2015-006

Success Stories - Intelligent Machine Control

SUCCESS STORY PC210LCi-10 – A BIG EFFECIENCY BOOST FOR DUFFROY S.A.R.L.

Mr Olivier Hanon is CEO of Duffroy S.A.R.L. a construction company specialized in public works based at Saint-Polsur-Ternoise in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. Mr Hanon is very interested and well documented about new technologies that make work more efficient and safer for operators on jobsites. His company operates a fleet of Komatsu machines, some of which equipped with 3D After Market Topcon guidance.

Promises Fulfilled

By Kevin Bro man

Recently, among all the information he came across in the specialized press or on internet, a topic caught his attention: Komatsu had launched a revolutionary new system called “intelligent Machine Control”. They were actually calling it a “technology of the future” and claimed it would drastically improve productivity for their customers. Intrigued, Mr Hanon proceeded to collect more information about what appeared to be a breakthrough novelty. The more he learned about it, and considering the present state of the construction industry, the more he was convinced that the timing was just right for such an investment. In April 2015, he visited the Intermat fair in Paris were Komatsu demonstrated machines that integrated the manufacturer’s latest intelligent technology.

2

The result of his thorough research impressed him to the point that he finally decided to contact Komatsu France and replace his current Dash 8 excavator with a new PC210LCi-10. In fact, this machine had just sold itself. By mid-September 2015 it was delivered to Duffroy. A Komatsu Product Support team quickly calibrated it, and proceeded with a demonstration of the machine’s features and benefits. Johan Lemoine, the new machine’s operator, then tested it under actual job site conditions. After some professional grading, levelling and sloping, Johan’s conclusion was unambiguous. “The semi-automatic control improves work efficiency compared to our previous machine guidance system” he said “The cab is comfortable, ergonomically designed and has a great visibility”. 3

And he added, before taking the new excavator for another run: “This machine is indeed the future, I am proud to have the opportunity to work with one” Mr. Hanon is also pleased with his new acquisition. “Difficult work will become easier; Johan will work more independently, with no work crew and less surveyors required on site” he said “Once all preparations for the job site are done, the work itself will go a lot faster” This PC210LCi-10 will be used mainly for earthmoving and levelling. Based on results of first tests, and reports from other job sites provided by the Komatsu team, Mr. Hanon expects a 25% boost in efficiency compared to his old PC210-8 excavator, and he already forecasts up to a drastic 35 % fuel savings.

“The Komatsu PC210LCi-10 fulfils all its promises, as advertised” he concluded. “Beyond the huge increase in efficiency it offers with its unique semi auto mode, it will also further improve the company’s image. Mr Olivier Hanon plans to customize the PC210LCi-10 with special stickers to highlight the Komatsu technology inside, and to make this exceptional excavator an icon for Duffroy S.A.R.L..

TERRASSEMENTS DERREY: A D65PXi-18 FOR HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY A bit further south, in Upper Normandy, “Terrassements Derrey” is a small but thriving company specialized in earthmoving, waste removal, reinstatement of exhausted quarry sites and industrial construction. Machine work in marshes and other watery areas also has no secret for Mathieu Derrey, owner and CEO. “Our customers count among the largest building and public works groups, quarries, engineering companies, private enterprises, public administrations and municipalities in the country” he told us. “Terrassements Derrey is concerned about the impact its activities can have on the environment and we select and equip our machines for low emissions of greenhouse gases”.

4

He added: “Our sites are optimised to move minimum volumes and we use biodegradable hydraulic oil, non-toxic to the water system and environment”. His company was started in 1963 and today employs up to 20 fulltime staff and 2 subcontracted operators. It works with several Komatsu articulated dump trucks and dozers, one of them a D65-15 equipped with aftermarket Topcon machine control. “The Komatsu D65PX is a brilliant product” he said. “Its performance is far superior to similar machines by competition and it has more than paid back our investment. In fact, the D65PX is so good that, if there had been no Komatsu dealer in our area, we would have made the effort to find one elsewhere”.

5

Mathieu Derrey is interested in Komatsu’s new technologies. This summer, Komatsu France set up an on-site demo of intelligent Machine Control integrated on 2 Komatsu machines. Held on an actual job site for a golf course, it convinced Mr. Derrey that this new technology was the way forward. Soon after, his company purchased a Komatsu D65PXi-18, with EU Stage IV engine, as a perfect replacement for their trusted Komatsu dozer. “Compared to your competitors the joystick is simpler to use, and the auto back grade is much appreciated” said Pierre, dozer operator for Terrassements Derrey. “The new D65PXi-18 feels like an old and reliable friend, but it’s even better, more flexible, safer, less noisy and faster to start”.

6

Indeed. No more masts, no cables, no need to climb on the blade to install the system, no risk to damage connectors because of daily installations and removals: the new D65PXi-18 offers great time savings, higher security and lower costs. Derrey’s previous D65 dozer already achieved high-precision finish grading with its conventional control system. But the new D65PXi-18 now performs rough dozing in automatic mode, with the blade load monitored and blade elevation adjusted for high-efficiency dozing and minimal track slip. As work progresses, the full automatic blade control further adjusts to provide finish grade performance with high-level precision.

7

The Komatsu technological innovations integrated in the new D65PXi-18 represent a significant increase in productivity for Derrey. For slope work, the machine’s low center of gravity insures more stability, and the stroke sensing angle cylinder measures the angle of the blade for high precision grading accuracy. Inside the cab, performance is optimised with selectable dozing modes that tailor the system’s response to current machine operations. Pre-sets for blade load settings match actual job site conditions.

“Komatsu succeeded to retain the world class performance of the D65PX-15 on a cleaner and more efficient machine” said Cedric Grajewski, job site manager at Derrey. “They have also steadily improved their service to customers over the years.”

Komatsu Times is an online newsletter of Komatsu Europe International N.V., Belgium. - Mechelsesteenweg 586, 1800 Vilvoorde. The views expressed in this journal are those of the contributors, and not necessarily those of Komatsu Europe International N.V. All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from Komatsu Europe International N.V. Materials and specifications are subject to change without notice. Editorial board: Kevin Broman -Takuya Nagatomo.