OEM Off-Highway September 2021 by OEM Off-Highway

SEPTEMBER 2021

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES GO

CABLESS

Increased automation will simplify, and eventually minimize the need for operator cabs and controls. PAGE 14

oemoffhighway.com

MINExpo Returns OEMs and suppliers are ready to show their latest advancements for the mining industry.

PAGE 34

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More time for innovations Increased software quality Lower maintenance costs Reduced investment risk Increased machine availability

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 39, NO. 6 | SEPTEMBER 2021

ON THE COVER

over Story: C Operator Interface

14 A utonomous Vehicles Create More Intuitive, Easier to Use Operator Interfaces

and eventually minimize the need for operator cabs and controls.

14 FEATURES

Market Trends: Lawn & Garden

Sales of lawn and garden equipment are trending well in

Increased automation will simplify,

Search: 21590994

18 C urrent State of the U.S. Lawn & Garden Equipment Market

2021, and expected to remain positive into the coming year. Search: 21591227

Drivetrain System: Tires

Selecting the right tire can help an OEM ensure

24 S elect Wheel Loader Tires to Meet Jobsite Demands

customers minimize operating costs while improving wheel loader productivity. Search: 21590930

PS & Automation: Machine Control G Systems

28 C onstruction Equipment Machine Control Transforms Jobsite Intelligence

24 28

As machine control technology continues to evolve,

real-time data and automation will transform the jobsite. Search: 21427910

MINExpo 2021

OEMs and suppliers will showcase their latest

34 New Equipment and Technology at MINExpo advancements for the mining industry. Search: 21590971

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

Published by AC Business Media

IN EVERY ISSUE Editor’s Note

6 M ining Industry Gearing up for MINExpo 2021 201 N. Main Street, 5th Fl., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 (800) 538-5544 • www.ACBusinessMedia.com

www.OEMOffHighway.com PRINT AND DIGITAL STAFF Publisher Sean Dunphy sdunphy@ACBusinessMedia.com Editor Sara Jensen sjensen@ACBusinessMedia.com Senior Field Editor Curt Bennink cbennink@ACBusinessMedia.com Contributing Writer Thomas Berry Senior Production Manager Cindy Rusch crusch@ACBusinessMedia.com Art Director Dave Haglund Audience Development Manager Angela Franks ADVERTISING SALES (800) 538-5544 Greg Schulz.....................gschulz@ACBusinessMedia.com Nikki Lawson.................nlawson@ACBusinessMedia.com Sean Dunphy.................sdunphy@ACBusinessMedia.com Kris Flitcroft....................kflitcroft@ACBusinessMedia.com Change of Address & Subscriptions — PO Box 3605 Northbrook, IL 60065-3605, Phone: (877) 201-3915 Fax: (847)-291-4816 • circ.OEMOff-Highway@omeda.com List Rental — Bart Piccirillo, Sr. Account Manager, Data Axle Phone: 402-836-2768 | bart.piccirillo@data-axle.com Reprints — For reprints and licensing please contact Greg Schulz at 920-542-1239.............. gschulz@ACBusinessMedia.com AC BUSINESS MEDIA Chief Executive Officer.........................................Ron Spink Chief Financial Officer..........................................JoAnn Breuchel Chief Digital Officer...............................................Kris Heineman Chief Revenue Officer...........................................Amy Schwandt VP Audience Development...............................Ronda Hughes Director of Digital Operations & IT................Nick Raether Group Content Director......................................Jon Minnick Published and copyrighted 2021 by AC Business Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication shall be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. SUBSCRIPTION POLICY: Individual print subscriptions are available without charge in the United States to original equipment manufacturers. Digital subscriptions are available without charge to all geographic locations. Publisher reserves the right to reject nonqualified subscribers. Subscription Prices: U.S. $35 One Year, $70 Two Years; Canada and Mexico $60 One Year, $105 Two Years; all other countries, payable in U.S. funds, drawn on U.S. bank, $85 One Year, $160 Two Years. OEM Off-Highway (USPS 752-770, ISSN 1048-3039 (print); ISSN 2158-7094 (online) is published eight times a year: January/February, March, April/ May, June/July, August, September, October, November/December by AC Business Media, 201 N. Main Street, 5th Fl., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Periodicals Postage paid at Fort Atkinson, WI and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: OEM Off-Highway, PO Box 3605 Northbrook, IL 60065-3605. Printed in the U.S.A. Volume 39, No. 6, September 2021

Equipment Market Outlook

8 S lower Growth on Horizon for Industrial and Construction Equipment Markets oemoffhighway.com/economics

40 Events Calendar

oemoffhighway.com/events

41 Advertisers’ Index

Off-Highway Heroes

Although not as successful as other

42 The First Self-Propelled Scraper LeTourneau designs, the first self-propelled scraper featured technologies that would years later become industry standards. Search: 21602939

Online Exclusives www.oemoffhighway.com New Electric Transmission Design Improves Agricultural Equipment Performance

John Deere and Joskin collaborated on a new electrification solution which enhances maneuverability and enables new technologies to be utilized. Search: 21577073

Case Study: Providing Control for a First of its Kind Machine Danfoss Power Solutions provides a look at how its technology was used to create remote control capabilities for a mini loader. Search: 21565176

Podcast: Adaptable HMI Designs Aid the Transition to Autonomous Vehicles

EAO says operator interface products which can support both manual and autonomous operation can greatly benefit OEMs and their customers. Search: 21563496

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Craig Callewaert, PE Chief Project Manager Volvo Construction Equipment Roy Chidgey Business Segment Head, Minerals Projects and Global Mobile Mining Siemens Large Drives US Andrew Halonen President Mayflower Consulting, LLC Terry Hershberger Director, Sales Product Management, Mobile Hydraulics Bosch Rexroth Corp. Steven Nendick Marketing Communications Director Cummins Inc. John Madsen Director Engineering & Product Management GKN Wheels & Structures Doug Meyer Global Director of Construction Engineering John Deere Andy Noble Head of Heavy Duty Engines Ricardo Daniel Reibscheid Business Development Manager MNP Corporation Matt Rushing Vice President, Product Line, Global Crop Care AGCO Corp. Allen Schaeffer Executive Director Diesel Technology Forum Keith T. Simons President – Controls Products OEM Controls, Inc. Alexandra Nolde Senior Communication & Media Specialist Liebherr-Components AG Bob Straka General Manager, Transportation SBU Southco, Inc. Luka Korzeniowski Global Market Segment Leader, Mobile Hydraulics MTS Sensors Chris Williamson, PhD Senior Systems Engineer Global Research & Development Danfoss Power Solutions Company

EDITOR’S NOTE

Mining Industry Gearing up for MINExpo 2021

S. JENSEN

nce every 4 years, one of the world’s largest mining industry events comes to Las Vegas—MINExpo International®. This event is a giant not only in regards to the amount of exhibit space it features but also the equipment on display. MINExpo has always been a favorite of the OEM Off-Highway staff because we get to see, and sometimes even climb around on, some of the biggest off-road equipment in the world. Coming face to face with a two-story mining dump truck definitely gives some perspective on things...as does a convention center filled with similarly large equipment and components. And like many of the off-highway equipment industries we cover, mining is one in which an array of advanced technology is being implemented and researched. Autonomous equipment, for instance, has been in use at mine sites around the world for over a decade now. Electrification efforts are also increasing to help keep operators At MINExpo, there’s lots of fun to be had comparing your height to safe, especially in underground mining applications. that of the equipment. While MINExpo had to be pushed in 2020 due to the pandemic, organizers are ready to hold the event this year, and they’re anticipating it will be as big as ever. Over 675,000 sq. ft. (62,709.6 sq. m) and 11 halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center will be filled with mining equipment and technology. Several manufacturers—over 1,200 suppliers say show organizers—are currently scheduled to exhibit at the show, demonstrating the industry’s readiness to get back to in-person trade shows. Starting on pg. 34, you can read about the new equipment and technology scheduled to be introduced at the show. And be sure to visit our dedicated MINExpo channel at www.oemoffhighway.com/minexpo-2021 to stay up to date on news throughout and after the show, as well as mining-related content. And if you’re attending the show, be sure to stop by our booth in South Hall #26242. Read an extended version of this Editor’s Note in my blog, From the Editor’s Desk at oemoh.co/21509255.

IN THE NEXT ISSUE

We want to hear from you!

OCTOBER ISSUE • Equipment Market Forecasts

Will you be attending MINExpo this year? If so, what equipment or technologies are you most looking forward to seeing? Are you excited to get back into the industry for in-person events? Let us know!

• Technology Trends • Global Economic Outlook • Asset Lifecycle Management as a Revenue Generator for OEMs

+ State of the Industry Q&As

editor@oemoffhighway.com

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

@OEMEditor

Results without compromise. To succeed, our customers require robustness, reliability and productivity. This is what Liebherr combustion engines are about. Originally designed for the construction industry and mining, our engines are predestined for tough, heavy-duty applications and environments. www.engines.liebherr.com

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MINExpo 2021 13. – 15. September Las Vegas, USA Booth: 7627 Central Hall

EQUIPMENT MARKET OUTLOOK

Sponsored by Eberspächer

oemoffhighway.com/economics

Europe Ag & Forestry Machinery Production:

U.S. Farm Machinery Production: • U.S. Farm Machinery and Equipment Shipments during the 12 months through May totaled $32.9 billion, up 15.5% from 1 year ago. • Elevated commodity prices are encouraging farmers to invest in machinery; expect Shipments growth in at least the coming quarters.

Annual % change in 12 month moving totals

• Europe Agricultural and Forestry Machinery Production during the 12 months through May was up 13.8% from 1 year ago. • The ITR Checking Points System™ suggests Production will continue to rise at a double-digit pace in at least the near term, aided by macroeconomic recovery.

13.8%

11.5%

99.0

Oct ’20

-3

-0.7%

Nov

-3.1%

Jan ’21

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

-9

-2.4%

96.5

-4.5%

-6

Dec

99.7

97.5

-6.9%

-5

99.0

99.4

97.0

1.9%

-1.0%

98.9

99.2

98.0

0.4%

100.6

98.5

2.9%

4.0%

100.4 100.1

99.5

Monthly index

100.0

11.7%

6.7%

101.0 100.5

• The Europe Leading Indicator monthly data is at a nearly 3-year high; the monthly rate-ofchange is declining from a tentative April 2021 peak. • Decline in the Leading Indicator monthly rate-of-change suggests that the European industrial sector growth rate will peak around early 2022 and subsequently decline.

Annual % change

15 15.5%

Europe Leading Indicator:

Oct ’20

96.0

-6.1%

Nov

95.5 Dec

Jan ’21

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Nov Dec Jan ’20 ’21

Feb Mar

Apr May Jun

Editor’s Note: Please note that this chart has been modified on the Y-axis to show the trend more easily.

U.S. HeavyDuty Truck Production: • U.S. Heavy-Duty Truck Production during the 12 months through June was up 16.0% from 1 year ago. • Quarterly U.S. Surface Trade With Canada and Mexico reached a record high in May, signaling the need for goods transport via truck.

16.0%

• Germany Industrial Production during the 3 months through May was up 19.7% from the same 3 months 1 year ago. • Flooding in parts of western Germany caused severe damage and could hinder near-term industrial sector activity.

19.7%

20 15

-5

10.5%

-15 -4.9%

-10

-20

-15

-25

-20

-20.6%

-25

-35

Germany Industrial Production:

-10

-30

• China Large Diesel Bus Production during the 12 months through May totaled 19.1 thousand units, down 32.7% from 1 year ago. • Leading indicator evidence suggests overall demand for buses will rise in the coming quarters.

-5

10.4%

China Diesel Bus Production:

-30 -31.0%

Nov ’20

-29.1%

-27.8%

-27.5%

Dec

Jan ’21

Feb

Annual % change in 12 month moving totals

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

-30.0%

-31.5%

-33.1%

-35 Annual % change

-40

Oct ’20

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

Nov

-32.7%

-33.2%

Jan ’21

Feb

Mar

Apr

-1.6%

-2.6% -4.0%

Annual % change in 3 month moving totals

-7.0%

-37.1%

Dec

-5

-35.2%

-35.5%

-0.8% -3.2%

May

-10

Oct ’20

Nov

Dec

Jan ’21

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

U.S. Construction Machinery, New Orders: • U.S. Construction Machinery New Orders in the 12 months through May totaled $37.8 billion, 16.4% above the year-ago level. • Leading indicators are beginning to decline, signaling a transition from accelerating growth to slowing growth is likely in 2022.

Annual % change in 12 month moving totals

U.S. Defense Industry, New Orders:

North American Rotary Rig Count: • The North American Rotary Rig Count during the 12 months through June averaged 453; the Rig Count is rising off a tentative April 2021 low. • U.S. Crude Oil Spot Prices have reached the low-$70s-per-barrel range; this is well above the break-even point for producers and will likely incentivize new rig activity in the coming quarters. Annual % change in 12 month moving totals

• U.S. Defense Capital Goods New Orders during the 12 months through May totaled $135.8 billion, down 8.8% from 1 year ago. • Trends in quarterly Current Tax Receipts at the federal level suggests government revenue is sufficient to facilitate further spending, including on defense capital equipment.

3.6%

16.4%

13.6%

Annual % change in 12 month moving totals

-10

-20

-2

4.7%

-30

-2.0%

-2.2%

-4

0 -1.5%

-7.4%

-10

-6

-40

-5

-6.4% -45.3%

-6.7%

-50

-9.3%

-8 -48.1%

-50.8% -53.7%

-11.7%

-15

Oct ’20

Nov

Dec

Jan ’21

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

-60

Oct ’20

Nov

Dec

Jan ’21

-56.6%

-58.8%

Feb

Mar

-54.2% -58.1%

Apr

May

-9.3%

-10 -12

-8.9%

-8.8%

Apr

May

-10.3%

Oct ’20

Nov

Dec

Jan ’21

Feb

Mar

Subscribe Now

to OEM Oﬀ-Highway’s Print & Digital products at oemoﬀhighway.com/subscribe

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

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COVER STORY: OPERATOR INTERFACE oemoffhighway.com/21590994

Autonomous Vehicles Create More Intuitive, Easier to Use OPERATOR INTERFACES

Increased automation will simplify, and eventually minimize the need for operator cabs and controls. by Sara Jensen

utomation is impacting many aspects of heavy-duty vehicles and equipment, including the operator cab. Operator interface components—also referred to as HMI (human machine interface)—in particular are evolving to meet the needs of automated systems and vehicles. According to John Pannone, Vice President of HMI Systems, EAO, a lot of equipment today is adopting dual roles in which there are autonomous and manual features, also referred to as conditional autonomy. This requires the equipment and its components to be able to easily shift from one mode of operation to the other. Pannone says this shift in how machines operate both adds and takes away some features within the operator cab. It also makes some features more important. Jay Iyengar, Chief Technology Officer, CNH Industrial, says in the off-highway equip-

ment industry autonomous operation is more complex than on-road vehicles. In addition to going from point A to point B, the machine also needs to do active work like planting or seeding. “The user interface gets a little complex because it is also being used to control the equipment to do the work while it’s actually moving,” she explains. Machine operations are still complex but as automation progresses, they will become less so. And this will apply to the operator interface as well. Instead of pushing 10 buttons or settings, it will be necessary to use just one or two as most of the work will be done in the background by the automation system says Iyengar. It will help to make things more intuitive and user friendly. This will be particularly important as younger generations enter the market who don’t have the skills or experience of those leaving it. Making equipment easier to use will help speed up the training process while also increasing operators’ comfort and productivity.

The ultimate goal of automation is to help increase productivity, simplify decision making for operators and eventually reduce operational costs.

Adaptability and differentiation will be key Pannone agrees there is a greater need for intuitive operation for HMI designs, particularly those that provide autonomous and manual modes. This equates to there being more feedback so machine operators can be sure they’re controlling the piece of equipment in a safe manner. “There’s a great need to understand what mode the equipment is in, so we find that there’s a lot of visual [or] audible indication,” says Pannone. “But to have HMI products and components that are adaptable is really something that we’re seeing customers appreciating because if products can be utilized in both modes, or if you have products that can support the features of both modes, that’s really helpful.” HMI which can easily be adapted or modified for autonomous and manual operation can help ease the design process for OEMs as they could potentially use the same components for each operating mode. When in autonomous mode, the interface components may need to be used for Removal of the operator cab on Case IH’s concept autonomous tractor enabled a reimagining of the overall machine design and styling.

CNH INDUSTRIAL

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

SCANIA AB

The Scania AXL is a cabless autonomous machine concept which is steered and monitored by an intelligent control environment.

An intelligent front module replaces the operator cab on Scania’s cabless autonomous vehicle concept.

indication purposes whereas manual mode will require more interaction from the operator and the components need to provide both capabilities. Pannone says many of EAO’s products include illumination capabilities which can help with this. He says the company is also developing products which are CAN and LIN based—both serial communication protocols prevalent in today’s heavy-duty equipment and especially that which utilizes automation in some manner. “These are serial interface controls that allow for greater visual, audible and flexible designs,” he says. Offering products in various shapes, sizes and colors allows OEMs to better differentiate their control panels for easier operation, as well. For instance, a large, red button may be used for an emergency stop; red is commonly associated with emergencies or stopping so making a button this color helps provide more intuitive operation. Helping operators quickly and easily differentiate which interface components do which machine functions not only improves productivity, but safety, as well. The level of automation built into a machine will determine how much an operator needs to interact with it, and thus how involved they will be in ensuring safety on the work site. Related to this, Pannone says there will be a greater need for components which comply with Functional Safety standards (ISO 26262). Essentially, the standard is meant to ensure the safety of electrical and electronic systems and components.

Pannone says EAO is currently developing products which meet this standard, such as the company’s Series 09 CAN-based solution. Whether the HMI products are incorporated into a piece of equipment or on a remote control used to autonomously operate a machine from a distance, ensuring they are ISO 26262 compliant assures all parties involved that a safe working environment is maintained.

New cab and interface options Although operator cabs have become more simplified in recent years, there are still a lot of physical buttons and displays with which machine operators need to interact. However,

increasing levels of automation may bring more control outside of the cab to a tablet or other disconnected device, says Iyengar. There are already some examples of this in which an operator can autonomously control a piece of equipment from a distance using a tablet, pendant or operator’s station. The pendent and operator’s station will still utilize some HMI similar to that currently found in the cab such as joysticks and buttons. But eventually, as fully autonomous vehicles become more prevalent, there will likely be a removal of the operator cab and thus a diminished need for HMI products. Some small amount of HMI will be necessary on

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

COVER STORY: OPERATOR INTERFACE oemoffhighway.com/21590994

the machines, says Iyengar, as there will still need to be physical interaction with the machine in case connectivity is lost or information needs to be downloaded from it. In the distant future she says HMI could potentially be removed completely, but in the near-term operator interface solutions will remain an important component of an overall machine design. Removal of the operator cab though will provide both OEMs and component suppliers—including HMI manufacturers—the opportunity to rethink their designs. “If you don’t have the cab, it gives you a lot more degrees of freedom in how you design the overall machine,” says Iyengar. You can essentially do a ground up design and create new vehicle architectures that may or may not look like the equipment many customers are used to seeing today. For instance, Raven Industries— which CNH Industrial announced it would be acquiring in June—has been developing autonomous systems for agricultural equipment for several years. Its OMNiPOWER solution (formerly known as DOT) is a self-propelled power platform which allows easy interchange of farm implements such as sprayers or spreaders. No operator is required, which lead Raven to create a machine with no operator cab and a more simplified design. As Iyengar describes it, the machine has a galley style and does not look anything like a tractor or other

piece of equipment one might see in farm fields today. Removal of the cab allowed Raven to create this unique design which aims to help farmers improve their productivity and efficiency. As it is a single platform on which different attachments can automatically be attached, it can be used for various tasks throughout the farming season. This could potentially help reduce the amount of equipment farmers need, further aiding their productivity as well as cost savings potential. Autonomous vehicles are a key development area for CNH Industrial. In 2016, CNH’s Case IH brand premiered an autonomous concept vehicle, a cabless row crop tractor capable of fully autonomous operation with various field implements. The machine was based on a Case IH Magnum tractor but with reimagined styling, which removal of the operator cab enabled. Since then, the company and its various brands have continued to research and develop autonomous vehicles and systems, knowing autonomy will only continue to become more vital to help improve safety and productivity, as well as overcome the labor shortages challenging many off-highway equipment industries. Removal of the operator cab will of course impact many components and

HMI is being designed to provide operators with more feedback to make machine control intuitive.

EAO CORP.

systems currently used on heavy-duty equipment like HMI and air conditioning systems. Iyengar says this will significantly simplify machine designs, but also require use of very robust technology to ensure a properly functioning machine. She says there is a tremendous amount of sophisticated technology already being utilized in the agricultural and other off-highway equipment industries. Technology will continue advancing, especially as automation progresses, and how it is deployed is just as important as its actual development. It will be vital for manufacturers to ensure technology is deployed in a manner which adds value to customers. How technology and heavy equipment designs evolve in the coming years remains to be seen. Iyengar says she believes there is a big transformation coming in the next 4-5 years with the deployment of more autonomous vehicles with Level 3 and 4 capabilities. In the next 5+ years she sees broader deployment of new vehicle architectures—i.e. those with no operator cab. With these evolving machine designs will also come advancements in operator interface solutions to meet the changing landscape of the heavy equipment industry. |

The new LiReCon (Liebherr Remote Control) teleoperation system is designed to provide additional comfort and safety for operators in tough mining applications by enabling them to control equipment from a remote location.

LIEBHERR

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

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MARKET TRENDS: LAWN & GARDEN oemoffhighway.com/21591227

LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT

MILLION UNITS

Sales of lawn and garden equipment are trending well in 2021, and expected to remain positive into the coming year. contributed by Jim Downey, Vice President-Global Data Products, Power Systems Research SALES PROJECTIONS

nit sales of lawn and garden equipment in the United States are thriving right now and will make 2021 a very nice year for the market. The products included in this article are: • Commercial Walk-Behind Mowers,

• • • • • • •

Zero-Turn Mowers, Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers, Snowblowers, Lawn and Garden Tractors, Chainsaws, Edgers, Hedge Cutters,

• Leaf Blowers, • Leaf Vacs and • Trimmers. These products are split into two categories: mowers/snowblowers and handheld equipment. This is a very large market in terms of the sales volumes sold in the United States each year, and this market is growing. Sales projections for 2021 are edging towards 16 million units, with handheld equipment accounting for almost 60% of that number. With more people working from home because of COVID-19, the need by consumers for more equipment has boosted the sales increases. The other interesting aspect when looking at this market is how much of the product is electric (either battery or corded) and what is changing about the adoption from internal combustion (IC) products to electric units.

More disposable income and time at home over the past year has lead to increased sales of lawn and garden equipment.

Mowers and snowblowers The mower and snowblower products within the lawn and garden equipment market in the United States include commercial walk-behind mowers, zero-turn mowers, lawn and garden tractors, walk-behind rotary mowers (consumer) and snowblowers. Adoption rates toward electric drives for the riding mowers and commercial mowers are less than Power Systems JOHN DEERE

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

©DANAI – STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Current State of the U.S. Lawn & Garden Equipment Market

Zero-turn mowers are popular among residential and commercial customers, which will drive market growth through 2022. EXMARK

Research (PSR) is projecting for handheld products. Commercial walk-behind mowers Commercial walk-behind mowers (heavy-duty hydrostatic drive) are seldom used for residential applications. These mowers are expected to see a sales increase of about 7.5% for 2021. Sales growth will start to level off around 2023 and 2024. The main players are Scag, DR, John Deere, Ferris, Gravely, Exmark and Hustler. Mean Green Mowers is currently making an electric commercial walk-behind mower, but that market has not really taken hold yet. Zero-turn mowers Zero-turn mowers are very popular among homeowners for residential use and contractors for commercial duty. These are riding lawn mowers that have a turning radius of zero when the two wheels rotate in the opposite direction. Some of the leading brands sold in the United States are Bad Boy, Cub Cadet, John Deere, Toro and Kubota. Electric models are not as popular at this point, and PSR is projecting only 25% of the market to be non-IC by 2026. The main electric players currently are Ryobi, EGO and Mean Green Mowers. This total market is expected to increase by close to 9% this year and another 7-8% in 2022.

Lawn and garden tractors Lawn and garden tractor sales for 2021 should be 6-7% higher than the amount sold in 2020. These riding lawn mowers are versatile and give home-

owners many options/attachments to complete other tasks as well. Lawn and garden tractors are rarely used for commercial work. This product has the largest volumes for all the riding lawn mowers. Again, the adoption of electric drive types has been slow to this point. The main brands include Husqvarna, John Deere, Cub Cadet and Craftsman. Walk-behind rotary mower Walk-behind rotary mowers are push-behind lawn mowers with a rotary cutting blade which rotates around the center. Sales in the U.S. this year should increase to over 5 million units. Another increase of about 4-5% in the sale of lawn mowers is expected for next year. Some of the common brands sold are Toro, Honda, Craftsman, Troy-Bilt, EGO, Greenworks and Ryobi. Currently gasoline mowers account for 80% of the market. PSR is anticipating the

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Mean Green Mowers is bringing electric powered equipment to the lawn and landscape market.

MEAN GREEN MOWERS

share for electric lawn mowers to be close to 45-50% of the market by 2026. As with most of these products discussed in this report, people have invested in their lawn and garden equipment over the last 18 months as they have spent more time with their lawn and gardens during the pandemic. Snowblowers The sale of snowblowers is very much related to weather and is seasonal for the most part. Ariens is the market leader without any electric models yet. Following Ariens, other brands include Toro, Snow Joe, Troy-Bilt, Simplicity and Husqvarna. Snowblower sales are expected to increase 8-9% over 2020. PSR is projecting the market to be 60% electric drive by 2026.

Handheld equipment market PSR is projecting the handheld equipment segment to increase by 9% this year from 2020. It also anticipates this market will continue to grow by over 12% during the 2-year span 20212023. Much of this growth is consumer driven. Chainsaws Chainsaws make up the largest sales volume in the handheld equipment category. The market is now over 3 mil-

lion units. PSR is projecting this product to grow 9% from 2020-2021. Some of the main players in the chainsaw space include STIHL, Poulan/Poulan Pro, Echo, Husqvarna and Ryobi. The market right now for chainsaws is evenly split between IC and electric (51% versus 49%). By 2026, PSR is projecting that electric chainsaws will be over 70% of the units sold in the United States. Edgers The edger market is growing by 8% this year. Edgers are used to trim/ cut boundaries between a lawn and streets, driveways, paths or gardens. The main brands for lawn edgers are STIHL, Greenworks, Black+Decker, TroyBilt, Ryobi and Toro. The adoption rate for electric edgers will be about 80% by 2026, up from 60% this year. Hedge cutters Hedge cutters are following a similar growth rate as edgers this year at about 8% from 2020 sales. Electric hedge cutters already account for 75% of the market currently. That will continue to grow over the next 5 years and IC units will only account for less than 10% of the market. Leading players for hedge cutters include STIHL for both IC and electric

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

units, Black+Decker, Sun Joe, Echo, Makita and Ryobi. Leaf blowers and leaf vacuums Leaf blowers and vacuums are also products within the handheld category of lawn and garden equipment in the U.S. Sales of this application in the U.S. are projected to grow 8.5% over 2020. Blowers are becoming more and more popular with homeowners as they are easy to use and very versatile. Sales volumes are projected to be close to 1.5 million units in 2021. The leading brands are Black+Decker, Echo, STIHL and Greenworks. Currently the market is 80% electric drive and again that will only increase by the year 2026. Trimmers The last product to discuss in the handheld segment is the trimmer. This tool is also known as a string trimmer, weed whacker and weed whip. Trimmers use a flexible line/string instead of a blade to cut. Sales of trimmers in the U.S. are expected to increase between 8 and 9% in 2021 compared to 2020. That growth will continue for the next 5 years and will increase 19% from 2021-2026. Electric models have 62% market share. As with the other handheld products, electric trimmers sold in the U.S. will continue to grow and be over 80% of the market by 2026. Gasoline trimmers are still favored by contractors. The leading producers of trimmers are Troy-Bilt, STIHL, Sun Joe, Black+Decker, and Husqvarna. U.S. lawn and garden equipment sales have done well during the pandemic as many people are working from home and finding more time to work on their outside property. Lawns, gardens and foliage have been tended to more often now than in the past. Hence more lawn and garden equipment has been sold. Rising consumer confidence and more disposable income has prompted spending, which has driven the demand for new equipment. | This article was written and contributed by Jim Downey, Vice President-Global Data Products, Power Systems Research

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YOKOHAMA OFF-HIGHWAY TIRES AMERICA

DRIVETRAIN SYSTEM: TIRES oemoffhighway.com/21590930

Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America offers a wide range of compounds based on the uses of the tire, from standard multi-use RE-R compounds to special compounds for extra heat resistance (HR-V) or cut resistance (CP-S).

Select Wheel Loader Tires to Meet Jobsite Demands Selecting the right tire can help an OEM ensure customers minimize operating costs while improving wheel loader productivity. by Curt Bennink

electing the best wheel loader tire can have a dramatic impact on operating costs. “Two of the most common triggers for tire failure for wheel loaders result from mismanagement of tire maintenance, or choosing the wrong tire for the application,” says Robby Hamby, Director, Bridgestone OTR and Ag Product Programs. It’s critical that the right tire type, rating and pattern are selected. The size and capacity of the wheel loader affects the correct choice. “Choose a tire with the load capacity that meets or exceeds the gross vehicle weight of the loader,” adds Hamby. “We can look at wheel loader size in three ways: the gross weight of the machine itself, the capacity of its bucket and the horsepower and torque the loader exert on the wheel,” says Bruce

Besancon, Vice President, Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America. “As any of those three measures increases, demands on the tires grows significantly. “Every aspect of a tire is engineered and manufactured with those demands in mind,” he adds. “The ability of the entire tire to handle a load – particularly a dynamic load that is changing as the bucket is raised and lowered – the capacity of the bead and sidewall to withstand the force from the axle, and the capability of the tire to flex and roll without building up excess heat are all critical. Buying more tire than you need does not make economic sense, but neither does buying a tire that is under-spec’d for the application and doomed to fail.” “Bigger machines carry heavier loads, which can translate into more heat buildup,” explains Laurent Greppi,

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

Global Product Category Manager, Camso Inc. Choose the right rubber compound to avoid premature wear. Also consider the operator. “When selecting a tire for bigger machines, operator fatigue is an important issue. Just changing the tires could have significant impact on vibration levels in the cabin, leading to stress, fatigue and ultimately safety issues. Talking to operators regularly about machine performance, especially after changing tires on your loaders, can be an effective way to assess performance.”

Choose tires based on application “Wheel loaders are typically purpose-built for very specific applications and demand tires that are just as specific to the material being dug and moved, the surface condition and the distance

and speed of travel,” says Besancon. “With those factors in mind – as well as the bucket size and the load to be carried – you can choose the tire with the construction, tread depth and pattern, and compound for the application.” “There are many factors to consider: the type of machine used, its size, the application for which it is used and the type of operations it carries out,” says Pireo Torassa, Field Engineer at BKT Europe. “Another essential factor in selecting the best tire is the condition of the soil in which it works.” Work times, distances covered and type of route are also factors. Finally, consider the weight which the machine must transport, load and/or unload. “To extend the life of a tire, it is necessary above all to choose the perfect product for your needs,” says Torassa. “We always tell customers to put their trust in our tire consultants and suppliers. These are increasingly specific and hi-tech products. It is the expert’s task to successfully translate each company’s requirements into selecting the perfect tire. By choosing the right product, you save on time, consumption and possible replacements and downtime.”

Radial versus bias You need to decide between radial or bias tires. “Radial tires offer better cut resistance, improved traction and cooler running that will maximize uptime, while

bias tires offer more stability, which will provide better ride comfort in larger loaders,” says Hamby. Longer travel cycles tend to build up heat. “That is where you do the math on whether to invest in radial tires that can allow you more ton miles per hour (TMPH) because they can operate more safely and efficiently over longer distances,” says Besancon. A radial tire tends to be more expensive than a bias tire. However, the machine’s total cost of ownership may be lower because the radial provides better traction and flotation. It also contributes to lower fuel consumption. Radial tires are ideal in applications where traction, tread wear and distance are important factors. They are well suited for wheel loaders operated on finished surfaces for loading applications.

Choose correct tire tread After determining the best tire type for the application, the next step is to select the tread pattern or tire design. “The correct tread design, tread depth and load capacity are key in determining the correct tire that will maximize your loader’s performance,” says Hamby. “It’s important to understand whether you are looking for a tire that provides better heat resistance, cut resistance There are many types of treads and tread depths. Understanding the application and the tradeoffs will ensure the best tire choice. BKT

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OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

DRIVETRAIN SYSTEM: TIRES

STAFF IMAGE

oemoffhighway.com/21590930

Fewer lugs and more voids lead to more traction. This is because the tread can clean out much faster to provide grip in each revolution a tire makes.

The correct pressure will allow the tire to carry the load it was designed for and the casing will deflect correctly.

Selecting the right tire for the right application is vital to ensuring optimal performance.

and traction, or wear to improve total cost of ownership.” L-type tires are designated for wheel loaders and wheeled dozers, while there are also E-type tires for earthmovers, G-type tires for graders and C-type tires for compactors. For the loader tires, there is a standardized identification code: • L2 Traction Regular Tread Depth • L3 Rock Regular Tread Depth • L4 Rock Deep Tread Depth • L5 Rock Extra Deep Tread Depth • L4S Smooth Deep Tread Depth • L5S Smooth Extra Deep Tread Depth According to the Tire and Rim Association, there are three general classifications for tread thickness – regular, deep and extra deep. Deep and extra deep are 1.5 and two times thicker, respectively, than regular. “Balancing the need for cut/wear resistance and heat dissipation can dictate whether the best investment is in regular tread (an L2 or L3 tire), a deep tread that is 50% deeper (L4) or extra-deep tread (L5), which is 2.5 times the depth of a regular tread,” says Besancon. Knowing the loader’s application is critical to understanding which tire to run. “For example, if the loader is used to load out over the road trucks at a stone quarry, one might consider an L3 tread design,” says Tim Good, Open Pit Sales Manager, Maxam Tire. “But if the loader is used in multiple appli-

cations like feeding shot rock into the crusher and then loading trucks with the finished material, one should consider an L4 application. The L4 provides a deeper tread for more protection, traction and longer wear due to a deeper tread. An L5 loader tire should be considered when working in any moderate to severe underfoot conditions.” The deeper 250 level tire maximizes protection of the casing. But with that deeper tread option, the user is limited to 5 mph (8 km/h) for no more than 250 ft. (76.2 m). “If the loader currently has a wide base (80 aspect ratio) tire, you can go from an L3 to an L5 tire,” notes Good. “What the loader is used for determines the tread pattern and tread depth required. Other options include a low profile (65 Series) aspect ratio tire. Generally, the loaders are ordered from the factory with the low-profile tires as the tires require a wider rim. For example, if the loader is fitted with 29.5R25 tires, one can convert over to 875/65R29 tires with new rims. The overall diameter of the tires is equal even though the rim O.D. goes from a 25- to 29-in. rim (63.5- to 73.7-cm). Plus, the 65 series tire fits on a 2-in. (5.1-cm) wider rim. The advantage to the user is that the low profile 65 series tire, when mounted on a loader, has a 15% increased capacity, providing more productivity with improved ride, stability and traction.”

Match tires to underfoot conditions

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

Underfoot conditions will have a major influence on correct tire choice. “If the piece of equipment is being operated in a very soft underfoot condition, one would need to consider an L2, L3 or even L4 depending upon what the machine is doing,” says Good. “The difference is lug to void ratio. The fewer lugs and the more voids lead to more traction. This is because the tread can clean out much faster to provide grip in each revolution a tire makes.” There are tradeoffs. Normally, the higher the net (lug) to void (space between the lug) ratio the more wear. “One cannot obtain a high net-to-void ratio without getting less traction,” explains Good. “When the machine is placed into a ‘load and carry’ operation, it’s crucial to note underfoot conditions,” says Good. “If the machine is operating in the pit area loading shot rock from the face to the in-pit crusher or conveyor, one needs to decide between an L5 deep rock tread tire or an L4 rock tread tire. This will depend on the loaders’ travelling distance. If greater than 250 ft. and faster than 5 mph, then an L4 should be considered.” Each jobsite poses unique demands. “If we’re working at the face of a quarry, that loader is operating on broken rock – a brutal environment for cuts and impact damage,”

says Besancon. “On the other hand, it is probably not traveling very far to dump its bucket, so heat buildup may not be the primary factor that needs consideration. We can specify a very deep, cut-resistant tread that can withstand the rock without as much concern about the thick tread trapping heat in the tire. In another case, aggregate or sand may be lifted and hauled a much greater distance across a better surface. In that situation, the tire is not as likely to be subjected to the impact, but heat buildup from friction and deflection is the bigger concern. A tire with heat-dissipating nylon breakers and compound would be a better choice.” “Once we’ve got the basics down, we can look at value and cost per hour,” says Besancon. “In some applications, radial tires quickly become a better investment because they last longer, wear more evenly and reduce fuel consumption because of their flatter, more even footprint. On the opposite end of the spectrum, loaders in severe duty situations like scrap yards or waste transfer stations can benefit dramatically from switching to solid tires, which wear longer and are impervious to flats and punctures or sidewall cuts. Even foam-filled pneumatics can be sidelined when the sidewalls are slit, so it’s worth the extra cost of a solid tire in those tough cases.”

“Compound chemistry is extremely important and it has been an important focus for Yokohama for decades,” says Besancon. “We offer a wide range of compounds based on the uses of the tire, from standard multi-use RE-R compounds to special compounds for extra heat resistance (HR-V) or cut resistance (CP-S). There is both

art and science in selecting the best compound for a particular application based on the tradeoffs among heat, abrasion and cut resistance. That is a conversation you’ll want to have with a tire dealer who understands your business and your equipment. That dealer can save you a tremendous amount of money and trouble.” |

YOKOHAMA OFF-HIGHWAY TIRES

4 GREAT BRANDS. 4,000 SKUs. Find the Yokohama OTR, Alliance, Galaxy and Primex brands—backed by industry-leading warranties—at Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America, Inc. From construction to logging, farm, material handling and more, we work hand-in-hand with OEMs to engineer and manufacture the tires that help equipment perform its best.

Pick appropriate tire compound Are you working in abrasive conditions? “A tire with a proven, tough rubber compound with resistance to chunks will be your best ally,” says Greppi. “If you’re working in soft mixed surfaces where traction is required, you’ll look for a tread with deeper lugs to guarantee the machine won’t get stuck, meaning that the application also impacts the tread (or sculpture) choice. If you are working in hot temperatures where temperatures can soar, you’ll need to look for specific tires that use rubber compounds and features that help eliminate heat buildup that could lead to failure.”

Ask your Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America, Inc. rep or your tire dealer about Yokohama OTR, Alliance, Galaxy or Primex tires, visit yokohama-oht.com or call (800) 343-3276. www.yokohama-oht.com | 800-343-3276 | @yokohamaohta

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

GPS & AUTOMATION: MACHINE CONTROL SYSTEMS oemoffhighway.com/21427910

Construction Equipment Machine Control Transforms Jobsite Intelligence Technology allows operators to be more productive by understanding the exact orientation of the working tool versus the target grade, and any obstacles, at all times.

As machine control technology continues to evolve, real-time data and automation will transform the jobsite. by Curt Bennink display. It could be your phone.” “Everybody has been focusing on the big equipment — dozers, graders and excavators. But we never really looked at the smaller excavators, the compact tools like the skid steers,” notes Kris Maas, Machine Control Director of Product Management for Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon. “We are definitely looking to those solutions. The cost was too high compared to the cost of the machine. It is getting less expensive and more accessible to a different fleet of machines.”

Accuracy and processing power improve TOPCON

he pace of innovation continues at an exponential rate. “In the past couple of years, we have seen tremendous growth in the adoption of machine grade control solutions,” says Sean Mairet, Product Marketing Manager, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “This adoption has led to improvements in grade control solutions such as removing external grade control components like mast towers and coil cables. Additionally, automation features are being integrated to help further enhance grade control solutions.” As the cost of the technology has come down, it has rapidly spread to new machine types. “You are seeing

nontraditional grade control machines adopting grade control technology,” says Mairet. “Take for instance our new 333G SmartGrade compact track loader and SmartGrade excavators. These types of machines are newer to grade control but now enjoy the tremendous value grade control technology brings to a jobsite.” Trimble offers Earthworks GO!, a product tailored specifically to expand grade control technology to the small machine space. “It’s portable and very cost effective,” says Cameron Clark, Earthmoving Industry Director for the Civil Construction Division, Trimble. “It magnetically mounts to the grading attachment. You can use your own

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

Murray Lodge, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Construction, Topcon Positioning Group, believes the most significant improvements have been the processing power of the components and the rapid advancements in Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) technology. And while the performance has increased, the price has seen a significant decline. “It’s really dropped because of commoditization. You are also now able to build IMUs that are more accurate,” he says. These advancements allow machines to operate at faster speeds. “As you start to add load-sensing capability so that

you know you are getting too much resistance on the blade — you have too much material — then the blade will automatically come up a little bit,” says Lodge. “You don’t have to slow down; you can maintain a constant speed.” Such advancements also make it possible to adapt the technology to more machine forms, such as skid steers or track loaders that rapidly change directions. “On older machine control technology, where you used gravity flow sensors, slow processors and received your signal from a GPS, the latency was so great that you couldn’t keep up,” recalls Lodge. “You either had to slow way down to get the accuracy you needed or you couldn’t use it.” Scott Hagemann, Senior Market Professional, Caterpillar Inc., agrees that advancements in the sensors and IMUs are the most important achievements. “They are very fast and measure many different angles with the same sensor. They are also very compact in size so they can be mounted out of harm’s way.” “When you couple [sensor and IMU advancements] with the extra processing power we have with the ECM (engine control module), we’ve seen a real big performance improvement,” says Clark. You have more data and the ability to do more with that data.

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OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

GPS & AUTOMATION: MACHINE CONTROL SYSTEMS

Leica’s dozer grade control solutions interface with Leica ConX with easy data transfer between office and machines, remote communication, fleet management and earthmoving productivity analysis via the cloud-based ConX platform.

IMU technology has also allowed the development of mastless systems. Traditionally, contractors remove the grade control components off the masts at night to prevent theft. Mastless systems mean you don’t have to worry about daily removal and the risk of falling off a ladder every day, says Clark. System displays have been another area of improvement. “The size is larger, but the touchscreen gives it the feel of your smartphone,” says Hagemann. “They are actually tablets that run apps. The app we use for grade control is called Cat GRADE. The operator can press and hold, swipe, zoom and rotate just like your phone. This feel changes the attitude of the operator; they feel more at ease with the technology.” “There’s been a lot of focus and effort within the industry to make the systems more intuitive,” says Clark. Trimble employs a team focused on user experience to ensure products are more intuitive, which decreases the learning curve and training requirements.

From machine solutions to ecosystems There is also a movement from standalone solutions to ecosystem solutions, where machines are connected. “We’ve seen big improvements with workflows, of getting data to and from the office, being able to manage and understand what’s happening on the site remotely,” says Clark. The importance of this has been emphasized during the pandemic. Connected machines also allow plan updates to be remotely sent to all machines in the field. But connectivity requires input from a fleet of machines. “If you only have one machine on the jobsite that is connected back to the office, it doesn’t really help you out a whole lot,” says Michael Salyers, Senior Product Manager, Komatsu. The more machines become connected and supply data, the more viable it will be to make decisions in real time. The information provided by grade control systems will become even more useful as it is integrated with onboard telematics systems. “SmartGrade solutions are already integrated

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

LEICA GEOSYSTEMS

oemoffhighway.com/21427910

into JDLink from the factory,” says Mairet. “Recently announced, SmartGrade remote support is being added to SmartGrade machines this year. This support suite includes remote display access (RDA) and wireless data transfer (WDT), enabling the dealer and customer to remotely log into the display to help with troubleshooting or wirelessly transfer files to the machine.” This helps prevent trips to the machine in the field. Machine data can be sent directly to the cloud. “No matter where you are, you can get this information by phone, tablet or computer,” says Hagemann. This will drive new processes and efficiencies. “We can tie dirt moved to fuel burned, hours worked and trucks loaded. The data allows our customers to make decisions sooner and faster.” Real-time information is a game changer. “You can now make better decisions and adjust project schedules, project plans, material ordering, deliveries,” says Salyers. “You can start adjusting those schedules much more effectively because you’re able to see what is happening on the jobsite in a more real-time scenario.” The goal is to use real-time information to optimize the workflow. “Monitoring the whole workflow is really where the big-dollar impacts can happen,” says Lodge. “If you want to get real-time accurate information of what’s happening on a jobsite, you have to be able to take different types of data collection, bring them together and then have a cloud-based system that can process all that instantly. That information needs to immediately go out to every machine, every grade checker, every foreman in a truck.” This requires machines talking to each other, plus other forms of data collection such as drones. Topcon uses Sitelink connectivity to tie this data together. Accessing data has been one of the challenges faced by many contractors who run mixed fleets. “When somebody buys a machine, they need to stick to a brand to get the whole ecosystem,” says

Maas. “That’s one of the constraints that you have today. If a contractor wants to get full information on productivity, they need to have one brand of machine because they live in their ecosystem. That’s still a problem in the construction industry, and they’re working on an ISO norm of data formats, which may become available by end of this year or beginning of next year.”

Looking toward the future Increasing machine connectivity will allow further advancements. “We look at it not so much as individual point solutions, but what can we do [at] an ecosystem level,” says Clark. “More intelligence is being added to the systems to really help the skilled operators to be more efficient and productive, and assistance features aid in optimizing workflows.” The systems will move away from being simply grade control toward

systems that instruct the operator how to complete the task. This may include heads-up displays or augmented reality. For these advancements to occur, jobsite machines need to be connected. “That’s where it has to go to automate the site,” says Lodge. “If I have 10 pieces of equipment on a site and only two of them have control systems, I can only do so much.” When the whole fleet is connected, the machines can work together at a higher productivity level. “As we look out over the next 5 years,

Non-traditional grade control machines, such as compact track loaders, are adapting grade control technology as the cost has come down. JOHN DEERE

integration, adoption and automation are the three areas that seem to be gaining attention,” says Mairet. “Integration at the factory allows for better installation consistency, and customers are seeing the value that brings to grade control

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

GPS & AUTOMATION: MACHINE CONTROL SYSTEMS oemoffhighway.com/21427910

machine moving left or right, forward or reverse, and moving parts up or down. The big step in between will be remote control of our machines, then automation.” Safety will be an important topic on the road to autonomy. “To get more to autonomy or automation, you need to have safety involved,” says Maas. “If you’re relying less on the operator, you need to have that aspect covered. If something goes wrong, the machine stops working. “We already have that standard in our semi-automatic excavator today,” he notes. “The problem with a construction site is it’s so dynamic. It changes continuously. Integrating grade control systems into machines and using speed You need to sensors, advanced IMUs and pressure sensors allows the machine be able to to do a lot more for the operator. react to the functions to really help lift the skilled ever-changing environment on a conworkforce,” he comments. struction site to avoid certain objects.” Most manufacturers have stated the Automation will require new safety end goal is autonomy. “But until that measures. “You will see safety elements is developed, I see more features that being added to the grade control help manage the job being offered systems,” says Clark. “You have to make in the cabs,” says Hagemann. “For sure it is safe and you have to autoexample, the grade control systems mate a workflow just like a seasoned know the final design desired, the machine operator would for that task.” design plan loaded in the display. The machine’s blade or bucket knows the Machine integration raises current state of the project, the elevathe bar tion. They can use this to compare and Topcon helped bring an OEMgive live updates of the project. integrated grade control system to “Grade control has become very market almost a decade ago. These beneficial due to us knowing the locasystems can do things not possible tion of the machine and its major parts with an aftermarket system since they — blades, buckets, tracks, rippers, cabs, are tightly integrated with the vehicle’s booms, sticks, etc.,” Hagemann continCAN system and hydraulics. “But the ues. “We can leverage the locations we solution also needs to be something know to control where the machine that enhances a customer’s mixed goes, not just where the blade or buckfleet,” says Lodge. A contractor needs et is. By doing this we can control the the most effective solution that fits the KOMATSU AMERICA CORP.

technology solutions. As technology adoption and integration increase, the opportunity for automation to further enhance productivity is even larger. Grade control technology is certainly a very important building block for additional automation in the future.” Clark says that the path toward autonomy is a journey. “It makes sense to add value along the way — to provide assistance with semi-automated

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

whole fleet and the whole operation. The integrated systems and aftermarket systems can all communicate with the Topcon ecosystem. “In the last few years, the systems actually started to become part of the machine instead of just an add-on,” says Komatsu’s Salyers. “Now, we’ve really started to see the increase in the usability and the functionality of the system as it relates to the overall jobsite. The machines understand what is happening within their own environment.” They can sense when they have too much or too little load. Prior to the development of integrated technologies, grade control was primarily a blade-mounted system. “All it knew was exactly what the target was and how far it needed to go to get to target,” says Salyers. This limited the application to primarily finish grading. “Contractors and operators would only use that blade control system anywhere between 10-15% of the time.” For most earthmoving projects, mass haul of material is the largest amount of work that occurs. “That’s the highest cost for the contractor or the developer,” says Lodge. “The technology is now being utilized for general movement of any material on a jobsite. If I automate the workflow in the beginning when I do the design, I’m going to do it as efficiently as possible.” Being able to use a grade control system from the start of the project reduces mistakes. “It has a big benefit because you don’t want to dig too deep or over cut at the beginning. We all know that 80% of the costs for earthmoving [are] at the beginning when they start stripping and preparing the field,” says Maas. The early grade control systems were primarily used in manual mode until you were within a half foot of target grade. “Now, we’re able to sense what the existing ground is underneath the tracks of the machine and load the blade accordingly, thus making the machine more efficient and productive,” says Salyers. “The machine is recording in real time what it is do-

ing, comparing it to where it needs to be and then moving the material in the best way that a machine of its size can move it, whether it is a big machine or a small machine. The operator can now turn on the automation in one of our integrated machines and never turn it off all day. “Bringing the grade control system into the machine and using the speed sensors, advanced IMUs and pressure sensors is allowing the machine to do a lot more for the operator,” he points out. “Now, the operator doesn’t have to worry about basic material movement; he is thinking about where the material placement needs to go. It is giving experienced operators the ability to do more jobsite management than it is actual machine operation.” Machine grade control pricing has dropped substantially over the years, which makes it easier to justify an upgrade to integrated grade control

technologies. “Contractors will start to see as they replace machines, it’s much more cost effective to go with an integrated machine than it is to continually try to utilize an older system that doesn’t have some of the functionality, that doesn’t have some of the performance capabilities that the newer systems have,” says Salyers. “Being able to combine onboard machine data and sensors with grade control technology creates an opportunity for features that wouldn’t be available in a standalone add-on kit,” says Mairet. “An example of this is the newly released machine damage avoidance feature on [John Deere] SmartGrade motor graders. This feature leverages the same sensors SmartGrade integrated grade control uses to sense if the machine is at risk of damaging itself, and actively prevents it.” The information available from the integrated machines will just continue

Above Ground.

to increase over time. For example, sensors are being added to track what is going on around the machine for safety. “When you look at some of the sensors that you might have on a machine for safety, how else could you use those?” Clark poses, then notes that they might also be used to scan and create surface models around the machine, providing additional value. As machines gain data gathering capability, you may be able to rely less on drone mapping. “There will be cameras on the machine where you can start tracking data. Excavators can have a camera on the front and they can collect [data] points while they dig,” notes Maas. Reality capture technology is also emerging. “You can capture reality around the machine and you can map the terrain while driving,” says Maas. While this capability is not yet available, the technology exists. |

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OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

M I N E X P O 2021

MINExpo Product Launches oemoffhighway.com/21590971

New Equipment and Technology at MINExpo OEMs and suppliers will showcase their latest advancements for the mining industry. Magni Exhibiting at MINExpo for First Time Central Hall, Booth #9013 Magni Telescopic Handlers is set to exhibit its lines of Fixed Boom, Rotating, and Heavy Lift Telehandlers at MINExpo 2021 in Las Vegas for the first time. Magni will highlight how its telehandlers can help mines increase profits and create safer working environments. Magni will feature its Rotating Telescopic Handlers (RTH), a line of versatile and flexible machines that can be used for many applications at mines. Magni rotators serve as several machines in one and can be equipped with various accessories such as forks, winches, platforms, and many specialty attachments. Users benefit particularly from the 360-degree rotation of the RTH which helps them increase production speed. Magni’s RTH line offers 16 models with lifting capacities from 8,800-28,600 lbs. (3,991.6-129,727.4 kg) and lifting heights from 58-167 ft. (17.7-50.9 m). Magni will also show its fixed-boom lines of telehandlers with machines built for underground work and extreme lift-

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

Magni will showcase how its telehandlers can be used in mining applications.

MAGNI

ing applications. Magni’s Heavy Lift Telehandlers have attachment’s purpose built for mines, including forks, tire handlers, cylinder handlers, and conveyor belt attachments. Read more at www.oemoffhighway.com/21590632.

KOMATSU MINING CORP.

Komatsu Exhibiting Sustainable and Autonomous Mining Technology Central Hall, Booth #7027 At Komatsu’s 48,000 sq. ft. (4,459.35 sq. m) booth, the company plans to unveil its latest solutions for surface and underground mining operations. “MINExpo provides the perfect opportunity for industry leaders to collaborate on new ways to extract essential minerals at this critical time for our society,” said Jeff Dawes, President and CEO of Komatsu Mining Corp. and chairperson of MINExpo 2021. “Supporting our customers’ path forward with new solutions that leverage digitalization, electrification and automation is crucial to our role as an essential provider to the industry, and we look forward to sharing these innovations developed in partnership with today’s mines.” Komatsu will preview future capabilities for remote operation of equipment featuring hydraulic excavators and autonomous haulage. Other new Komatsu solutions designed to advance more sustainable mining methods that will be on display include: • WE1850 Gen 3 surface wheel loader with proven SR (Switched Reluctance) hybrid drive technology • ZR122 surface blasthole drill with automated features • Battery hauler for underground mining powered by lithium-ion battery technology • Battery-tram powered ZJ32Bi jumbo drill for underground hard rock mining • Underground hard rock drilling and bolting retrofits compatible with all major and most other OEMs In addition, the company intends to debut a new concept haul truck which is power agnostic, and being developed as part of its new Komatsu Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Alliance. The alliance brings Komatsu together with customers to develop solutions which will help reduce emissions in the mining industry. Read more at www.oemoffhighway. com/21576990 and www.oemoffhighway. com/21590639.

Komatsu is exhibiting an array of new equipment and technology at MINExpo.

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OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

M I N E X P O 2021

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EPIROC

MINExpo Product Launches The Epiroc Boomer M20 Battery operating in an underground mine.

Epiroc Showcasing New and Enhanced Products North Hall, Booth #2121 Epiroc will exhibit a variety of new product offerings for the mining industry, including new equipment, technology and concepts aimed at increasing productivity, safety, efficiency and sustainability.

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OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

Pit Viper 291 Epiroc’s Pit Viper 291 makes its debut at MINExpo 2021. The rig is designed to tackle larger diameter drilling in soft to medium ground conditions in both rotary and DTH drilling. The new addition to the industry-leading Pit Viper range is capable of 6-3/4 in. to 12-1/4 in. (171-311 mm) diameter holes with a 55 ft. (16.76 m) clean hole single pass with the drill bit above the table. Also available with a 59-ft. (18 m) option. The Pit Viper 291 offers more than 100 different options to configure the perfect drill rig for your specific application. With Epiroc’s Rig Control System (RCS), the Pit Viper 291 can be configured with scalable automation features, including fully autonomous drilling. Boomer M20 with Battery Option With protected hydraulics, sensors and cables, Epiroc’s new Boomer M20 is the next generation in underground mining. The worlds’ first face drill rig with internal hydraulics, the Boomer M20 is designed to minimize unplanned stops and maximize uptime and performance even in the toughest conditions. High precision and performance are ensured with on-board automation features, tele-remote capabilities and digital drill plans which give higher reliability and quality of the full drill cycle. Through tele-remote capabilities, operators can drill from a safe distance and keep production going over shift changes. The Boomer M20 comes with a battery-electric driveline option. With the on-board charger, charging automatically happens while connected to the grid for drilling. Read more at www.oemoffhighway. com/21577080.

Trimble Showcasing Technology to Aid Autonomous Operations

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Trimble Load Haul is one of several solutions the company will feature at MINExpo to help improve productivity on work sites. TRIMBLE

South Hall, Booth #27927 Trimble will be presenting a wide range of mining solutions to improve safety, productivity, and efficiency and to put mining operations on the path to autonomy at MINExpo 2021. Mining companies need to overcome challenges like rising costs and skilled labor shortages and maximize opportunities from higher commodity prices. Today’s market leaders are using new tools to optimize operations, provide greater visibility into fleet operations, and implement autonomous machines to improve mine productivity, efficiency, and safety - but these solutions must also be rugged, reliable, and accurate. Trimble Autonomy Trimble has partnered with ROBORACE to make autonomous car racing a reality, and the Robocar will be on display at the show. The same positioning technology that’s helping the Robocar maintain precise in-lane positioning at speeds up to 282.42 km/h (175.49 mph) is powering haul trucks for positioning and orientation in mining operations using Trimble’s Applanix Position and Orientation System (POS) LVX GNSS-inertial system. Trimble will also be featuring smart antennas and inertial sensors that provide a high-accuracy, continuous solution for

precision GNSS – a critical component of a safe and sustainable operation on land or under it. Trimble Insight Visitors to the Trimble booth can talk to product experts, see a demo and learn more about Trimble Insight, which provides greater visibility of fleet inefficiency or downtime for quarry and mine managers. Trimble Insight draws data from Trimble LOADRITE loader, excavator, haul truck and conveyor belt sensors to provide easy-to-read dashboards, monitor alerts, and productivity data to help operators make better business decisions. Trimble LOADRITE Payload and Productivity Solutions For mines and quarries interested in immediate productivity improvement, Trimble LOADRITE payload and productivity management solutions use onboard scales to help monitor and improve load and haul, processing and load out operations. Key solutions at MINExpo will include Trimble Smart Haul load and haul tracking software and LOADRITE L3180 Smartscales for wheel loaders. Read more at www.oemoffhighway. com/10056204.

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BOOTH #5014 OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

M I N E X P O 2021

MINExpo Product Launches

LIEBHERR

oemoffhighway.com/21590971

Liebherr Introducing Three New Excavators

crane from Liebherr Mobile Cranes. In addition, attendees will be able Central Hall, Booth #7627 to interact with new technologies Liebherr Mining is showcasing its new through a VR booth, and discover Liebmining solutions portfolio. The compaherr’s technology at the daily masterny will display the R 9150 Generation 7 classes held with Liebherr experts. (G7) 130t/143 ton excavator, the next The three new excavators being generation of excavator cab from the unveiled at the show—the R 9150 recently announced R 9600 G8, the Generation 7, the R 9200 Generation PR 776 70t/77 ton mining dozer with 7, and the brand-new R 9600 GeneraLiReCon teleoperation system, the tion 8—are equipped with the latest newly introduced T 274 305t/336 tons technology features from Liebherr haul truck along with a display from including Liebherr Power EfficienLiebherr Components, and the LRT cy, Assistance Systems, and Bucket 1090-2.1 90t/100 ton rough terrain Filling Assistant. Liebherr also plans to highlight its recently introduced T 274 mining truck, a 305 tonne machine designed to provide fast cycle times, higher production rates, low fuel consumption, and a low cost per tonne. The Liebherr Components division will feature its D98 diesel engine series which is available for use in other OEMs’ equipment. Liebherr Components also plans to exhibit its hydraulic components, specifically the LH30VO medium pressure pump available in 85 cc. The R9600 is one of three new Read more at www.oemoffexcavators Liebherr is debuting at MINExpo. highway.com/21578879.

BOSCH REXROTH

Bosch Rexroth Hägglunds Atom Hydraulic Motor North Hall, Booth #413 Bosch Rexroth’s Hägglunds Atom hydraulic motors provide a compact, power-dense package with a compact design ideal for mobile, marine and recycling, and other heavy-duty applications. • Supplies more revolutions per minute, and more power than motors of similar size • Maximum torque of up to 13.6 kNm and a specific torque of 40 Nm/bar • Supplies full torque at speeds up to 400 rpm • Can easily handle shock loads at peak pressure of up to 420 bar (6,091.58 psi) Read more at www.oemoffhighway. com/21485337.

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OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

WIRTGEN

The 220 SM/220 SMi surface miner features a compact design for easy transport and maneuverability.

Wirtgen Surface Miner Makes North American Debut Central Hall, Booth #8109 The Wirtgen 220 SM/220 SMi surface miner will be among the products exhibited by the company at MINExpo 2021. Introduced at bauma 2019, this will mark the North American debut of the machine. Wirtgen’s surface miner features an EU Stage V/U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final engine offering power up to 708 kW (950 hp). The machine is suited for use in smalland medium-scale mining operations as well as routing work and infrastructure projects. According to the company, the compact and multipurpose machine is capable of extracting resources with an unconfined compressive strength of up to 50 MPa selectively and at a cutting depth of up to 11.8 in. (300 mm).

A 7 ft. 3 in. (2.2 m) wide cutting drum unit is tailored precisely to the specific application and guarantees high productivity at low operating costs, says Wirtgen. The high, narrow sides of the holder base ensure that material flows smoothly and energy consumption

is kept to a minimum. This results in reduced wear and tear on the housing, holders, point-attack cutting tools, and scraper blade – even when mining hard, abrasive material. Read more at www.oemoffhighway. com/21048456.

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OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Photo courtesy of MINExpo®

oemoffhighway.com/events

2021

STRUCTURAL

ADHESIVES FOR METAL

BONDING

High strength bonding for similar and dissimilar substrates

MINEXPO INTERNATIONAL

THE UTILITY EXPO

Las Vegas Convention Center Sept. 13-15, 2021 Las Vegas, NV www.minexpo.com

Kentucky Exposition Center Sept. 28-30, 2021 Louisville, KY www.theutilityexpo.com

THE BATTERY SHOW Suburban Collection Showplace Sept. 14-16, 2021 | Novi, MI www.thebatteryshow.com

ELECTRIC & HYBRID VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY EXPO Suburban Collection Showplace Sept. 14-16, 2021 | Novi, MI www.evtechexpo.com

BICES China New International Exhibition Center Sept. 14-17, 2021 Beijing, China www.e-bices.org

COMVEC Hackensack, NJ 07601 USA +1.201.343.8983 • main@masterbond.com

www.masterbond.com 40

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

In-Person and Virtual Event Hyatt Regency O’Hare Sept. 14-16, 2021 Rosemont, IL www.sae.org

EIMA INTERNATIONAL BolognaFiere Oct. 19-23, 2021 Bologna, Italy www.eima.it

GIE+EXPO Kentucky Exposition Center Oct. 20-22, 2021 Louisville, KY www.gie-expo.com

ARGUS VEHICLE EMISSIONS AND DEF SUMMIT USA Hyatt Centric Beale Street October 26-27, 2021 Memphis, TN www.argusmedia.com

NFPA/FPIC QUARTERLY CONFERENCE Virtual Event December 2, 2021 www.msoe.edu

AD INDEX

Advertiser........................Page #

2022 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW (CES) In-Person and Virtual Event Las Vegas Convention Center January 5-8, 2022 | Las Vegas, NV www.ces.tech

AGRITECHNICA Hannover Exhibition Grounds Feb. 27-Mar. 5, 2022 | Hannover, Germany www.agritechnica.com

GREEN TRUCK SUMMIT Indiana Convention Center Mar. 3, 2022 | Indianapolis, IN www.ntea.com

DAVE HAGLUND

BAUMA New Munich Trade Fair Center October 24-30, 2022 | Munich, Germany www.bauma.de

THE WORK TRUCK SHOW Indiana Convention Center Mar. 3-6, 2022 | Indianapolis, IN www.ntea.com

SIMA

HILLHEAD Hillhead Quarry June 21-23, 2022 | Buxton, United Kingdom www.hillhead.com

Parc des Expositions Paris-Nord Villepinte November 6-10, 2022 Paris, France www.simaonline.com

APEM, Inc..................................................................... 44 B&R Industrial Automation Corp.................................... 2 BKT USA, Inc................................................................. 25 Carlisle TyrFil................................................................ 33 CrossControl AB............................................................ 38 Cummins Engine Company Inc..................................... 17 Curtis Instruments, Inc.............................................12-13 Danfoss................................................................... 22-23 Doering........................................................................ 39 Eberspacher Climate Control Systems............................ 9 ENM Company.............................................................. 41 Enovation Controls....................................................... 37 The Gorman-Rupp Company........................................ 36 HAWE North America, Inc............................................. 29 James Dawson & Son LTD............................................. 21 Liebherr Construction Equipment Co.............................. 7 Marvel Industrial Coatings........................................... 35 Master Bond Inc........................................................... 40 MP Filtri USA, Inc.......................................................... 43 Napoleon Engineering Services - NES........................... 34 Nokian Tyres................................................................. 31 Omni Powertrain.......................................................... 39 SIKO Products Inc......................................................... 19 Volvo Penta of the Americas........................................... 5 Yokohama Off-Highway Tires America......................... 27

Global Health Impact Editor’s note: Due to the global health crisis, event dates may still be in fluxuation. Every attempt has been made to provide the most up to date information on those events listed; information is current as of the time of printing this issue. Be sure to montior our events page and individual events’ websites for updates. You can also read more about event changes at oemoffhighway.com/21123406 where we are tracking updates to industry events as they are announced.

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OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

OFF-HIGHWAY HEROES oemoffhighway.com/21602939

The First Self-Propelled Scraper Although not as successful as other LeTourneau designs, the first self-propelled scraper featured technologies that would years later become industry standards. by Thomas Berry, Archivist and Editor, Historical Construction Equipment Association

generated electricity for seven motors placed at points on the machine that required power. Like the Mountain Mover, it had a 12-yard capacity telescoping scoop. But where the Mountain Mover’s scoop

LeTourneau’s Self-Propelled Scraper was many years ahead of its time in both its concept and powertrain. It’s doing work a tractor-drawn scraper could not, discharging fill to the end of a levee with its front axle chocked.

Mountain Mover, a scraper of far larger capacity than anything else of the time (read more, 21508912 and 21551345). These scrapers had one drawback— they had to be pulled by a separate tractor. In his incessant pursuit of a better way to do the job, LeTourneau took scraper design to the next logical level in 1923: self-propulsion. The “Self-Propelled Scraper,” as he called it, rode on four large, smooth, spoked steel wheels. A gasoline engine, transversely mounted ahead of the front axle, turned a dynamo that

had two sections, the Self-Propelled Scraper’s had five. This author suspects that, given its smooth drive wheels

OEM Off-Highway | SEPTEMBER 2021

R. G. LETOURNEAU HEAVY EQUIPMENT: THE MECHANICAL DRIVE ERA 1921-1953, BY ERIC C. ORLEMANN

y the end of 1922, Robert G. LeTourneau had already achieved two major breakthroughs in scraper design: The first scraper that could be controlled from the towing tractor; and the

and the operating principles of the two-section bowl, the Self-Propelled Scraper didn’t have the power and traction to load that much material in two sections, so more and smaller sections were needed. Unfortunately, this remarkable machine had one drawback – its stately 1 mph (1.6 kph) speed. It could move the material, but much slower than tractor-drawn scrapers. After using it on various projects in central California, LeTourneau ended up converting it to a pull scraper and then sold it in 1925. Even though it was ultimately a failure, the Self-Propelled Scraper was years ahead of its time. It predated modern motor scrapers, also developed by LeTourneau, by 15 years. Its powertrain, with a generator set powering an array of motors at working points of the machine, foretold by 22 years the diesel-electric systems that became LeTourneau’s hallmark. After World War II, LeTourneau committed to this means of powering machinery, and his mammoth LT360, at 360 tons or 216 cubic yards capacity, the largest scraper ever built, had exactly the same power concept as the Self-Propelled Scraper – albeit with 5,080 hp (3,788.2 kW) worth of diesel generators. |

The Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the construction, dredging and surface mining equipment industries. With over 3,800 members in over a dozen countries, activities include publication of a quarterly educational magazine, Equipment Echoes, from which this article is adapted; operation of National Construction Equipment Museum and archives in Bowling Green, OH; and hosting an annual working exhibition of restored construction equipment. The 2022 show will be September 16-18 in Bowling Green, OH (read more, 10598970). Annual individual memberships are $35.00 US within the USA and Canada, and $55.00 US elsewhere. HCEA seeks to develop relationships in the equipment manufacturing industry, and offers a college scholarship for engineering and construction management students. Information is available at www.hcea.net, by calling 419-352-5616 or e-mailing info@hcea.net. Please reference Dept. OEM.

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OEM Off-Highway September 2021

Articles inside

Autonomous Vehicles Create More Intuitive, Easier to Use Operator Interfaces

Construction Equipment Machine Control Transforms Jobsite Intelligence