Construction Equipment to Become Greener with Intelligent Software
However given the global climatic changes, the front runners across industries have taken it upon themselves to make their industry more eco friendly, reduce carbon emission, use eco friendly materials and processes and appropriate recycling and disposal of end products. There is no doubt about the fact that the construction equipment do form a major chunk of the carbon emission at and around a job site. Going green is increasingly becoming a necessity as compared to the option is was a few decades back.
How intelligent softwares can help
Most construction equipment run at full power even in their idle time causing wastage of fuel and energy in addition to increasing the carbon emissions which are known to have catastrophic effects on the environment in the long run. Such machines running on full power have a direct impact on the local air quality. Intelligent technology installed in these hybrid machines can be instrumental in either completely shutting down the machine or bringing it down to a lower power setting to save on fuel, energy and carbon emissions.
Another major area of working construction equipment that takes up a lot of fuel and power is shifting between lower and higher power settings. The new age machines need to be able too shift between settings in a way that the machine consumes minimal possible fuel without sacrificing on the power and working performance. Big data and its analysis can help develop such algorithms and machines that reduce power and fuel consumption without compromising on the end results.
Big data and expertise combined together can lead to creation of intelligence based decision making tools that once installed in machines can make them much more eco friendly. Data from the machine, GPS data and expertise from the industry can help develop smarter machines that can get the job done in the most efficient and effective way possible.
GPS technology developed to survey the job site,provide telematics and the steps to get the job done in the most efficient way possible. Once trained to use the machines, the operators find that the work gets done much faster and easier leading to minimal down time and consecutively larger profit margins combined with jobs being completed in a more environment friendly way due to lower fuel consumption and efficient use of energy.
Intelligent machines are the way to go. Right from manufacturing to the final end result intelligent decision making tools are the first step to going green across the industry. Various upcoming and established companies are heavily invested in development of intelligent software tools for construction machinery to go greener and reduce their carbon foot print. Such speedy developments in the industry are bound to pave the way for a much greener and cleaner construction equipment industry in the near and long term future.
Advantages of Using Construction Equipment with Latest Technology
Need for technological advanced CE
Globally, India has become one of the key potential markets for Construction Equipment (CE). Further, it is estimated that by 2025, India’s construction market will emerge as the third largest in the world, which would exhibit huge demand for CE equipped with latest technology, owing to the advantages offered by them.
Let’s take a look at the various advantages offered by technological advanced CE:
1. Timely completion of projects: Usually we see construction projects witnessing delays in execution. The main reason behind project delays is usage of less advanced machines. Hence, works in construction field can get smoother and faster with the help of equipment fitted with cutting-edge technologies, which can ensure project completion in given deadline.
2. Enhances brand value: If projects are completed on time using highly advanced equipment, the brand value of business increases in the market, which in turn can help in getting new clientele.
3. Improves quality of work: Employing CE with latest technology also allows contractors to complete work with minimal quality defects.
4. Cost savings and profitability- Increased productivity and the reliability of the advanced CE also translates into higher profitability from fewer defect-related claims and the avoidance of delay penalties.
5. Performs multiple tasks: An old equipment may not be capable of doing all the work but machine embedded with advanced technology can do similar work and may be few other tasks as well smoothly in less time.
6. Ensures environmental friendliness: Generally CE equipped with latest technology are environment friendly and highly fuel efficient. Thus, they help in reducing CO2 considerably and help companies put their greener foot forward.
7. Reduces maintenance cost: Last but not the least, CE equipped with latest technologies require less maintenance. They are designed in such a way that they can work for long without major wear and tear.
In a nutshell
In future, demand for CE is likely to rise as a result of growth in traditional end-user industries, including construction and mining. If numbers are any truth, then the segment in India is expected to grow by a healthy 20-25 per cent over the next few years to reach 330,000 to 450,000 units sold in 2020, from current levels of about 76,000 units. This would imply a US$16 billion-$21 billion market, up from today’s $3 billion.
However, if such numbers are to be maintained and expectations are to be lived up to, what is needed is adoption of latest technology by the CE companies in India. Experts believe that in future, increased flexibility and advanced technology of CE will write down their future.
What more? Productivity and uptime are crucial drivers in the CE industry, where machine downtime can cost more than $1 million per day. Hence, what will define a bright future of CE segment is the adoption of newer intelligent features and increased sophistication by the CE manufacturers.
Realising this importance of technological upgradation and innovation, construction equipment companies in India are increasingly taking action and the results are fast and efficient equipment.
Monitor Your Backhoe Loader Remotely
While the new machines come loaded with such technology, there are very few owners who realise how much the new remote monitoring technology can help them. Here is a brief take on why and how the backhoe loaders can be monitored remotely
Why backhoes need to be monitored?
1. To counter fuel theft: Fuel theft is a major problem for backhoe loader owners. One can not distinguish between fuel used for operating the machine and the fuel used for transporting the machine. This gives operators the easy way out to operate the machine for their personal use and earn extra income at the owners expense. The industry standard fuel loss monthly is about 6% or approximately Rs 9000/- a month at the rate of 6 litre fuel every day and more than Rs 300/- per day.
2. Unauthorised usage: The machine is very often used for unauthorised work if the operators do not steal fuel. Usually the machine costs are Rs 1000 per hour and with just 10 hours of unauthorised work the operator can earn 10,000 Rs a month if not more. The hours meter and fuel meters can easily be tampered with to cause losses to the owner.
3. Operation by un-skilled operators: Machines operated by unskilled operators tend to consume more fuel as compared towhee operated by skilled operators. Similarly when pirated by unskilled operators the machines undergo wear and tear at a much faster rate.
The new Mahindra Earthmaster comes with remote monitoring technology. The Earthmaster is a completely indigenous machine that is created to be remotely monitored in even the most remote locations of the country. The Earthaster can be monitored remotely via sms. The machine gives the owner regular sms about the machine’s location, how may hours the machine is in use and the fuel levels before and after using the machine. Additionally the machine comes with a digital log that keeps a digital log of the machine’s usage and efficiency.
Internationally, GPS technology is used to remote monitor the machines. But given the lack of infrastructure in India, using GPS for remote monitoring the machines is still a distant dream but is countered by adapting the technology to suit the India scenario.
For machines that lack remote monitoring technology being inbuilt, there are independent softwares that can be integrated with the machines to remotely monitor the machines. The new technology makes it easier for the owners to safeguard their machines and investments.
New technology like this in the machines help the owner make the most of their invested and get timely returns on their investments by minimising the losses due to unauthorised use and abuse by the operators.
A Take on Automation in Mining
Here the controversy remains that the workers look at it as a threat to their jobs while the owners look at it as an opportunity for job creation. Albeit different, but job creation none the less. So yes the matter of automation in the mining industry is both exciting and controversial.
The question as to what automation in the mining industry in India will entail and how it will affect the mining equipment manufacturers in india is yet to be seen. While most private miners will see automation as an opportunity at increasing efficiencies and cost cutting, the laborers feel they will be made obsolete and be replaced by machines.
It is a given that, with newer technologies being adopted the skill requirements in the industry will shift from low to high and technical. But one cannot deny the fact that jobs instead of diminishing are being shifted to newer arenas of the industry. Retraining and re-education will be required on a large scale to meet the needs of growing automation in the industry. More lab jobs will open up to monitor the machines, operate them, analyze the data and manage it for increased efficiency.
With gap between the demand for automated machines and skilled operators for operating these machines increasing, the question remains as to who will step up to fill this gap in the market. Will mining equipment manufacturers in India take cue from other industries and start training programs to create skilled operators or will outsiders grab this opportunity. However, it is a given that people skilled in remotely controlled and automated systems will be in demand in the years to come.
While automation means better quality control, cost cutting and timely efficient work and larger profit margins, it also means increased safety for the operators who would then be able to operate the machines form a safe distance. It is a noted fact that safer mines mean better productivity. Implementation of such advanced automation however remains a question yet to be answered.
Given the remote location of sites, climatic and geographical conditions that come into play. Whether such technology can be implemented and the kind of effect it will have on overall mining operations, costs and profits will still need years to data for the industry to take a call on it.
What such automation means for the mining industry in India is still a mystery. How, the Indian sub-continent with all its geological and geographical diversity adapts to this growing wave of automation will be an interesting event to witness. Especially given the overwhelming magnitude of both the opportunities and challenges that will present itself in the times to come.
Need For Integrating Latest Technology By Construction Equipment Companies In India
Technological advancement is the need of every sector and this holds true for the construction equipment sector as well. We take at how construction equipment manufacturers in India are gearing up for the change.
Demand for construction equipment is likely to rise as a result of growth in traditional end-user industries, including construction and mining. If numbers are any truth, then the earth moving and construction equipment market in India is expected to grow by a healthy 20-25 per cent over the next few years to reach 330,000 to 450,000 units sold in 2020, from current levels of about 76,000 units. This would imply a US$16 billion-$21 billion market, up from today’s $3 billion.
However, if such numbers are to be maintained and expectations are to be lived up to, what is needed is adoption of latest technology by the construction equipment companies in India. Realising this importance of technological upgradation and innovation, construction equipment companies in India are increasingly taking action and the results are fast and efficient equipment.
Factors Leading To Technological Advancements
With growing awareness, end-users are becoming smart and demanding world-class technology for better fuel efficiency, higher productivity and profitability, thus, motivating the construction equipment manufacturers to come up with innovative solutions to meet the customers’ expectations.
Further, 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 and cabin air-conditioning. These features are gaining popularity among customers also and thus, attracting the attention of construction equipment manufacturers as well. As a result, some recent product launches in excavators and backhoe loaders are featuring several additional functionalities, including service enablers such as the capability to send problem logs by SMS to the nearest service point and downloading historical data regarding engine status, hydraulic systems, fuel consumption and the expected life of critical components.
Customers are also realising that increased productivity and the reliability of construction equipment ultimately translates into higher profitability from fewer defect-related claims and the avoidance of death penalties. This is also one of the reasons that the end-users are demanding highly productive and technologically advanced machines.
Future Technology Trends
Productivity and uptime are crucial drivers in the construction equipment industry, where machine downtime can cost more than 5 crores per day. Hence, what will define a bright future of construction equipment would be the adoption of newer intelligent features and increased sophistication by the manufacturers.
In addition, the IOT (internet of things) will also impact construction equipment sector considerably in the future. IOT describes a system in which objects can communicate internally or with outside entities. According to AEC Big Data, equipment repairs represent the third largest operating cost in the construction industry. IOT can help reduce this cost by enabling machinery to self-detect the imminent need for a repair before it becomes a bigger problem. It is believed that in future, many construction equipment manufacturers will adopt this technology for manufacturing better equipment.
Experts believe that in future, increased flexibility and advanced technology of construction equipment will write down their future and they are not wrong. An increasingly volatile and unpredictable Indian economy will require construction equipment manufacturers to build more flexible, efficient and technologically advanced operating machines.
Overall, by systematically developing technologically advanced products as well as by providing insights regarding emerging technologies, construction equipment manufacturers in India will gain a larger market share. Apart from technological upgradation, market players in the segment would also need to find new ways to maintain and acquire their leading edge. Collaborating with other equipment companies could be the key to success. Alliance across industry due to the entry of more diverse and technology-driven products into the marketplace will also help.
Infrastructure Innovation and Technology- Paving the way for India on the Rise
The strength of the industry lies in the innovation and technology that goes into the design and manufacturing of construction equipment throughout the world.
Gone are the days of mediocrity and monotony that was predominant in the commercial and housing infrastructure. Innovation is the name of the game today, the examples of which can be seen in various parts of the world. Be it in the architecture and construction of homes and office spaces or the competitive designs of numerous roads, bridges, railway lines and industries that have become the bench mark in their respective fields.
Infrastructure as an industry is evolving at a pace like never before, sadly enough the construction equipment used have not been able to keep pace with the changing dynamics yet, thereby hampering the pace of growth.
Construction has grown to become a form of art and the very definition of luxury in the form of brilliantly designed high rises that adorn the skylines of many a metro’s globally.
Art demands versatility and delicacy while engineering demands speed, strength and efficiency. These are the virtues that present day construction and heavy equipment manufacturers in india need to imbibe in their machines. Versatility and strength come in handy when having to deal with the tough varied terrain of India. While it may seem like a far-fetched dream, the big players of the industry have already started working in that direction with visible success.
Innovation is required not just in the construction equipment but also in the whole process of construction and the materials used. “Modular housing” is a relatively new concept that has yet to take strong roots in India. The brilliance of the concept is in having the different parts of the house made separately and simultaneously, which are then assembled together. It saves on time and costs. Modular housing could very well be India’s ticket to “Affordable housing for all”
Constructors and planners have begun to feel the need for innovation in every aspect of the industry, be it planning, process, material, equipment or design. Innovation is slowly but steadily becoming king.
What remains to be seen is how fast the gap of demand and supply for innovation is filled and by whom. The answer to which will be the deciding factor of how much and how fast this multi-billion dollar industry will grow and lead growth.