BEML Limited

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 a 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 a 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 capacities. 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.

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 grader,s 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.

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.