ABAX Smart Connect

TELEMATICS&MACHINE MANAGEMENT

THE SMART

MOVE

Construction Plant News investigates the benefits of the ABAX Smart Connect system

Aplant hirer or contractor of any reasonable size is likely to have a mixed fleet of machines from a number of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). As a result, accessing accurate and up-to-date data on utilisation might involve sourcing the necessary information from multiple platforms. In order to render it into a useable format – which can be interrogated for the purposes of improving operational performance – it will then need to be collected and compiled in one place.

Machine data

With ABAX Smart Connect machine owners and fleet managers can obtain on-going status updates on all their machines, and without any additional hardware. As a result, vital information on construction plant is available in a single location. The individual using the equipment, and its location is immediately accessible, whilst it’s also possible to set up geofences with automatic notifications in the event of these being breached.

Indeed, whether it’s emissions levels, driver hours, or maintenance schedules, everything falls easily to view, with no downtime for installation and one login. In addition, in the event of an error code or breakdown, mobile engineers can log into the back end of a machine’s systems, potentially making machines operational much quicker and reducing downtime.

The beauty of the ABAX proposition is that it is a brand neutral solution using technology that is already installed and ready for use. The service is available on any machine from ABAX-enabled or ABAXintegrated brands (which are listed on the company’s website). As a result, users can obtain Application Programming Interface (API) details from a dealer and connect immediately, with the data then fed to Smart Connect. With older machines ABAX will supply a device that is self-installed on the machine. It has a long-lasting battery, and is GPS agnostic, which has the added benefit of

compatibility with any mobile network. John Deere, Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe, Bell Equipment, Caterpillar, JCB, and Wirtgen are just some of the big names that are ABAX enabled, with Volvo the most recent to join.

Carbon count

At the same time, with the likes of emissions data, and the incidents of machine idling available, Smart Connect is a useful carbon footprint tracking tool. In the UK, where larger organisations are subject to environmental compliance regulations, it is then possible to provide detailed evidence on sustainability performance in the form of an ABAX Environmental Report. Armed with a greater awareness of CO2 output, organisations are then well-placed to address the issue and communicate their endeavours to an increasingly sustainability conscious client base.

For further information on ABAX Smart Connect WWW.RDR.LINK/CAC055

ABOUT ABAX

ABAX as a company has been trading in the Nordics since 2009, with a rapidly growing presence in the UK from 2012. The telematics expert works with any business that has valuable assets it wants to track and protect, including contractors and plant hirers.

Its technology can track any vehicle – including vans, trucks, cars, bikes, and trailers – recording driving behaviour, location, and routes, which can then be used for MOT and insurance management, streamlining the admin functions of the business.

Here again there is a solid environmental argument for utilising the system. In the case of HGVs and LCVs, for example, routes can be optimised, whilst driver behaviour, such as sharp braking and accelerating can be identified, which not only saves on fuel – and flags up potentially unsafe behaviour – but can also reduce overall CO2 output.

Last year the company partnered with Zero Group in order to provide usage-based insurance and drive down the cost of cover. Here, the premium is determined by the distance covered or the amount of time spent in the vehicle, and it is ABAX who provide the vital and highly accurate supporting data. It’s a solution that works very well for seasonal businesses where vehicle usage might vary over the course of the year.

Secondary theft protection can also be achieved through GPS or Bluetooth (MINI2) devices, depending on the size of the asset in question.

3D PAVING CONTROL SYSTEM

Operators can accurately control the compaction process, while reducing unnecessary passes with the Trimble Roadworks Paving Control Platform for Asphalt Compactors. The 3D paving control system improves the speed, accuracy and ease of asphalt compaction, and leverages the Androidbased Trimble Roadworks software for ease of use. FOR MORE INFORMATION GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAC056

SKID STEER LOADERS & COMPACT TRACK LOADERS

Caterpillar will soon launch a new smart creep feature for its Cat D3 Skid Steer Loaders (SSL) and Compact Track Loaders (CTL) for operating Cat cold planer and wheel saw attachments. Smart creep senses the load on the attachment and automatically adjusts the drive command to keep the cold planer or wheel saw running at the most productive speed. FOR MORE INFORMATION WWW.RDR.LINK/CAC057 GOTO

RENTAL PARTNER PROGRAM

Training courses are amongst the aftersales services available in the Kohler Rental Partner Program. A series of both online and in-person meetings will address the main aspects of basic maintenance for the various lines of Kohler engines. The training comprises a Basic Course, which offers a general overview of the range, and an Advanced Course option. FOR MORE INFORMATION GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAC058

NETWORK RAIL APPROVAL

Both the new Series 2 and Series 3 range of movement limiting devices and rated capacity indicators from GKD Technologies have received Network Rail approval. Series 3 is designed specifically for the rail industry and includes Tandem Lift functionality and a variant for Mobile Elevated Work Platforms. FOR MORE INFORMATION GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAC059

AD INDEX

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TRAILER-MOUNTED CONCRETE PUMP

High performance emission-free technology with compact size is what Utranazz is promising for the Turbosol TB70E all-electric trailer-mounted concrete pump it recently added to its range. The unit boasts a maximum concrete output of 70m3/hour and measures just 2.1m in height and 2.05m in width. FOR MORE INFORMATION GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAC060

FLAT-TOP CRANE

Lifting capacities of up to 16 and 20 tonnes are achievable with the Liebherr 470 EC-B Flat-Top crane. Described as “exceptionally economical to operate, assemble and transport” the unit also boasts a comfortable cab and an intuitive operating system. There’s also a jib length of 80 metres which increases to 83 metres with a jib extension. FOR MORE INFORMATION GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAC061

WHEEL LOADER

A superior operator view from all angles, including an Aerial Angle camera system, and enhanced fuel consumption are just some of the improvements to the Hitachi nextgeneration wheel loader model – the ZW310-7. There’s also fast cycle times, a high breakout force and loading capacity, and improved acceleration on inclines. FOR MORE INFORMATION WWW.RDR.LINK/CAC062 GOTO

SOLAR LIGHTING TOWER

The emission and noise free Trime X-POLE SOLAR PRO is an upgrade on the original XPOLE SOLAR, and features a single 40watt high luminous, energy saving LED lamp fitted to a 5.5metre mast, delivering an illuminated area of 400 sq.m. Power to the 110Ah (Absorbent Glass Mat) AGM battery is via a high efficiency and multi-directional solar panel. FOR MORE INFORMATION GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAC063

GREENER FUELS

As part of its commitment to reaching net zero, Aggreko intends to phase out offering diesel with its fuel management services – instead solely providing hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). The move is part of the company’s ‘Greener Upgrades’ initiative, which also includes a multi-million-pound investment in new technologies, alongside alternative fuels. FOR MORE INFORMATION GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAC064

MACHINE CONTROL

Xwatch Safety Solutions has announced that MDiG will become official distributors of the Xwatch suite of safety systems. Its XW series of products include, height control, slew control, and rated capacity indicator (RCI) systems. MDiG already provides customers with solutions from leading manufacturers including Topcon and Leica. FOR MORE INFORMATION WWW.RDR.LINK/CAC065 GOTO