CRUSH It Out!

Crushing & screening equipment are used in mining industry to turn big pieces of stones into smaller size which can be used in the construction sector. There are different types of crushers and screening systems. Construction Times finds out the present market dynamics, technological upgrades, opportunities, future market, target avenues, challenges in the crushing and screening segment.

The crushing and screening equipment market is segmented by product into crushing and screening equipment. The crushing equipment is further segmented into jaw-, cone-, and impact crushers, and others, whereas, the screening equipment is segmented into free fall-, and roller screens, scalpers, and others. The revenue generated by new demand for these equipment is estimated to be higher as compared to replacement demand for the same.

The mobile crushing and screening solutions segment has grown enormously in recent years. With the first track-mounted mobile units having appeared in the 1980s and pioneered by a small number of manufacturers, the range and variety of units on the market has grown enormously since.

Mobility and versatility have been drivers of this huge growth in demand for the mobile units. These machines can be moved to sites for short periods and then elsewhere, for projects of short duration. Even for quarries with long-term permission, using mobile units can offer benefits as the equipment can be relocated during operations as extraction progresses and new working areas are developed, ensuring higher working efficiency. Competition is now tough between manufacturers as a very wide range of firms now offer machines into this market, providing customers with many choices. The technology too is wide and varied, with different crusher types suiting different feed materials, product types and applications. Sophisticated technologies also offer remote control of equipment and computerised batching options for some units.

Rising Commercial and Industrial Applications

According to Research nester, growth in infrastructure and construction projects comprising building construction and other industrial applications is driving the demand for crushing and screening equipment. This growth is backed by the rise in urban population with advanced living standards around the globe. Numerous regulating organizations are significantly investing in the infrastructure and technological innovations around the world. These are some of the significant factors that are estimated to boost the growth of crushing and screening equipment.

Challenges

Concerns Related to CO2 Emissions

The usage of diesel as operation fuel in crushing and screening equipment results in CO2 emission, further raising the concerns on environment safety. Moreover, stringent safety regulations due to hazardous nature of work might act as barriers to the growth of the market.

Impact of Covid-19 on Construction Industry

The corona virus pandemic has impacted numerous industries on a large scale. Construction industry is one such industry that witnessed challenges related to health and safety standards, unemployment, contractual agreements, remote training, delay or cancellations of projects among others.

Technology trends

It is pertinent to note that when it comes to faster construction of roads and highways in the country, the role played by crushing and screening plants is immense. Technology has come a long way as we have also witnessed a rise in new age technologies in the recent past. The projects of roads and highways are becoming bigger and it is slowly getting replaced by expressways which is also propelling the demand for crushing and screening equipment. 

 Green initiatives

Currently, the crushing and screening equipment market is dominated by diesel powered plants and machines. However, leading players are offering hybrid and electrical powered models for various applications. This can reduce emission in crushing and screening. However, there are issues related to dust and suspended particles in crushing operations.

Leaders speak

Ramesh Palagiri, Managing Director & CEO - Wirtgen India, said, “Government policies like smart city initiative will give more focus to waste screen opportunity of classifiers and scalpers. Faster clearance and allotment of Iron ore mines will entrust the demand for C&S plants requirement in the mining sector.”

Amol Sinha, General Manager, Product Support & Training - Terex India, said, “India is witnessing rapid urbanization and so is the crushing & screening industry, fueling demand for faster construction which is a major driver for customers to move towards mobility. Terex is one of the first organisations to manufacture mobile plants in India that are best suited to meet the requirements of larger projects for completion in a relatively shorter period. We are seeing a surge in demand for the manufactured sand (M-sand) with many states in India banning illegal river sand mining."

Sharad Thussu, Head- Mining & Construction Equipment Division at Voltas.

As India continues on the exponential development path, the demand for aggregates is expected to increase exponentially over the next few years as they serve as reinforcement to add strength to the overall composite material. The availability of good quality aggregate is still a concern mainly due to the strict environmental laws that restrict mining.

The demand for aggregates in India will  increase owing to residential and commercial construction as well as large-scale smart city projects funded by the Government. The production of aggregates, M-Sand is also in upward trend with investments in Roadways, Railways, Metros and Smart Cities and mega infrastructure projects like Bharat Mala and Setu Bharatam Project. The rebuilding of Roadways, Railways, Waterways, Smart Cities, Metros, Mining from Coal & Iron Ore are great opportunities across the country as they contribute to growth in demand for equipment used in Mining, Construction, Crushing & Screening. Additionally we witnessing a surge in demand for crushers in the iron ore segment, primarily due to the increased local steel demand and the auctions of iron ore in 2020. Going forward, we are optimistic of staying on the path of upward growth trajectory as India has large reserves of iron ore and our expertise is highly sought-after in the industry.

He further added, “The coal sector is set to grow rapidly for the next few years, so while we already have a range of equipment which customers are currently using in their coal mines, we are simultaneously preparing to launch new products that further meets the demands of this sector. We have seen both ups and downs as far as India’s Crushing & Screening Industry is concerned.”

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