Austria-based giant engineering and plantmaking company Siemens VAI Mining and Metals Technologies GmbH & Co. has announced its intention to expand its metals and mining business in India by extending its solutions and service portfolio.
As the Siemens VAI official responsible for the company's metals technologies business in India, Mr. Ashoke Pan said that Siemens' engineering and servicing capacities as well as the integration of Mumbai-based Morgan Construction (acquired in April this year) will enable Siemens to set the market standards for future technological development.
Moreover, Mr. Pan stated that there is great potential for growth in India by collaborating with local partners and, above all, building up expertise levels among the approximate 9,000 Siemens VAI employees worldwide.
"Another focus would be on expanding and building up the spare parts and after-sales services business in India from the company's own workshops, as well as integrating clearly defined electrical and mechanical solution packages. The basis for this would be the systematic standardization of products and processes in order to increase plant operating safety and considerably reduce downtimes," said Mr. Pan.
"We expect a double-digit growth over the market average of seven to nine percent thanks to new projects and service solutions," added Mr. Pan.
Siemens VAI is currently executing more than 10 mega-projects in India and it is engaged in upgrading and modernization in many Indian steel companies. Siemens VAI employs around 400 engineers and staff in Kolkata and Mumbai to support customers locally.
Furthermore, Siemens VAI has recently commissioned a new RH degasser for SAIL's Bhilai Steel Plant, which increased the production of rail steel by another 0.8 million mt per year, and revamped at Bokaro the hot strip mill finishing stands, enabling the mill to produce more than 740 coils or 14,500 mt per day.