Date:20/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/02/20/stories/2008022052600300.htm

Back BEML signs pact with Thales, General Dynamics

Our Bureau

New Delhi, Feb. 19 The public sector BEML expects its order book to cross the Rs 4,000-crore mark by the end of the current financial year, up from the current order book value of Rs 3,200 crore, the Chairman and Managing Director, Mr V.R.S. Natarajan, said here on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference at the DefExpo, Mr Natarajan said that BEML signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with TDA Armements S.A.S., a 100 per cent subsidiary of French company Thales for the development, manufacture and supply for Self Propelled Mine Burrier (SPMB).

In addition, BEML has recently signed an MoA with the Canadian company General Dynamics for producing vehicles which would be sold locally and globally. The company has also extended the memorandum of understanding with Tatra Sipox (United Kingdom) for technology transfer, production and marketing of 20 and 25 tonne tipper vehicles for the domestic metal, mining and coal market.

“Tatra has also agreed to offer the complete transfer of technology for BS II for 4x4 and 6x6 Tatra defence trucks for the domestic and global market,” the Chairman said and added, that the Tipper is to be built at the existing plant at Mysore.