Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/185325
machine matters | continued It's Dangerous Out There Excavators placed on a shelf, elevated from the dig site, are positioned for the best mass excavation production. ALWAYS BE SAFE Whether you work off the road or over the road, Bridgestone wants you to make safety your first concern. Maintaining a safe workplace and reinforcing safety rules contributes to a more productive operation and reduces costs. If you need a better reason, it saves lives. LESSONS IN SAFETY There is simply nothing more important than starting your shift safely and getting your people home without harm. That's why we've produced a series of short videos that you can use in safety meetings or at shift start. Access them at bridgestoneminingsolutions .com/safety and select from a range of topics. Bridgestone Commercial Solutions For your nearest Bridgestone Authorized Dealer, visit our website www.bridgestonetrucktires.com ©2013 Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC. All Rights Reserved. everything from bucket size to blade type to shoe and grouser size. The more specific the application, the more specific the configuration, says Bob Schenk, Dressta product and marketing manager, LiuGong Machinery. Do you need hydraulic pitch to roll the blade forward and backward or will hydraulic tilt be enough? Is there a need for special spill guards? What about protection for the operator, such as window guards? Telematics are increasing in value as fleet managers find more ways to use the extensive data they provide. Ellington cites such specifics as differences in strut pressure, which can indicate whether the loading area is level and loads are balanced in the truck bodies. Boyle says telematics allow realtime machine management, such as calling an operator with instructions to reverse a cooling fan to clear debris from a radiator if engine temperature is rising. Cat's D10 and D11 offer line-ofsight remote control. "Everything available in-cab can be done on the remote console," says Busch. "Remote control is good for highrisk applications, such as working against a high wall." When equipped with Terrain for Grading, a remote- controlled machine can be set up to recognize exclusion zones to stop the tractor before it enters an area where conditions are hazardous or not acceptable for machine operation. Proximity awareness, which could prevent collisions between machines, is on the horizon. Schenk says not all customers see value in layers of electronic controls. "There is a growing sector of users opting for the benefits of simplicity." New and existing machines must work together When acquiring new equipment it's important to know how those pieces will integrate with the existing operation, says Schenk. "Will the operators like the new stuff? Can my service personnel keep it running without a lot of training and proprietary service tools? Will parts be readily available?" If a mix of new and existing equipment is to be used on the same job, it's important that all the machines work well together. For example, Warden says you wouldn't want three 70-ton trucks and one 100-ton truck. "You want to ensure that you are able to load a truck with an efficient number of passes, which is typically three to five," says Morris. "If a loading tool requires 26 October 2013 | EquipmentWorld.com BAN120164_Equip World Fractional Ad 1 1 Untitled-2 1 EW1013_Machine Matters.indd 26 12/19/12 2:19 PM 6/17/13 9:11 AM 9/24/13 1:52 PM