# BEML

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. Its stock trades on the National Stock Exchange of India under the symbol "BEML", and on the Bombay Stock Exchange under the code "500048".

## History

Bharat Earth Movers Limited was incorporated on 11 May 1964 with the help of the Soviet Union. BEML 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 July 2007 and fixed the price band for its FPO between ₹1,020 and ₹1,090. On 5 October, the company changed its name to BEML Ltd. In December 2019, 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.

## 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.

## Residency

BEML Layout located in Brookefield, was the company township for its employees.

## 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

As reported in 2010, an indigenous engine, capable of providing a power output of 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) was to be developed for DRDO's Future Main Battle Tank (FMBT) programme. A national team had been formed including members from the academia, the user, industry and the DRDO. The first prototype would be ready by 4-5 yrs. Another project to develop the automatic transmission system for the tank was being launched. The indigenous engine along with the transmission will be collectively form the Bharat Power Pack which will meet the FMBT's mobility requirements.
As of 2012, DRDO had launched a “mission mode” project to develop the engine. The development project includes companies like Kirloskar Oil Engines, BEML, and the Mahindra & Mahindra; research institutions like Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs); and bodies like the Automotive Research Association of India, Pune. An Indian “prime contractor” would assemble the engines from sub-components delivered by a network of sub-contractors. As reported, the DRDO had been trying to bring in international consultants for assistance in designing the engine. By then, German companies MTU and Renk had refused to provide consultancy and, as of then, consultancy proposals from Ricardo of Britain and AVL of Austria was being evaluated. DRDO had also issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) to select an Indian partner to manufacture the engine. The selected consultant will work in a consortium including DRDO, the Army (user) and the Indian manufacturing partner. As per the 2012 timeline, the programme includes 12 months for designing, additional 18 months for prototype development – a total of 30–36 months to begin testing of the prototype.
As of February 2024, reports suggest the German-origin engine of Arjun Mk1A variant will be replaced by the DATRAN 1500 engine which is being developed by DRDO and currently under testing phase. This is because of the sudden closure of MTU Friedrichshafen's supply chain which is expected to take four years more to restart.
The DATRAN 1500 engine had its first testing in 2023. On 20 March 2024, the prototype engine was again successfully tested at BEML's Engine Division 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.
A total of 20 DATRAN prototypes are to be delivered by BEML. After initial trials, the performance of the engine is to be tested onboard a modified Arjun MBT prototype which would be heavier than the in-service main battle tanks of the Army or the MBTs the engine would power (Arjun variants, FMBT and FRCV). The engine could also be integrated on T-90MkIII (advanced Indian variant) from 2027-28.

## 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.
BEML manufactures rolling stock for Indian Railways as well as for metros since 1980's. 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.
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.
The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) awarded BEML a ₹866.87-crore contract to construct two high-speed train sets. They will be the first train sets produced in India with top speed of 280 kmph. They are expected to be delivered in 2026. Each coach will cost ₹27.86 crore.
BEML is one of the leading manufacturers of rail and metro coaches. Metro systems using BEML rolling stock are:
* Delhi Metro - 196 coaches (Violet and Green Line)
* Namma Metro - 150 coaches (Purple and Green)
* Jaipur Metro - 40 coaches
* Kolkata Metro - 84 coaches (Line Green)
* Mumbai Metro - 378 coaches (Line 2 and 7)

## Infrastructure

BEML operates in three major business verticals associated with equipment manufacturing:
* Mining & Construction
* Defence & Aerospace
* Rail & Metro
In addition to the above, there are strategic business units (SBUs):
* Trading Division for dealing in non-company products
* International Business Division for export activities
* Aerospace Division for design services for the aviation sector
BEML has the following manufacturing units spread over four locations:
* Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) Complex (around 100 km from Bengaluru)
** Hubli Earth Moving Division
** Rail Coach Unit II
** Heavy Fabrication Unit
** Hydraulic & Powerline Division
* Mysore Complex (around 130 km from Bengaluru)
** Truck Division
** Engine Division
** Aerospace Manufacturing Division
* Bengaluru Complex - Rail & Metro Division
* Palakkad Complex Kerala State - defence products manufacturing
** BEML - Tatra Trucks 12x12, 10x10, 8x8, 6x6, 4x4 & variants
** Pontoon bridge system
** Ground support vehicles for guided missile programme
** Heavy, medium and light recovery vehicles
** 50T trailer for tank transportation
** Mil rail coaches and mil wagons
** Apart from the above, Railway parts and aggregates are planned for manufacture
* Vignyan Industries, a subsidiary located at Tarikere (around 300 km from Bengaluru) - steel castings

## 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.

## 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.
* Action Construction Equipment, a Faridabad based company
* AVANI
* JCB
* Caterpillar Inc.

## Defense Vehicles

BEML manufactures DRDO designed HMV, Arjun ARRV, Mobile Standby Command Post Vehicle(MSCPV)
* BEML Armored Vehicle Arjun ARRV
* BEML HMV

## Trailers

* 20 T
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.
* 50T
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.
* 70T
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.

## 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.