46
CONSTRUCTION EUROPE
DECEMBER 2013-JANUARY 2014
GPS
solution providers, they frequently fall into a
common trap.
As they struggle to differentiate between
the many different systems that are available,
they often gravitate toward the lowest-priced
solution, which is usually designed to cater to
the business of smaller customers.
It said that there were many differences
between managing a larger-scale fleet
operation of 50 vehicles or more, compared
with a small-scale mobile workforce, and
choosing the wrong GPS tracking solution
could see a company’s production slowing
down instead of improving.
LARGE FLEET OPERATORS
It said its SageQuest’s Mobile Control solution
was suited to large fleet operators requiring
a system that had been designed for the
demands of a large-scale mobile workforce.
It said the Mobile Control solution made
workforce management and back-office
systems integrationprocesses easy tomonitor,
and that it was backed-up by SageQuest’s
dedicated and constant customer service care
and support.
Machine guidance can be costly, but Prolec
has launched a rental scheme designed to
allow operators to gain the benefits of using
advanced tools without the outlay so often
required to buy such a system.
The rental scheme is aimed at operators
who have a one-off job requiring machine
guidance, or those who would like to trial a
system before committing to it. It is also said
to make Prolec’s guidance systems accessible
to smaller companies.
Prolec’s rental scheme covers all of its
machine guidance products – Digmaster,
Digmaster Pro and pcX Pro – running from
the simple to the extremely complex.
Prolec said its systems available for rental
ranged from 2D and 3D guidance through to a
GPS set up. GPS can be provided from Prolec’s
own supplier, or can be incorporated into an
existing GPS system, as Prolec products claim
to be set up to be compatible with 99% of
GPS providers worldwide.
Full training is provided to ensure operators
are confident in using the system, and that it
can be used to its full capacity, thus gaining
the most benefit from the rental cost.
Prolec said that any customer deciding
subsequently to buy the kit would be
refunded 50% of the rental cost. If it is no
longer needed, it will be removed at no
additional cost.
ce
3D excavator steering option
Roth & Söhne contractors, based in Ellwangen, Germany, has recently expanded its existing
excavator fleet with a New Holland E385C crawler excavator, equipped with a Trimble
positioning system by Sitech West – distribution partners of Trimble Systems in Germany.
Thomas Roth, CEO of Roth & Söhne, said he felt this new machine would offer competitive
advantages partly as a result of its 3D steering using GPS. Roth has had previous positive
experience of using 3D steering systems for its excavators.
The new E385C excavator was used in a project in Ellwangen. The aim was to restore a
section of the natural course of a tributary of
the river Jagst. As a part of the landscaping
project, an area of 10,000m
2
had to be
remodelled.
Roth said that by using the GPS system,
the pegging out of the area by a surveyor
was minimised. This is said to have meant
substantial savings since excavations began
– not only on fuel, but generally across
the whole project. There was less shifted
material, and more precise positioning,
made possible because most of the details
of the planned works were available on the
display in the cab.
Because the machine operator has all
the relevant data at his disposal on the
colour display in the cab from the start
of operations, he can check the position
of the excavator and equipment to the
exact millimetre, according to New Holland.
This means the driver achieves the desired
working height, digging depth and
specified landform much more quickly.
The operator can see data on the colour
display in the E385C cab
The Appello GEO is the successor to the
Appello recovery system that has been used
in the UK since 2005.
Thwaites said that unlike some systems
on the market, the Appello GEO was suited
especially for construction plant and
equipment as it used a combination of mobile
(GSM) and homing beacon (RF) technologies.
It said the system was quick and simple to
fit in virtually any location by the end user. It
needs no wiring or aerial, and can be easily
moved from machine to machine if required.
Using a free control panel accessible from
any internet-connected computer, the user
can monitor and manage a single unit to
thousands of units at a time.
Appello GEO claimed to be the first global
tracking system that could locate items
both indoors – even in industrial units or
containers – and out. Thwaites said it had
been specifically designed to combat the
latest jamming techniques used by thieves.
Measuring 95mm x 48mm and just 18mm
thick, it can be hidden in the smallest of
spaces and has a self-contained power source
with up to two years’ battery life.
The hardware is said to have been
tested against vibration, shock/bump and
temperature extremes.
According to fleet management company
Fleetmatics, when medium- to large-sized
fleet operators come to evaluate GPS tracking
Thwaites is now offering a new
equipment tracking device
