Wirtgen’s customer-oriented development expertise is a guarantee of innovations tailored to the needs of the market.

– Ramesh Palagiri

Managing Director & CEO, Wirtgen India

How have you been able to leverage the advantages of Telematics, IoT, Big Data in your range of machines?

With its innovative, high-performance and cost-efficient products and technologies for cold milling, soil stabilization, hot and cold recycling, concrete paving and surface mining, Wirtgen leads the world market in road and mineral technologies. All the machines offered by Wirtgen are equipped with Computer-assisted automated features which not only optimize operating processes and machine productivity but also improve operator performance. Intelligent information and diagnostic systems additionally support and relieve the operator, resulting in a faster and more efficient way of working. Wirtgen’s customer-oriented development expertise is a guarantee of innovations tailored to the needs of the market. The new solutions for cold milling developed at the brand headquarters in Windhagen are founded on practical know-how and core competences in levelling, control and cutting technology.

WITOS Fleet View: This digital telematics solution records operating position and maintenance data from VÖGELE, WIRTGEN And HAMM machines enhancing fleet connectivity and performance.The telematics solution enables to analyse service-related parameters, such as total operating hours, and to send notifications of upcoming maintainence schedule to customers. Customers also have access to this data in a clearly structured web application. Via a special online connection, they can take advantage of various analysis functions.

WITOS Paving Plus: It is GPS based digital platform which links all parties involved in the project in a network. It collects real time data from various sensor installed on the plant and machinery. Before construction work begins, for instance, the site manager prepares the project using the Control Module. The mixing plant supervisor uses the Materials Module. The trucks automatically transmit their precise position including estimated arrival time to the system via the Transport Module. The paving supervisor and/or the paver operator operate the JobSite Module locally on the job site.

With WITOS HCQ, HAMM has taken another leap forward, towards the digital construction site. Here, all process data that has been collected is transferred to the WITOS portal via the mobile network.

How have these technologies positively impacted your site management as well as productivity, reliability and efficiency of construction machines?  

The Wirtgen Group is the world leader in advanced technologies that conserve resources through reuse and recycling of construction materials. Wirtgen has the right equipment for productive and profitable asphalt and concrete construction materials recycling, ranging from wheeled and tracked cold recyclers. In the cold recycling process, 100 percent of the reclaimed material can be reused and cost-effectively treated, making cold recycling both an economical and an environmentally friendly option.

VÖGELE have introduced several innovations like the pressure bars & electric heating of the screed, Niveltronic plus operating concept and ergo plus operator features. Dash -3 pavers, Eco plus, Autoset plus, Pave dock assistant etc. are additional features and helps in saving fuel etc. VÖGELE also offers several other innovative products like the Mobile feeder used for building of airport runways and expressways and also the In line paving technology. Another innovation from VÖGELE is the Road Scan, Sensor pavers, Electric heating of Screed, High compaction screed with pressure bars, Spray jet, Mobile feeder, In- line pave, Niveltronic plus for string less paving etc.

As a specialist in rollers designed for road construction and earthworks, HAMM offers the widest range of machine models in the world and also provides a range of innovative technologies that guarantee high-quality compaction results. The oscillation system developed by HAMM achieves compaction results that are scientifically proven to be more homogeneous and higher-quality, leading to faster, more significant compaction increases. HAMM Compaction Quality comprises a number of HAMM products designed to measure, monitor, document and control compaction processes. HAMM has installed three-point articulation – a more sophisticated upgrade from conventional articulated joints – in all soil compactors and tandem rollers. The three-point articulation ensures optimum steering characteristics, driving comfort and safety while driving on difficult terrain.

KLEEMANN crushing and screening plants for the quarry are equipped with efficient, powerful diesel-electric drives. They ensure environmentally friendly operation combined with low fuel consumption. As the complexity of plants increases, the need for simple and intuitive control also increases. With SPECTIVE, KLEEMANN offers an operating concept that makes simple and safe setting of the plants possible even without previous knowledge.

What do you think are the major challenges in replacing the legacy systems with new technologies in construction equipment? Is cost a deterrent? 

The  main challenge in adopting IoT  is  the conservative mindset of the user industry. These technologies come with little higher cost but in long term, they can be much more beneficial. Providing a varying range of data, Improved worker safety, Real-time reporting, Continuous improvement, Remote Operation, Keeping Track of Equipment, Supplies and Levels, Equipment servicing and repair, Remote usage monitoring, Precise Construction Management, Power and fuel savings.

Another challenge in adoption of digital technologies is non-availability of skilled manpower.

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