COMMENT
Customers drive change
A
s one of the most important
concerns of every organisation,
innovation and its role in the
development and coordination of the
market, is inviolable. Innovation is
applicable in all areas, from product
development and methods of
management to ways of doing work.
But, of all the definitions used for
innovation, the changing or
improvement of the process or product
is common.
Considered by many as the
heartbeat of the construction and
mining industries, bauma 2019 is
undoubtedly the driving force behind
innovations. And this year, the
comparatively high number of new and
exciting products from the digitalisation
segment at the fair demonstrates that
digitalisation is the hot topic for 2019.
Digital machine management and
telematics solutions are clearly on the
way to becoming the new ‘standard’ in
the construction and mining industries.
At bauma, numerous manufacturers
from a wide range of product
segments are presenting sensors
and programs that provide answers
to questions such as: Where is the
machine located? How many operating
hours has it performed? Is it displaying
any error codes? When will service or
maintenance measures be necessary?
From sensors that make existing
machines smart and smartphone apps
that explain diagnostic codes, to speed
and structure for rental machine checks
and a digital assistant for formwork,
new technologies are embracing
change and spurring innovation. It’s
all about analysing, coordinating, and
optimising daily work processes and
minimising downtimes.
Closer to home, in our profile
on Dennis Vietze, Wacker Neuson’s
managing director: Sub-Saharan Africa,
you can read how Vietze is championing
for the change to digitalisation on
page 32. In our article “Champion
for change”, he has his sights firmly
focused on encouraging development
of the Wacker Neuson service division
by modifying and moving forward into
the next generation of technology.
He believes that this will begin with
the introduction of telematics, which
will equip the company’s dealers and
partners with advanced technology such
as HoloLens to help reduce downtime
on site.
Another local advancement in
technology is Becker Mining South
Africa’s advanced safety device, which
provides situational awareness for
operators to ensure optimum safety
on construction sites, opencast mines,
and surface operations. Read the article
on page 28, where “Surface collision-
avoidance safety system” tackles
the safety issue on mines and reduces
operating costs through the elimination
or reduction of damage to assets.
What is certainly clear from the latest
industry news, and especially in the
lead-up to bauma 2019, is that change is
imminent, and innovation must follow!
CASE Construction Equipment is
one of many companies who will be
showcasing their newest ranges and
latest developments in technology at
bauma 2019, but
I’ll leave you with
some food for
Tarren Bolton
[email protected]
thought from CASE compact product
line director, Egidio Galano, who puts
it best when he says: “We provide
real solutions to real-world problems.
We believe in using our expertise to
develop technology that makes a real
difference to our clients. We listen to our
customers and use the capability and
experience of the whole CNH Industrial
group to address the challenges that our
customers face,” he says. On the reason
for these new developments, Galano
says quite succinctly, “Our customers
have driven this change.”
I hope you find this issue informative,
interesting, and insightful. I’d love
to hear from you, so if you have any
comments, ideas, or opinions on
absolutely anything industry related,
then please email me at
[email protected].
Becker Mining South Africa’s advanced safety device provides
situational awareness for operators to ensure optimum safety on
construction sites, opencast mines, and surface operations.
www.plantonline.co.za
APRIL 2019
1