On the other side of India, mining company SVA Blue Metals produces about 3.5 million tonnes of aggregates a year, using a fleet of Volvo Construction Equipment excavators.
Karanampettai is a small village in Palladam Taluk within the Tirupur District of Tamil Nadu State (one of the 28 states of India) and is 471km from Chennai, the state capital.
The state is known for its ancient Hindu temples and classical form of dance, and it is here that SVA Blue Metals was founded three decades ago by the present owner,
R. Ramakrishnan’s father, who handed over the business to Ramakrishnan 15 years ago.
The company operates the 24hectare Karanampettai mine close to the bustling industrial city of Coimbatore and has a licence to mine five hectares of the site, with a view to expand the mining capacity in the future, depending on market conditions and demand.
The company excavates large chunks of blue metal rock, also rather surprisingly known as jelly, which is a coarse particulate material used in the construction industry. It is among some of the most mined materials in the world and is indispensable to building foundations and road building because of its predictable, uniformed properties and its value as a low-cost reinforcement material that binds well with cement to form concrete.
It has been used for several decades to manufacture concrete but is also used in road base, railway ballast and many other civil construction and commercial building materials. The by-product is also used as a substitute for sand.
“You will find our aggregate used in numerous construction applications. Because the ore extract is crushed and mixed with other materials it does not keep its colour but it is in high demand because of its versatility. It strengthens metals’ molecular structure for construction use,” says R. Ramakrishnan.
Assisting SVA Blue Metals in its mining operations are five Volvo machines, including two Volvo EC210 BLC, two EC210 B-Prime and one EC290 B-Prime excavators. They excavate the blue metal rock, which is then transported from the quarry and sent to major customers in India.
The company bought its first Volvo excavator in 2007 and plans to extend its Volvo fleet. The machines work 12-hour shifts, 25 days a month for ten months each year.
“The business grows by the day, so it makes sense to invest in Volvo machines in order to meet the ever-growing demand,” says Ramakrishnan.
“The machines are extremely productive and fuel efficient, which is why we use this quality brand of equipment.”
The Volvo EC210 B-Prime excavator, 110kW, has a low-emission, turbo-charged diesel engine with water cooling, direct injection and after-cooler system, especially developed for excavator use.
The machine is suitable for any job site, contributing to good fuel economy, low sound level, less wear and a longer life. The automatic idling system also reduces the engine speed to idle when levers and pedals are not being used, says Volvo.
SVA says it is also pleased with the personalised service and attention it gets from
“Our dealership always goes the extra mile and is professional and efficient,” says Ramakrishnan. “If there is a service issue, the guys will sort out the problem as quickly as possible and are always there to help our operators.”
Ramakrishnan is the president of the Karanampettai Blue Metal Quarry Owners Association, which helps to promote the blue metal industry.
“We are proud of what we have achieved over the 65 years, and are extremely satisfied with our Volvo equipment,” says Ramakrishnan. .
