High power diesel engines
Heavy duty hydraulic aggregates
Revenue: (2020)[2]
Operating Income: (2020)
Profit: (2020)
Assets: (2020)
Equity: (2020)
Owner:Government of India (54.03%)[3]
Num Employees:6,973 (FY 2024-25)
Location Country:India
Subsid:MAMC Industries
BEML Skybus[4]

BEML Limited, formerly Bharat Earth Movers Limited, is an Indian public sector undertaking which manufactures a variety of heavy equipment, such as that used for earth moving, railways, transport and mining. It is headquartered in Bangalore. BEML is Asia's second-largest manufacturer of earth moving equipment.[5] Its stock trades on the National Stock Exchange of India under the symbol "BEML", and on the Bombay Stock Exchange under the code "500048".[6]

History

BEML was incorporated on 11th May 1964. It started its operations in 1965 with the transfer of a Tractor project from Ordnance Factory Board's Gun & Shell Factory.[7] [8] It was wholly owned by the government and operated by India's Ministry of Defence until 1992, when the government divested 25% of its holdings in the company. The company went for Follow-on Public offer (FPO) in 2007 and fixed the price band for its FPO between 1,020 and ₹1,090.[9] The Government of India had given 'in-principle' approval for strategic disinvestment of BEML Ltd. to the extent of 26% out of the Government shareholding of 54.03% with transfer of management control to strategic buyer.[10]

Manufacturing facilities

BEML has manufacturing plants in Kolar Gold Fields, Bangalore, Mysore and Palakkad. It has numerous regional offices throughout the country. KGF unit is the main unit accounting for the manufacture and assembly of a wide array of earth-moving equipment such as bulldozers and excavators. Railcoaches are made in the Bengaluru complex, and the Mysore facility makes dump trucks and engines of various capacity. On 10 August 2020, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the industrial design centre (IDC) at BEML Bengaluru, aiming to integrate research and development with manufacturing.[11]

Products

BEML manufactures a wide range of products to meet the needs of mining, construction, power, irrigation, fertiliser, cement, steel and rail sectors. The earthmoving equipment includes bulldozers, dump trucks, hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, rope shovels, walking draglines, motor graders and scrapers.

BEML has recently introduced road headers and slide discharge Loaders for underground mining applications. Railway products include integral railcoaches, electric multiple units, rail buses, track-laying equipment and overhead equipment inspection Cars. BEML manufactures heavy-duty trucks and trailers and hydraulic aggregates for the transportation sector.

The company also manufactures high power diesel engines and heavy duty hydraulic aggregates to meet specific customer requirements. The company plans to diversify into varied activities including underground mining equipment, underground storage for petro-products, leasing and financial services and joint ventures abroad.

Mining and Construction equipment

BEML is India's leading mining and construction equipment manufacturer and Asia's second largest equipment company,BEML offers diverse range of mining machinery for both opencast and underground mining.

BEML manufactures machines such as Hydraulic Excavators, Bulldozers, Wheel loaders, Dump Trucks, Motor Grades, Pipe Layers, Tyre handler, Backhoe Loaders, Electric Shovels, Load Haul Dumpers etc.

Defense & Aerospace

BEML plays a key role in the country's Integrated Guided Missile Development Project by supplying ground support vehicles.A new Aerospace division was launched during Aero India 2009.The division manufactures Ground support equipment such as Aircraft Towing Tractor, Aircraft Weapon Loading Trolley, Multi-purpose Weapon Loaders and Crash Fire Tender.

DATRAN 1500

The DATRAN 1500 engine, which is being developed for the Futuristic Main Battle Tank program had its first testing in 2023. On 20 March 2024, 1500 hp prototype engine was again successfully tested at BEML's Mysuru facility. The engine has electronic control, self-cleaning air filter, CRDi fuel injection system, and electronic warning control. In addition, the engine has a high power-to-weight ratio and can run in a variety of harsh environments, such as 5,000 meters or more above sea level, in sub-zero temperature of -40°C, and up to +55°C in a hot desert environment. Twenty such engines, with an emphasis on technology stabilization, will be produced in 2024 and put through additional testing to evaluate their performance, robustness, and dependability. The project is expected to be completed by the middle of 2025.[12] [13]  

Railways/Metro rolling stock

BEML Limited's Rail Coach Factory situated in Bangalore, India is the first all steel integrated rail coach factory established by Government of India during 1948. This factory was established to indigenously manufacture the passenger rail coach for Indian Railways.[14] BEML manufactures rolling stock for Indian Railways as well as for metros since 1980's.[15] BEML has supplied more than 200 coaches to DMRC and has an order of 150 coaches from Bengaluru Metro. BEML has independently supplied about 140 cars to DMRC using transfer of technology from Hyundai ROTEM. Jaipur Metro has also ordered to manufacture, supply, test and commission 10 train sets of four cars each, totaling 40 cars to the Jaipur Metro Project.

BEML Limited has bagged a contract from the Railway Board for design, manufacturing, supply, testing and commissioning of rakes of some stainless steel AC Electrical Multiple Unit (SSEMU) coaches worth Rs 31 crore.[16]

BEML has started supplying metro train sets to the East West corridor of Kolkata Metro (KMRCL). Present order in hands from KMRCL is for 14 train sets of six cars each.

BEML receives letter of acceptance (LoA) for design, manufacture and commissioning of 10 Trainsets (Sleeper) on Vande Bharat platform. The total value of order is Rs 675 crore.[17]

BEML is one of the leading manufacturers of rail and metro coaches. Metro systems using BEML rolling stock are:

Infrastructure

BEML operates in three major business verticals associated with equipment manufacturing:

In addition to the above, there are strategic business units (SBUs):

BEML has the following manufacturing units spread over four locations:

Management

Shri Shantanu Roy assumed charge as Chairman & Managing Director at BEML Ltd from 01.08. 2023. Prior to assuming his present position, Shri Shantanu Roy was Director (Mining and Construction Business) after the superannuation of Shri M V Rajasekhar the predecessor CMD of BEML Ltd since 1 Feb 2021.[18]

Competitors

The main competitor for BEML is in the private sector who has its own manufacturing units in India, thus participating in the 'Make in India' initiative.The major source of income of BEML comes from Mining equipment.

Defense Vehicles

BEML manufactures DRDO designed HMV, Arjun ARRV, Mobile Standby Command Post Vehicle(MSCPV) and Czech Tatra trucks and rebadges them under license.[19]

A probe into an alleged scam in the purchase of Tatra trucks for the Indian Army led to the suspension of the then-BEML chief by the Defence Ministry.[20]

Trailers

20 Ton capacity 8 wheeled lowboy trailer developed for transportation of construction equipments on rough train. Can be coupled with tractor via 4 wheeled dolly.[21]

50 Ton capacity 24 wheeled lowboy trailers developed for transportation of mid-weight tanks on rough train. Can be coupled with tractor via 8 wheeled jeep dolly.[22]

70 Ton capacity 5 axle row hydraulic modular trailer developed for transportation of heavy tanks on rough train. Can be coupled with ballast tractor via drawbar coupling.[23]

Controversy

In 2014, BEML made headlines when former army chief VK Singh alleged he was offered a bribe of 14 crores to clear sub-standard trucks for the army. These trucks, known as Tatra trucks, are supplied to BEML via a London agent for assembly. The CBI was investigating allegations of the bribe, as well as the alleged violation of basic rules by BEML, where defense equipment must be purchased directly from the manufacturer without involving middlemen.[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Defence, Mining & Construction and Rail Coach Factory in India.
  2. https://www.bemlindia.in/writereaddata/Downloads/202006291135March2020.pdf "Balance Sheet 31.03.2020"
  3. News: Defence PSU BEML on the block, govt to invite financial bids in Dec quarter - ET Government . 9 February 2023 . ETGovernment.com . en.
  4. Web site: BEML to make foray into sky-bus project - India Environment Portal | News, reports, documents, blogs, data, analysis on environment & development | India, South Asia. www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in. 24 May 2023.
  5. Web site: BEML: From earth moving to aerospace. The Hindu Business Line. 27 March 2013. 28 March 2013.
  6. Web site: BEML Ltd Company in Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The Economic Times. 12 January 2019. 13 January 2019.
  7. https://gsf.aweil.in/index.php?id=2&pid=2
  8. Web site: Cossipore Gun and Shell Factory. premium.globalsecurity.org.
  9. News: BEML public offer subscribed around 9 times. The Economic Times. 3 July 2007. 4 July 2007.
  10. Web site: PSU Status of BEML. 5 December 2019.
  11. News: Press Trust of India. 2020-08-10. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launches BEML's industrial design centre. Business Standard. 2020-08-14.
  12. News: Pubby . Manu . 2024-02-14 . India to develop engine for new Arjun tanks . 2024-03-20 . The Economic Times . 0013-0389.
  13. News: 2024-03-20 . Transformative moment: BEML successfully test fires indigenous 1500 HP engine for military tanks . 2024-03-20 . The Economic Times . 0013-0389.
  14. Web site: RAIL & METRO – BEML India .
  15. News: MMRDA awards Rs 3,015 cr contract to BEML for rolling stock on. Business Line. 24 November 2018.
  16. Web site: BEML bags Railway Board order worth Rs 31 crore. 8 September 2008. www.business-standard.com. 24 May 2023.
  17. Web site: BEML Receives LoA Worth Rs 675 Cr For Vande Bharat Trainsets. 15 May 2023. www.businessworld.in. 28 May 2023.
  18. News: D.K.Hota is next BEML chief. The Hindu. 31 December 2015. d. s. Madhumathi.
  19. Web site: Beml India. 13 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111014235154/http://bemlindia.com/product_defence.php. 14 October 2011. dead.
  20. News: VRS Natarajan, BEML chief suspended by Defence Ministry. The Economic Times. 2021-06-21.
  21. Web site: BEML 20T trailer . 2023-09-06 . 6 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230906080313/https://alumni.bemlindia.in/writereaddata/Downloads/2017090512482020T%20low%20deck%20full%20trailer.pdf . bot: unknown .
  22. Web site: BEML 50T trailer . 2023-09-06 . 6 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230906075822/https://alumni.bemlindia.in/writereaddata/Downloads/2017090512490650T%20Trailer%20for%20Tank%20Transport.pdf . bot: unknown .
  23. Web site: BEML 70T trailer . 2023-09-06 . 6 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230906082629/https://alumni.bemlindia.in/writereaddata/Downloads/2017092311472370%20T%20Trailer.pdf . bot: unknown .
  24. Web site: BEML head slammed by govt for threatening to sue ex army chief . NDTV.com.