Komatsu has invested heavily in supporting the entire ecosystem of the quarry beyond its machinery offering.
In many ways, a quarry is a sprawling ecosystem of many moving parts that come together to produce vital construction materials. Whether it’s crushing and screening, office operations, or load and haul, these moving parts are becoming increasingly integrated with one another thanks to digital solutions. Komatsu Australia national business manager for quarries Nick Vrontas told Quarry this shift to a digital ecosystem is changing how data is viewed.
“It’s not about one machine, it’s about all machines and how they operate together. It is about what’s happening right now as a collective, and you can see it all live,” he said.
While Komatsu is mostly known for its load and haul solutions, the original equipment manufacturer is moving beyond being just a machinery manufacturer. Instead, the company wants to partner with its customers to improve longevity and ensure they are getting the best value for money.
“We’re a relationship-oriented business. We want to understand what drives each quarry because every quarry is different. We want to help that quarry achieve its goals,” Vrontas said.
Smart Quarry Site
Komatsu’s Smart Quarry Site (SQS) platform is a digitally based fleet management tool that was designed in Australia.
The success of SQS has led to its adoption worldwide by Komatsu, although initially, the fleet management system was designed with the local quarrying and aggregates sector in mind. SQS can provide real-time data on various metrics, including payload, fuel consumption, machine uptime, material type, and destination. Operators can also record their pre-start checks through the SQS platform, which streamlines maintenance procedures and ensures accurate records are safely stored. The pre-start checks can be customised to the site’s requirements.
The SQS platform means managers can track the key performance indicators of the quarry fleet in real-time and use them to inform their decision-making process. This data has been used by quarries to improve production rates, carry out proactive maintenance strategies, monitor machine health and improve workplace safety.
“SQS allows us to show customers a lot of data points depending on what they are looking for. We’re the only ones with a pure agnostic platform that works on more than just Komatsu machines,” Vrontas said.
“Quarries don’t just run a Komatsu fleet, and we don’t expect that, so we’ve created a tool that you can plug into any OEM machine, and we can mesh the network of machines together. It can provide an accurate picture of what’s happening in the quarry.”
Safety is a key aspect of SQS. Quarry managers can set up speed and safety alerts within the system, which will be flagged in real-time.
From there, operators and managers can review safety incidents through the dashboard. The user-friendly dashboard displays animated visualisations of all the data and any alerts which make it easy to identify what is happening in the quarry.
“The industry is beginning to move towards digitalisation to assist with managing the quarry. The thing about SQS is it is not just about production; it is about safety as well,” Vrontas said.
“Because SQS was developed locally here, our customers get to have input into the new releases. We work closely with our customers to fine-tune it.”
Maintenance
Komatsu has a dedicated aftersales support team as well as a branch network that can assist customers after a sale is completed. This offers customers peace of mind, as they have a dedicated contact for any support or technical advice they require.
A leading long-haul warranty program supports Komatsu’s machinery. The program covers certain Komatsu assets, where Komatsu will warrant the asset for 20,000 hours provided Komatsu sells and services the product throughout its lifecycle.
“We know that a machine down is money not going out the gate at the end of the day. Quarries run on a pretty tight budget, and it is critical to get the most out of your machine with minimal downtime,” Vrontas said.
“We want to support our customers and keep the machines operating. We have a big branch network with lots of technicians and residents in remote areas, so we can be on site whenever you need us.
“We can support customers during breakdowns, and we do contract servicing to reduce the cost of running machines. We do condition reports as well, so customers understand the live status of their asset.
“We’re one of the few in Australia that is owned by the company that they’re selling. When you’re dealing with us, you’re dealing with a direct line to the factory.”
Forward thinking
Few industries ever stay the same and the quarrying sector is no different.
As technology changes and equipment evolves, manufacturers and customers have to shift with the goals of the sector.
“Total coast of ownership is a major talking point we’re seeing when we’re quoting a new fleet,” Vrontas said.
“That is really about the customer focusing on the best ways to reduce their production costs but also they are looking for that shoulder to lean on in terms of support.
“And it is important that we can do both. We want to be able to sell you our equipment but from there on, our goal is to make sure you’re happy with that experience and you’re able to achieve those reduced costs and increased efficiencies that you’re chasing to be able to turn a profit in this sector.”
Komatsu Australia, and the broader Komatsu business, is investing heavily in its digital solutions and customer service to help customers achieve their goals in the quarrying sector.
“Komatsu machines are known to be very reliable and a well-produced machine. Because we’re supplying a premium product to the market, we need to support the customer with a premium service in that respect as well,” Vrontas said.•
For more information, visit komatsu.com
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