Bosch, the supplier of technology and services to the mining industry, told IM at the Mining Indonesia show in Jakarta last week that it is expanding its portfolio of products and services in the country to address the changing landscape of the mining industry. This includes increasing its service offering for mining and industrial machinery in Kalimantan this year. “Mining remains one of Indonesia’s economic pillars and contributors to the country’s GDP. Despite facing challenging market fluctuations, our footprint in key mining hubs is our commitment to our customers as we work towards a sustainable recovery of the mining industry,” said Ralf von Baer, Managing Director for Bosch in Indonesia.
The decrease in commodity prices has impacted sales of new equipment, thereby extending the lifespans of existing machinery and vehicles in lieu of capital investments. “We are shifting our focus towards ensuring the operability of these machines and maximising cost efficiency throughout the equipment’s lifetime,” said Ronald Suurd, Managing Director of Rexroth in Indonesia, the Drive and Control business of Bosch. “Our robust innovations are designed to deliver reliability and performance, while our extensive service portfolio is tailored to individual requirements, backed by a global service network and application experience.” Suurd told IM Rexroth has 20 service engineers in the country and that the company is in the process of finalising new contracts with other service providers. “There are challenges but also opportunities. The big coal mines are still running meaning some major equipment and components will need overhauling, so we are adding more stock and service capabilities.” The company already has service centres in Medan, Balikpapan (being expanded), and Surabaya, but is adding a new facility in Palembang, Sumatra. Major customers include Kideco, which uses Hagglunds drives on its bucketwheel reclaimers. Other key Hagglunds markets include conveyor, feeder and roll crusher drives. Upgrades available include modernising Hagglunds drives that were delivered with third party pumps, with Hagglunds SP series pumps from Rexroth.
Moving back to Bosch, the group is introducing a range of innovations for the Indonesian mining industry. The company’s Automotive Aftermarket business division is launching its advanced synchronised starter motors for off-highway vehicles – one of the first in Indonesia that will improve the durability and reduce operational costs of mining vehicles such as dump trucks. The division will also offer a new range of “robust, heavy duty batteries for off highway vehicles that are backed by three years of warranty assurance.” The Power Tools division, having gained commercial success in mining with its corded range of rotary and demolition hammers and breakers, launched its cordless range of tools powered by Li-ion batteries at Mining Indonesia, to complement the corded range.