Mahindra Construction Equipment – Powering the ‘zero emissions and autonomous machines’ agenda
Where do you see India’s CE industry in general and your company in particular, stand in terms of its efforts in adopting/implementing these new trends to contribute towards a more sustainable eco-friendly environment?
Our world as we know is becoming increasingly digitized in every sphere of work and life. However, there is also a concerted effort to build and adopt technologies that will not just enhance business productivity and profits, but will be eco-friendly and help in conserving the planet.
Globally, in the construction equipment industry too, there is a growing trend towards innovation and adoption of newer technologies such as robotics and digitization. Greater automation of construction equipment offers manifold customer benefits of convenience, cost and time efficiencies, and therefore higher earnings. Additionally, the rise of electric machines as well as the use of alternative green fuels, such as hydrogen, will result in newage construction equipment that works smarter and with near zero emissions.
We are witnessing these global trends in India’s construction equipment industry as well. Electric construction equipment such as electric excavators and electric forklifts to help achieve zero emissions, autonomous construction machines that can be controlled and monitored remotely – these are no longer futuristic buzzwords, but a reality; one that is altering the construction landscape in India dramatically.
Our company, Mahindra Construction Equipment – one of the leading construction equipment manufacturers in India – is at the forefront of adopting and implementing the trend of autonomous construction machines and achieving the target of zero emissions. Our next generation range of Mahindra EarthMaster and RoadMaster construction machines, deliver on all these crucial parameters. These are robust, high-end automated machines, powered by Mahindra’s proven CEV-IV CRDI engine, equipped with the latest Mahindra iMAXX Telematics technology, and thus capable of delivering a powerful and efficient performance.
When we talk of sustainability and zero emissions, engine technology is key. When more refined engines power our construction machines, they are capable of delivering vastly superior performance.
Mahindra’s refined CEV-IV CRDI engine, at the heart of our newest Mahindra EarthMaster and RoadMaster construction equipment range, uses a more sophisticated fuel injection technology of high pressure direct fuel injection. Hence, the end benefit to the customer includes efficient fuel consumption, greater power output, better emission control and reduced NVH levels.
In India and across the world, construction equipment manufacturers such as Mahindra are re-imagining and re-engineering their machines to achieve higher level of digitization, automation and electrification. Combined with improved engine technology for emission control, this makes our construction equipment highly efficient and productive.
The revolutionary Mahindra iMAXX Telematics technology comes in-built in our latest Mahindra EarthMaster and Mahindra RoadMaster models. Mahindra iMAXX Telematics technology with features such as Vehicle Health Monitoring, Location Tracking, Geo Fencing and Time Fencing Alerts, makes our construction machines truly autonomous. Such advanced tech features provide real-time vehicle information for timely intervention, and allow finger-tip access and control to the customer for monitoring and interfacing with the vehicle.
Mahindra Construction Equipment will continue to innovate and harness the power of new technologies; so as to offer more intuitive, efficient, advanced-tech autonomous products and solutions, and thereby contribute towards a more sustainable future.
Equipment monitoring and increased human-machine
Indeed, in recent years, with the adoption of newer technologies and an increase in digitisation in almost every industry, we have seen similar demand urgency in the construction equipment industry as well. This is especially true in the high-end construction equipment landscape, both globally and in India.
In the Indian context, a rapid change in technology is taking place when it comes to equipment monitoring and enhanced human-machine interface in heavy construction equipment. Such technological advancements and their impact feature in the latest construction machinery models. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, these are truly high-end machines, capable of delivering powerful performance and higher productivity.
At Mahindra Construction Equipment, we are at the forefront of riding this change, having already anticipated this demand trend before it picked up pace in India. Therefore, we were prepared to launch our latest product line-up of next-gen Mahindra EarthMaster Backhoe Loaders and Mahindra RoadMaster Grader machines, which are customised for Indian conditions and usage, meeting the specific requirements of the Indian construction industry. Our sophisticated earthmoving and grading machines – developed as a result of Mahindra’s rigorous product development efforts, combined with detailed consumer insight feedback – are equipped with a host of advanced technology.
Our new-gen Mahindra EarthMaster loaders and RoadMaster graders come with the latest Mahindra iMAXX Telematics technology which includes several top-of-the-line features and benefits. We have developed Mahindra iMAXX Telematics to perform the role of a virtual personal assistant system, by which our customer has easy access and control for monitoring and interfacing with his Mahindra EarthMaster or RoadMaster machine.
Let me give you a more in-depth view about how exactly this refined Mahindra iMAXX Telematics technology works and how it is proving advantageous for our customers.
Vehicle Health Monitoring – this includes battery, alternator and engine temperature monitoring by raising predictive alerts. Such machine health alerts prevent major failures through timely and appropriate intervention.
Location Tracking – Mahindra iMAXX Telematics enables you to track real-time movement of your machine with updates on live location with address and also gives information about nearby hubs and service stations, thereby saving time and increasing operational hours. Geo Fencing and Time.
Fencing Alerts – Geo fencing check-in and check-out alerts allow the customer to track unscheduled and prolonged vehicle stoppages during transit outside construction sites. This results in increased operational efficiency by stopping unauthorised vehicle movement and usage.
With iMAXX Telematics technology our customers also get additional features and advantages such as;
- Vehicle Diagnostic Reports – provides automated reports for engine run hours, fuel economy, distance etc which significantly saves on manual time and effort for logging and book keeping.
- Fuel Level Analysis – tracks fuel efficiency with over 98% accuracy, benefitting the customer with decreased operating cost since actual fuel costs can be determined.
- Service Reminders – timely service notifications to the customer allow proper machine maintenance thereby improving operational efficiency and productivity
- Operator Management – notifies the customer on operator behaviour such as harsh braking, wasteful idling, overruns, over speeding and so on, with the benefit of 5% improvement in fuel efficiency and reduced accident risk So with our revolutionary Mahindra iMAXX Telematics technology, we have ensured that our products are not just meeting today’s customer demands but are actually future-ready.
Mahindra Construction Equipment keeps a relentless focus on product development, as we aim to introduce more refined and robust vehicles, which are capable of multi-tasking and can deliver higher profitability for our customers. This effort of ours at Mahindra becomes even more critical when seen in the current scenario of rising fuel costs and increasing operational expenses. Our latest Mahindra EarthMaster and RoadMaster models are powered by Mahindra’s proven CEV IV CRDI engine which offers best-in-class fuel efficiency and is low maintenance thereby ensuring better savings for our customers. These versatile machines are also tech advanced that makes them more efficient and productive, translating into higher profits and more savings for our customers. Take for instance our Mahindra RoadMaster G75. It is the ideal solution for Indian road projects and can effortlessly perform a variety of tasks such as spreading, grading of earthwork and is also used for railway work and ground levelling operations in different sectors.
The RoadMaster G75 is also equipped with DiGISENSE technology, a GPRS-based remote monitoring system, by which you can track your vehicle from your pocket. Similarly, our brand new Mahindra EarthMaster SX Smart 50 offers best-in-class fuel efficiency, has 8% bigger backhoe bucket for higher productivity and comes with improved hydraulics that reduce per hour maintenance cost while offering better performance. So while Mahindra is already offering great versatility and value for money to its customers with the latest product range, we will continue our efforts at product innovation and development to offer even more sophisticated yet affordable and economical vehicles to customers going forward.
Get to Know Common Rail Injection (CRI) Engines
In the automotive world this holds true across vehicle categories including in construction equipment machines. The result of such engine technology change is an entire new generation of more advanced engines, powering vehicles that are able to deliver vastly improved performance.
One such major engine technology shift took place when Common Rail Direct Injection technology was introduced and adopted in diesel engines worldwide.
About Common Rail Injection (CRI)
Common Rail Injection or CRI basically refers to the system of fuel injection in the engine. CRI is a more refined fuel injection technology which uses high pressure direct fuel injection. The end benefit is superior engine performance in terms of;
- • Greater power output
- • Efficient fuel consumption
- • Better emission control
- • Reduced NVH levels
Interestingly common rail injection was first used in submarine engines. Today common railignition system is synonymous with automotive diesel engines whether fitted in cars, buses, trucks or heavy engineering and construction machines. They are all designed, built and run on the common rail ignition system.
CRI engine technology itself has undergone many waves of advancement and up-gradation following intensive R&D efforts globally. All of this has made CRI diesel engines more sophisticated in their functioning. For instance modified common rail uses a hydraulically operated common rail engine. In modern common rail injection systems the fuel injection is controlled electrically by an ECU or Engine Control Unit.
You will find that different automotive manufacturers have given their own brand name to common rail engines, but the underlying principle of functioning is the same.
How CRI Technology Functions
For a better understanding and to get the best performance out of your construction equipment machine over a long-term usage and maintenance cycle, it is definitely useful to know the actual working of the CRI engine technology that goes into it.
So here is what happens in a common rail ignition system.
Fuel is stored at high pressure in a long metal cylinder also known as the ‘rail’ which is the common connector to the engine’s fuel injectors via individual pipes – hence ‘common rail’. The magic happens when the high-pressure pump that controls fuel supplied to the rail, works in perfect synchronisation with the fuel injectors which precisely control the timing and quantity of fuel injected directly into the engine’s combustion chamber. That is how Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDI) technology fundamentally functions and also how it gets its name.
How Mahindra uses CRI Technology to achieve BS4 Norms
Mahindra Construction Equipment has recently launched its all new BS4 range of heavy earth moving machinery across all models of its flagship machines; the Mahindra EarthMaster backhoe loader and Mahindra RoadMaster grader.
And it is CRI engine technology that has been instrumental in helping Mahindra Construction Equipment make the shift in upgrading their machines from the earlier BS3 to the new BS4 emission standards. After all to meet BS4 norms, the vehicle needs to run on a BS4 compliant engine. And BS4 diesel engines use the more advanced common rail ignition technology.
Mahindra EarthMaster and Mahindra RoadMaster machines have BS4-ready diesel engines that are equipped with a more powerful catalytic converter called DOC, an Exhaust Gas Regulator or EGR and a Urea injector called Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). All combined they makes the fuel combustion process more efficient and reduce emission of harmful hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, resulting in a cleaner and more efficient engine that is uncompromising on power and performance.
What AI can Do for the Construction Equipment Industry
That said, particularly, in past few years, CE industry has gradually seen increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) which has the potential to boost productivity, efficiency and safety at the jobsite.
So, let us first know what is AI? Well, AI is an aggregative terms for describing when a machine mimics human cognitive function like problem-solving, pattern recognition and learning.
The need for AI in the Construction Equipment industry
Construction has always been a risky business. This is because of the usage of heavy machinery, uneven terrain, constant activity and risk of human error, all which can results in danger and accidents at the jobsite. Despite the focus on health and safety and use of various technologies and methodologies, yet the danger always looms at the jobsite. Here, comes the importance of AI-incorporated equipment and machine learning that has the potential to increase not only safety at the construction site but efficiency as well.
What is propelling the growth of AI in CE industry?
The need to produce superior results, complete projects at a fast pace and curb the problem of shortage of skilled operators are some factors that are leading to the growth of the AI in the CE sector. In addition, the adoption of the drones, robots and autonomous vehicles in the construction sector is also clearly backing the growth of the AI in CE industry. These technologies are being adopted by the companies for mapping, aerial imaging, surveying construction sites and to automate the construction operations. This is developing myriad opportunities for the growth of the AI technology in the CE sector.
The benefits of AI for the Construction Equipment industry
Increasingly, companies are realising the benefits that AI-enabled machines can bring in for tackling not only health and safety issues but making work more efficient. Here are the benefits of AI for the CE industry…
1.AI- incorporated equipment not only have the potential to ensure safety but offer plenty of other benefits such as they can automate all the mundane and repetitive tasks which otherwise can be very time consuming at the jobsite.
2.AI can also help the inexperienced operators of heavy and complex equipment like the backhoe loader and motor graders to carry out difficult tasks which otherwise may consume a lot of time and still the end-result is substandard.
3.AI can also sort out the major issue that is being faced by the CE industry today that is the shortage of skilled and experienced operators. Generally, heavy equipment like backhoe loaders or motor graders require trained operators who have expertise in safely handling the equipment to drive them as it goes without saying that any wrong move can cause heavy damage to the operator, equipment and even the people on the jobsite. However, either the skilled operators are not readily available or they are costly to employ. Thus, given the shortage of skilled operators, AI can help the contractors as well as construction company owners to make do with the unskilled operators also as most of the task can be easily performed by using the advanced technologies.
4.AI systems can essentially help in predictive maintenance as well. With AI, business owners can learn patterns that lead to failures and make predictions such as CE failing if it is not serviced after a certain amount of time. Here, in this context, Mahindra Construction Equipment’s (MCE’s) EarthMaster Backhoe Loader deserves a special mention. The equipment comes with REMOTECARE feature which is an intelligent communication system that keeps the business owner or fleet manager constantly informed about the machine. Through REMOTCARE, business owners can know what’s happening with their equipment for the whole day and they can get useful business information like daily work reports, maintenance schedule reminders, fuel level details or warnings for low engine oil and other updates through SMS. This allows business owners to break-free from the lack of control over the equipment and helps them in managing their machine from the comforts of their office, car or home, thus, taking operating freedom to the next level.
That said, the incorporation of automation and AI is not easy on a large scale and there are lot of challenges associated with AI and the use of AI is limited to few applications only. However, change is gradually happening and the construction industry is gradually moving towards AI- enabled CE that can not only tackle fears around health and safety but boost productivity as well at the jobsite.
In a nutshell
Productivity, safety and uptime are crucial drivers in the CE industry, where machine downtime can cost more than $1 million per day. Hence, what can define the bright future of CE segment is the adoption of newer intelligent features and increased use of AI-enabled equipment. Well, gladly, the change is happening and the industry is realising as to what benefits AI can offer to the construction and CE industry as a whole.
Using Technology to Curb the Skilled Labour Shortage
As per the National Skill Development Corporation’s report on Human Resource and Skill Requirement, published in 2013-14, “The workforce in the construction and real estate sector will touch approximately 76 million by 2022. Of these, 97 percent of workers between the age of 15 and 65 are likely to have no training before they start working.” This makes skilled labour shortage a grave issue as unskilled labour negatively affects the productivity, quality of work as well as the health and safety of others at the jobsite.
Some of the major challenges associated with unskilled labours are:
1. Low quality work: The work of unskilled labours is always unreliable and they cannot keep up with the construction quality. This results in major quality defects, thereby, increasing the claims arising from poor workmanship.
2. Project delays: Since the unskilled labours are unaware of many smart practices and methods, it results in project delays.
3. Decreased productivity: Speed and accuracy is always the problem with unskilled labours and this affects the productivity to a very large extent.
Having discussed the problem of skilled labour shortage and impact it has on the construction industry, use of technologically-advanced equipment can come handy and help solve this problem largely. In fact, the need of the hour is that the construction companies move towards the various technological solutions to help manage increasingly complicated projects with fewer workers and thankfully, the change is happening.
Adoption of technology to curb skilled labour shortage issue
In order to achieve maximum efficiency and complete projects on time, these days, majority of the construction companies or contractors are employing more and more state-of-the-art technology and machinery. This is also helping them to deal with the problem of skilled labour shortage and increase overall productivity.
Further, today many companies are also opting for various project management software platforms which have become indispensable tools. Another development is the advent of convenient and cloud-based construction monitoring software. Among all, technologically-advanced equipment emerges as the best solution to curb the skilled labour shortage problem to a very large extent.
Benefits offered by technologically-advanced equipment include…
1. Timely completion of projects: Work in the construction field can get smoother and faster with the help of equipment fitted with cutting-edge technologies which can ensure project completion as per the given deadline. Such equipment also make jobsites more efficient and help to streamline project schedules.
2. Improves quality of work: Employing construction equipment with latest technology also allows contractors to complete work with minimal quality defects.
3. Leads to cost savings and profitability: Increased productivity and the reliability of the advanced construction equipment also translate into higher profitability from fewer defect-related claims and the avoidance of delay penalties.
4. Performs multiple tasks: Equipment embedded with advanced technology can perform various tasks for which otherwise many labours may be needed.
A note on smart technologies incorporated in today’s machines
These days, be it heavy equipment like motor graders or backhoe loaders among others, they come with smart technologies so as to increase efficiency. Also, such technologies help in dealing with the skilled labour shortage as most of the tasks can be performed by these machines only. Let’s look at some of these technologies…
1. Machine control technology: The advanced machine controls generally help the motor grader operators to reduce the need for rework as the final grade can be reached in fewer passes. It helps increasing productivity by achieving accuracy in operations which is not possible through unskilled labours. Machine control technology also helps the contractors to more intelligently sequence and plan their equipment. The best part is it reduces the need for operator training as with advanced machine control technology even less-experienced operators can work easily and achieve grade characteristics similar to those with more field experience. RoadMaster G75 and RoadMaster G90 from Mahindra Construction Equipment are such motor graders designed specifically for Indian road conditions.
2. Telematics: The technologically-advanced motor graders with telematics also offer a host of benefits. These include improved maintenance and easy monitoring of machine useage & performance. By helping in capturing real-time data, telematics considerably helps in saving time and resources. For example, the RoadMaster G75 and RoadMaster G90 of Mahindra Construction Equipment (MCE) come with GPRS-based remote monitoring system digisense that keeps a track of the machine with the touch of a finger. Even the Mahindra EarthMaster backhoe loader comes with the revolutionary REMOTECARE feature that allows operators to get complete control over the equipment. It is an intelligent communication system that keeps the business owner or operator constantly informed about the machine through mobile phone based SMS updates.
Thus, heavy construction equipment like motor graders and backhoe loaders can put an end on the skilled labour shortage woes faced by the construction industry.
In a nutshell
If we go by the numbers, then the construction players in the country need nearly 35-40 percent of its labour force to be skilled for using heavy and complex machinery that’s been making inroads into the sector at a very fast pace. However, most of the labour force remains unskilled only. Hence, many private construction equipment players like MCE are coming up to take up the job of training the personnel. The company has 6 regional training centres across the country which imparts training on equipment operation, daily, weekly and monthly equipment maintenance and the safety parameters.
That said, it cannot be denied that technology and automation would eventually reduce the number of workers required at the construction project jobsites. In fact, over a period of 10 years, automation and other advanced technologies are expected to take the place of semi-skilled and unskilled workers who right now make up for the bulk of workforce at the construction site.
Mahindra RoadMaster G90: Technology Solutions that Can Make Indias Roads Safer
d, then the market for roads and highways is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 36.16 per cent during 2016-2025. This clearly portrays the fact that in future, the already vast road network in the country will expand further. Well, it is a good sign of growth but here comes the worry about making India’s growing network of roads safer and sound.
In order to ensure that the roads remain safer in the longer run, it is necessary to ensure that quality roads are built and this can be made possible only through employing technologically sound road Construction Equipment (CE). However, it is generally seen that in order to the curtail the prices of the road CE, contractors or construction company owners take an easy approach towards safety and quality parameters by employing outdated machines. This thinking needs to be changed. The contractors as well as construction company owners need to understand that better quality equipment give extra output from the same equipment than those without such features.
Motor grader’s role in making roads safe
Typically equipment like motor graders, backhoe loaders, vibratory compactors among few others are important equipment used in the construction of roads. If we talk about motor graders in particular, then they are highly versatile and used to make land surface smooth and produce fine grades. They are even used to set the native soil foundation pads, move unearthed soil and debris, mix materials and completely remove a layer of soil and then spread a new layer at that particular point to produce even surfaces. Overall, motor graders improve productivity and efficiency at the jobsite.
Over the years, motor graders have highly improved and become technologically advanced. They come loaded with features that can improve the road construction process and improve the quality of roads, thereby, making them safe.
Given the fact that India is increasingly laying focus on rural as well as urban roads, there is need for technologically advanced motor graders that can be best suited for the Indian scenario. While there are many motor graders available in the market but most of them are manufactured by international companies and they are large and very expensive and this puts a restriction on their usage in the Indian scenario. There is no doubt that these machines are excellent in terms of technology employed but they are not made for construction of narrow roads in rural as well as some urban areas of the country. Here comes into picture the indigenous motor grader manufacturer—Mahindra Construction Equipment’s (MCE) offering and technologically-sound RoadMaster G90. It is best solution for Indian roads including small and medium roads, state highways and national highway expansion projects. RoadMaster G90 is loaded with features that can ensure quality and safe road construction.
Mahindra RoadMaster G90: Making India’s roads safer
Here is a look at the technologically advanced RoadMaster G90’s features which can help in making India’s roads safer…
1. Machine control technology: Generally, road construction is very labour-intensive and time-consuming task combined with sub-optimal methods and unsuitable machinery. This leads to poor quality roads with a very short lifespan, resulting in added expenses for maintaining the road and re-doing them over and over again. However, equipped with advanced technology, RoadMaster G90 can reach the final grade much faster with more accuracy, thus, saving time and cost associated with rework tasks. This also increases the productivity at the construction site and jobsite safety. Further, being able to maintain consistent grade is one of the most difficult tasks for the motor grader operators. However, RoadMaster G90 with its advanced machine controls can make this task much easier.
2. GPRS-based remote monitoring system: RoadMaster G90 comes with GPRS-based remote monitoring system DigiSense that can keep a track of your machine with the touch of a finger. Through this, be it business information like daily work reports, fuel level or warnings like low fuel, filter clogging and low engine oil, you can get constant updates on your equipment through SMS. This can make equipment maintenance easy. Thus, when the equipment remains in good condition, it is sure to make good and quality roads.
3. Advanced joystick controls: RoadMaster G90 possesses ergonomic layout and seating with all the controls smooth and easy to reach and has spacious canopy, lockable storage and mobile charging. The equipment boosts safety, efficiency and productivity at all times with advanced control joysticks. Operators can easily shift steer, adjust blade, articulate, control hydraulics and access automated grading systems without taking their hands off the controls. When the operators are able to handle the equipment with ease and their fatigue is reduced, then this also helps in improving the road construction process and result in quality roads that require minimum maintenance.
4. Other features:
a) RoadMaster G90 is powered by a 91 HP DiTEC engine (developed by Mahindra) and coupled with a 3 m wide blade.
b) The 3000 mm moldboard of RoadMaster G90 comes with an option of having its size reduced by 400 mm. Depending on the requirement, the blade size can be reduced by 200 mm on both sides.
c) Its mouldboard is designed to suit required productivity and durability.
d) The equipment offers full blade visibility from operator station for superior grade finish.
e) RoadMaster G90 comes with advance active hydraulics centre pin dampening for precise finish in lesser passes.
f) The equipment is optimised to deliver zero compromise grading at 40 per cent cost as compared to conventional motor graders.
g) RoadMaster G90 is a substantially faster machine loaded with features and technology that lead to greater productivity than the others. In fact, as compared to conventional motor graders, RoadMaster G90 is much more productive. Thus, optimal productivity allows on-time project completion leading to high revenue.
h) RoadMaster G90 comes with the option of having additional fitments i.e., ripper and dozer for added versatility.
The above features also ensure that RoadMaster G90 makes Indian roads safe.
To sum up
Making roads safer is one of the prime concerns today. For that, road safety should be made an in-built feature of design and construction of road, not only for national and state highways but also for rural roads. This makes using technologically advanced equipment like motor graders extremely important. So, if you are looking to buy advanced motor graders that are best suited for Indian roads, then RoadMaster G90 should be definitely considered which offers affordable, un-compromised and mechanised grading solution.
Redefining Construction with Innovative Equipments from Mahindra Construction Equipment
The motor graders are huge and bulky in addition to being very expensive. Another issue with machines from International manufacturers is that the machines are designed keeping in mind the needs and requirements of their home markets not so much the Indian needs.
The Mahindra RoadMasterG75 is a Made in India, Made for India motor grader from the house of Mahindra. The RoadMasterG75 is created to offer an affordable, un-compromised and mechanised grading solution for small & medium roads in India. It is designed with extensive research and input from Indian road contractors. During research the team discovered that more than 90% of the roads in the country are in rural areas that for most part are being targeted for development under the PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana). This meant that 90% of the roads being built are small to medium sized roads while the motor graders that could possibly be used in making them were for most part redundant due to their sheer size.
The RoadMasterG75 is an ideal grading machine for spreading, grading of earthwork in different types of roadwork across the nation in addition to being used for railway and ground levelling operations across sectors. The RoadMasterG75 is designed to provide optimal output at affordable cost with its simple yet rugged design. It is designed in a way that it is well equipped to help contractors during grading needs for government programs like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yogna and Smart City, as well as for major district roads, other district roads, border roads, rural roads and expansion of roads.
The Mahindra RoadMasterG75 is most suitable for constructing small to medium roads as well as widening of state and national highways. It is also said to be apt for applications such as embankment or earthwork for laying of railway tracks and levelling of large plots for industrial construction.
The Motor Grader RoadMaster G75 is a smart machining that comes enabled with GPRS based remote monitoring system DigiSense that keeps a track of your machine with the touch of a finger. Every single detail that is necessary to ensure the machine’s optimal performance and safety are made available at the owner’s finger tips. this smart technology also ensures that the machine isnt being abused by operators as is the case with most machines.
The Motor Grader Mahindra RoadMasterG75 is designed to be smaller and cheaper than conventional graders but it packs a powerful punch with its 78 bhp iDTEC engine developed in-house at Mahindra. The motor grader is almost 30% cheaper than the conventional graders and manages to do 50% of the work as compared to a much larger conventional grader. It comes with a 10 feet wide blade, which has been optimised to deliver zero compromise grading at 33 per cent over conventional alternatives.
When it comes to motor graders the Mahindra RoadMaster G75 is creating its own niche category under the motor grader to suit the developing countries subset of the larger market. The RoadMasterG75 is a smart innovative machine that is changing the way roads are built across the country. It is one of the better examples of how data can be used to monitor and increase the efficiency of motor graders.
Another innovation that is changing the construction scene is the Mahindra EarthMaster- the backhoe loader from the house of Mahindra. Like the RoadMasterG75 the EarthMaster too was designed and created to be India centric and by extension developing countries centric given that they have similar markets, challenges, problems and growth opportunities. The EarthMaster is a substantially more superior machine, with greater reliability, dramatically less maintenance, better operational kinematics and dynamics with a phenomenal fuel efficiency.
Equipped with the proven Mahindra DITEC engine the EarthMaster boasts of a 4.5 litres per hour fuel consumption rate which is better than most of its competitors in the category. 10% more saving on fuel consumption is bound to make a few eyeballs turn. For a 79 Hp engine, the EarthMaster blog with its multiple variants pack a mean punch of power in its small sized machine. It was designed keeping in mind the necessity for the machine to be able to move around in small cramped spaces without much trouble. Add to it the ergonomically designed banana boom that gives the Earth Master 7% higher reach than most of its counterparts.
The EarthMaster comes loaded with the Remote Care facility making it a smart machine. The REMOTECARE feature is the first and only one of its kind in Construction Equipment in India. It takes freedom to the next level. It is an intelligent communication system that keeps the business owner or fleet manager constantly informed about the machine through mobile phone based SMS updates. This allows customers to break free from lack of control over business, and helps them manage their fleets from the comforts of their office, car or home.Not just this, the owner can call up his machine using his mobile phone. The intelligent REMOTECARE system returns an SMS which gives the owner important details of fuel level in tank, hour meter reading and odometer reading, all in a simple message. This helps the owner to remotely monitor the work done and fuel consumed.
Add to all these innovative features a new age digital cluster that helps the operator identify and troubleshoot problems. Operators in different regions of India can read messages and hear warnings in 6 different languages and comes loaded with audio visual warnings and inbuilt radio. The controls are specially designed joysticks that ensure minimal fatigue to the operators whilst also ensuring that minimally skilled operators can also use it with ease.
Designed to be rugged with a touch of smart technology enabling the intelligence in the machine to moved from the operator to the machine itself. Construction Equipment from the house of Mahindra are taking the construction sector by storm with their innovative approach to their equipment and the man machine interface. The focus has rightly shifted from skill to data driven intelligence / smart systems when it comes to the actual operation of the machines. The days arent far when AI enabled machines will be doing all the skilled labour required on a job site forever more redefining the wy work is done in the construction industry.
Motor Graders: Machine Control, Telematics and GPS
We take a look at how the three technologies have revolutionised the motor grader market in the country and affected the equipment’s performance.
Machine controls enhance motor grader’s performance
Over the years, the machine control technology of motor graders has highly evolved. Today, the advanced machine controls help the motor grader operators as well as the equipment owners in a number of ways that include…
1. Reducing the need for rework as the final grade can be reached in fewer passes.
2. Reducing maintenance needs.
3. Putting an end to fast wear and tear.
4. Enhancing productivity.
5. Achieving accuracy in operations.
6. Helping the contractors to more intelligently sequence and plan their equipment.
7. Improving jobsite safety.
8. Reducing the need for operator training as with advanced machine control technology even less-experienced operators can work easily and achieve grade characteristics similar to those with more field experience.
Overall, being able to maintain consistent grade and reduce the maintenance needs are two of the most difficult tasks for motor grader operators or the equipment owners. However, advanced machine controls have made these tasks much easier. They have reduced the operator’s work load drastically through improved fingertip controls for easy use.
Telematics make motor grader management more intuitive
The technologically advanced motor graders with telematics offer a host of benefits to the operators as well as equipment owners. These include improved maintenance and easy monitoring of machine use rates, performance and how an operator uses that machine (reduced idling/increased productivity).
Let’s take a detailed look at how telematics have helped significantly in improving and enhancing motor grader performance…
1. Telematics generally help in identifying the problems with the equipment before they happen.
2. By helping in capturing real-time data, thereby, leading to saving of time and resources, telematics make it easier to maintain motor graders. Data such as engine hours, fluid levels and operating temperatures are immediately available to the operator or fleet managers through telematics.
3. The best part about telematics is that the users can easily schedule automatic maintenance alerts to keep the machine in good condition at all times. Even operators can directly send automatic alerts to the maintenance team through telematics if they observe that the machine is not operating as per the standards.
4. Since telematics help in detailing even minute information about the equipment, fleet managers can easily determine the optimal time to perform maintenance activities.
5. Even monitoring of idle times of the equipment that represents inefficient use of the grader as well as wasted fuel and higher depreciation associated with excessive engine use becomes easy with telematics. By reviewing the reports generated through telematics, equipment owners can easily diagnose systematic problems that are casting their spell on the productivity of the business. For example, excessive idling can point operator inactivity. If this is observed, then that time can be utilised for operator training and machine repair.
6. Even equipment security and monitoring unauthorised use of the equipment becomes easy with telematics.
7. Through telematics, operators as well as the machine owners can track the equipment hours on a day-to-day basis. This data even helps the contractors in accurate billing as they can exactly measure the number of hours a grader worked on a specific job. Also, this aids the contractors in coming up with accurate estimates as they can look back at equipment hours for a comparable job as they bid on new jobs.
Overall, telematics system makes the motor grader maintenance and management less costly and more intuitive through the ability to easily monitor machine usage rates and performance in real time. They also allow equipment owners or the operators to stay on top of scheduled maintenance as well as keep a close eye on idle times and productivity.
GPS technology increases efficiency
The Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is also being employed in the motor graders these days which helps the motor graders to achieve precise levelling that too in all weather conditions.
Most of the advanced motor graders having GPS-based grade controls possess in-cab touch screen monitor that provides the operator with a plan view, cross-section view and cut/fill information, driving efficiency and accuracy in projects. In fact, GPS-based grade control systems make the task of grading very easy and result in 30 per cent improvement in efficiency and speed and cost savings.
In a nutshell
In the past few years, motor graders have highly evolved on various parameters like control, ergonomics, fuel efficiency etc., but the most important advancements in motor grader design and performance that have greatly impacted the bottom line of the equipment owners include machine control, telematics system technologies and GPS technology. These three things have highly revolutionised the way motor graders operate and have resulted in huge profits for the equipment owners by improving their productivity, accuracy and efficiency. In future too, these technologies are expected to affect the motor grader market of the country which is expected to grow from 750 units in 2016 to 850 units by 2020.
Simply put, from cost cutting to performing tasks accurately, motor graders equipped with machine control, telematics and GPS technology can add more value to your business. While there are various indigenous manufacturers in the country which are making motor graders keeping in mind the latest technological changes and employing advanced machine controls and telematics, Mahindra Construction Equipment’s RoadMaster G75 motor grader deserves a special mention. The RoadMaster G75 comes with GPRS based remote monitoring system dogosense that keeps a track of your machine with the touch of a finger. Through this, be it business information like daily work reports, fuel level or warnings like low fuel, filter clogging and low engine oil, you can get constant updates on your equipment. Also, the equipment is equipped with advanced machine controls that make life of motor grader operators much easy. So, definitely RoadMaster G75 can be your best bet if you are looking for highly advanced motor graders with advanced machine control and telematics.
Key Technological Advancements in Earthmoving Equipment Segment
Major reasons that are brining technological advancements in EE sector include:
1. With growing exposure and awareness, companies, contractors or individuals in construction segment are becoming smart and demanding world-class technology for better fuel efficiency, higher productivity and profitability, thus, motivating the EE manufacturers to come up with innovative solutions to meet the their expectations.
2. The entry of global OEMs is also leading to upgradation in technology-driven product features such as remote access devices, automatic controls to manoeuvre machines, more efficient (Tier III) engines, cabin air-conditioning etc.
As a result, the new excavators, Backhoe Loaders (BHLs) etc., in the EE segment are coming up with several additional functionalities for serving the customers in a better manner.
Key technology trends observed in EE segment
Here are the two major technological trends that are having a great influence on the EE sector…
1. Intelligent technology: IOT leading to automated service and monitoring the EE remotely- Internet of Things (IOT) describes a system in which objects can communicate internally or with outside entities. In EE segment, it means machines having sensors installed to monitor operating conditions, machine hours, performance levels, physical states, fuel consumption, GPS tracking, machine’s idle time etc. These types of data help the EE owners to determine optimal operating procedures, prevent theft or misuse of equipment and reduce the maintenance cost considerably by enabling machinery to self-detect the imminent need for a repair through sensors before it becomes a bigger problem. Through built-in sensors in EE, companies can also automate service and preventive maintenance i.e., IoT can automate equipment maintenance by triggering a work order and scheduling.
If more sophisticated systems are employed, then they can also easily measure and give out information like engine load, fluid temperatures and pressure etc. Depending on the software, EE owners can receive varying levels of analysis to help in the usage of data for better decision making. It goes without saying that the right data and analytics can lead to less downtime and losses and efficient remote monitoring of EE. While in the foreign countries, such technology is already being put to use, in India, it is still not that popular. However, the awareness is gradually increasing.
Here, Mahindra Construction Equipment’s (MCE), EarthMaster BHL with the REMOTECARE feature deserves a special mention. Essentially, REMOTECARE is an intelligent communication system that keeps the business owner constantly informed about the machine through mobile phone-based SMS updates. Typically, the this smart system works on built in intelligent sensors which are capable of sensing and detecting critical faults in time. Through REMOTCARE, business owners can know what’s happening with their equipment for the whole day, receive information on diesel level, engine oil pressure, transmission oil pressure, coolant temperate, air filter clogging, hydraulic oil filter clogging, battery charge statues etc., and other advance warning on their registered mobile numbers. The best part is that the system also sends out an SMS to the Service Call Centre of MCE which in turn informs the nearby dealer about any reported issue. In fact, EE owners can even call up the machine using their mobile phone and REMOTECARE system will return an SMS giving out important details in a simple message.
2. Effortless operations’ technology: Joystick controls for increased comfort and reduced fatigue- Gone are the days of pushing manual levers, joystick controls have come to make the life easy, simple and less tiring for the operations of EEs like BHLs, excavators etc. Also called as pilot controls or pilot joysticks, joystick controls have increased the productivity considerably by reducing wrist and arm force and hand and wrist movement, thereby, enabling the operator to work for long hours. Particularly, the Mahindra EarthMaster VX BHL model offers specially designed joysticks to its customers to make their heavy duty work much easier and effortless than it actually is.
In a nutshell
Productivity and uptime are crucial drivers in the EE industry. Hence, what will define a bright future of EE would be the adoption of newer intelligent features and increased sophistication by the EE manufacturers and they have realised this fact quite well.
As a result, the growth of smart and intelligent EE is on the rise in the country. And why not? These machines offer more than one advantage to the EE owners and makes operations as well as their life easy. Thus, every year, incremental changes in the field of technology for EE are happening to develop better performing systems and users are gradually growing accustomed to the new ways of doing things.
Integrating Hardware and Software for Better Performing Machines
The construction equipment industry is now home to some of the most sophisticated smart technology available in the market today. Today the industry is striving to better integrate the hardware at the core of these machines with the interface circuit and software. Lets take a look at how the integration of both these technologies is changing the face of the construction equipment industry for the better.
Data Matters: Today machine to machine communication and data have become a necessity for most construction equipment. These machines come loaded with software technology to gather data about the machine and its functioning. The softwares collect data with regards to fuel consumption, pressure, idle time, hydraulic functions, location, system malfunctions, etc. The collected data is then analysed to find the problem areas and then solve them for better performing machines. Today equipments come with inbuilt location and remote monitoring software to ensure the machine’s efficiency and safety. The inbuilt data collection system ensures the machines become smart machines that do not let operators exploit it.
Today we have machines that keep the owners informed of the exact amount of fuel in the machine and how much of it is being used where in addition to data about the machine’s idle time and if there is anything wrong with any part of the machine. The software ensures that problems are caught in the bud while they can be solved with smaller expenses instead of them growing big and leading to larger damage of both machine and productivity.
IoT: Internet of Things is the perfect definition of machine to machine communication that has gained much prominence in the industry today. Internet connectivity is used as a basis for a much sophisticated technology where in GPS is used to chart the job site while the software comes up with a plan of action for the machine to ensure that the job is completed in the most efficient way possible. As a matter of fact, there are systems that create a 2d and or 3d model of the live job site and show the operator exactly what the ground reality is and what more needs to be done. Access to such information, can help the operators use and pirate the machines with increased efficiency.
IoT has made it possible to live monitor one’s machine and its condition from any corner of the world. Today you can get live updates about the machine via a single sms with use of remote care technology that the Mahindra Earthmaster comes equipped with. Additionally the machines these days come hardwired to stop and shut down completely should certain parameters of temperature and or pressure be exceeded. This is smart self care technology that the machines come equipped with. In the past, lack of this technology has led to the machines being abused by the operators leading to heavy repairs and replacements.
Now lets come to the heart of these machines, the powerful engine and the hydraulics. While the software doesnt come in play with the actual functioning of the engine and hydraulics that get the job done, it plays a pivotal role at the interface of human and machine interaction. A well programmed circuit will not only direct the machine to work with higher efficiency but also safeguard the machine from damage and abuse. For example the Mahindra Earthmaster range, relays instructions to the operator about malfunction in the functioning of the machine so that it can be attended to in time. It comes with safety measures so that the machine shuts down on its own should the operator ignore the warnings beyond a certain limit.
In todays day and age, there is no denying that smart is the operative word and that it is the smart machines that provide higher efficiency in the hands of a skilled operator. The hardware and the software can no longer be independent of each other if we have to break the glass ceiling of machine performance. The more closely integrated the two components are, the more efficient and smarter the machines will be. And the smarter the machines are, the better they will perform.