S TAT E O F T H E I N D U S T RY
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Business can be a Driver of Amazingly Creative Innovations
responses provided by (left to right) Mike Hartoonian, President & CEO Hatz Diesel of North America, Inc., Dr. Maren Hellwig, Head of Digital Business Development, Motorenfabrik Hatz GmbH & Co. KG, and Dr. Sebastian Wohlgemuth, Director R&D, Motorenfabrik Hatz GmbH & Co. KG
Advancements in internal combustion engines and alternative energy solutions will be determined by industry needs and creative engineering. Diesel, Electric & Other Power Alternatives How, if at all, do you see the role of diesel engines evolving in the coming years? Wohlgemuth: Engines will remain important for applications with high power demand/wide operation range, but only with synthetic fuel (decarbonization); equipment with low power demand and limited operation range won’t be driven by a diesel engine in the future, however, engines will contribute to the power supply of heavy-duty equipment. Hartoonian: Furthermore, I would say confidently that IC (internal combustion) engines in general and diesel engines specifically, have many years of service ahead of them, particularly in commercial equipment applications. Of course, there will be innovation and as we see throughout history, left to its own inspirations business can be the driver of amazingly creative innovations. Engine manufacturers will continue to develop new and more efficient designs, but beyond that I think the relationship with equipment manufacturers to realize additional efficiencies and downsize engine size seems to make sense, as does the use of alternative fuels. I do expect that there will be an increased market share of fully-electric equipment. However, I further expect
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that the largest increase in market share, especially with commercial equipment, we will see will be in hybrids. How will electrification—or other alternative energy/power systems— continue to advance in the heavy equipment industry? Wohlgemuth: Electrification and other alternative power systems will have a massive impact on the heavy equipment industry. There will be a diversity of technologies in the future; future equipment will have the power system/energy system which is best suited for the particular use case. What new emissions regulations do you see on the horizon, and how might they impact future product development? Wohlgemuth: More strict emission regulations around 2023…2026 (depending on region and power class). Engines of the lower power classes will get more expensive due to the regulations which will lead to a smaller gap between expensive new technologies (getting cheaper due to future development and scale effects) and diesel engines getting more expensive due to exhaust gas aftertreatment requirements. Very strict emission regulations could lead to a change in technology not only caused by increasing costs but also by emission limits impossible to reach.
Data, IoT & Connectivity What will be the best use cases for the Internet of Things (IoT) and data in the coming years? Hellwig: In the coming years, four types of use cases will benefit from the possibilities of connectivity. First, those that are installed in hard-toreach regions. Second, those that can create additional value for customers through automation. Third, those that simplify or optimize customer business processes through additional information. Finally, those who want to plan and carry out their maintenance in a usage-based, predictive, and optimal manner. What potential do you see in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR)—both for the design and manufacture of products as well as within equipment? Hellwig: AI will support manufacturers to develop optimized smart (predictive/prescriptive) maintenance. Augmented content will support technical trainings. In combination with connectivity (via phone and/or with additional machine and sensor data) remote help in maintenance and repair situations is possible. Technical personnel on site, which do not have enough knowledge to solve critical situations on their own can be optimally supported from anywhere in the world. |
