Komatsu’s release of 23 new low emissions earthmoving machines not only highlights its engines technology, but also its accelerating use of telematics* to drive the future of this industry.
Komatsu’s latest product releases incorporate its KOMTRAX Step 5 remote monitoring capabilities, giving machine owners and fleet managers unprecedented access to very detailed data about every aspect of a machine’s operation – all available online via PC, smartphone or tablet 24/7, said Todd Connolly, Komatsu’s General Manager – Construction Solutions.
Komatsu manages the data coming from KOMTRAX through its investment in a major ICT facility, the INSITE Fleet Management Centre at its Fairfield headquarters in Sydney.
“Our investment in ICT has significantly changed the way we interact with our customers throughout the region,” said Todd.
“It allows us to harness the power of KOMTRAX, working in conjunction with other analytical and communications tools, to help increase machine safety, productivity, uptime and availability – and reduce customers’ costs per tonne, no matter where they operate.
“That data, combined with Komatsu’s analytical and predictive capabilities based on millions of machine hours of data, allows us to work with our customers to help ensure their Komatsu equipment is always working at its optimum.”
But remote monitoring is only one element in Komatsu’s telematics capabilities, he said.
Komatsu is a pioneer in semi-automation – as a first step towards full automation – of complex earthmoving activities, such as digging, excavating, levelling and grading to high levels of precision.
“In the past 18 months, we’ve introduced our integrated ‘intelligent Machine Control’ concept, which allows machines such as excavators and bulldozers to excavate, bulk out and trim – in high-precision complex 3D designs,” Todd said.
“Customers who’ve used this technology are seeing massive benefits from it, and we are already seeing multiple repeat orders from contractors and plant hirers throughout Australia and New Zealand.”
More recently Komatsu has rolled out SMARTCONSTRUCTION, a completely new concept in construction technology with the potential to really change the face of the earthmoving industry – and the way it goes about its business.
“SMARTCONSTRUCTION improves site process and productivity, machine control management, machine interconnectivity and review of project progress during the construction phase, and culminating in development of detailed as-built information for future construction and infrastructure maintenance,” he said.
“All these offerings mean that Komatsu today is unique in our ability to provide customers with a complete suite of fully integrated, end-to-end range of cutting edge telematics-based products, services and solutions across every aspect of a project, and the life of the machines working on those projects.
“It gives our customers a real edge in today’s increasingly competitive and challenging construction and resources extraction environment,” Todd said.
*Telematics encompasses telecommunications; machine technologies; transportation and safety; sensors, instrumentation and wireless communications; information communications technology (ICT); and global positioning technology.