Although mining and construction are not exactly synonyms, the two industries have a few things in common. The mining industry has given the construction industry some great technologies. The industries have been able to share some of their technology and equipment due to the common site needs. Both need durable and reliable machinery that can handle rough terrain. Tim Worman, director of product management at Stellar shed some light on the ways the two industries overlap and the ways that mining and construction have taught Stellar to improve its equipment to be available for all kinds of environments. One of the key takeaways is that looking to other industries is a great way to improve and learn valuable pieces of insight.
What are the benefits of some mining tech and equipment that the construction industry can take advantage of?
The equipment that operators trust on the mine site is built to be tough — and that is exactly what construction jobsites need as well. Equipment that maximizes durability, increases productivity, and is able to withstand rough terrain is beneficial to both industries. Materials known for rugged use ensure equipment performance for the most demanding worksites. Equipment constructed from steel or heavy-duty aluminum is built to withstand even the toughest environments, meaning you won’t have to worry about components that can break under heavy loads.
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Explain some current technologies in construction that your company has that moved from mining to construction.
For us, there is not a specific example of a piece of equipment or technology that began as a solution to a need in the mining industry before moving over to the construction industry. That being said, we have learned specific things from each industry that have helped us to improve our equipment for any environment it may be working in.
No matter what industry mechanic trucks are working in, they bring the same advantage of getting equipment back to working conditions as efficiently as possible by bringing the service shop right to the jobsite. The only difference mechanic trucks have in each industry is the equipment they work on — which means a mechanic truck built for the mining industry is going to have the same features as a mechanic truck built for a different industry, it just might be set up with different options for the equipment being serviced.
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Building a mechanic truck that is fully equipped and utilizes every bit of usable space can ensure you always have the right piece of equipment exactly where you need it, when you need it — and that may differ from industry to industry. For example, the mining industry may require a hydraulic crane with over 12,000 lbs of lifting capacity, whereas a crane operating in the construction industry may range from a 3,200 lbs electric hydraulic up to a 12,000 lbs hydraulic crane. Our customers are able to build a mechanic truck that will meet their unique needs — no matter if they are working on a wheel loader at a mine site, or a backhoe on the construction site.
In addition to custom configuration, improving operator efficiency is something that all equipment should strive to accomplish in any industry. For example, tools like our CDTpro remote control system with Range Finder Technology for hydraulic service cranes were designed to improve ergonomics and increase useability by allowing operators to create a lift plan without ever having to unstow the crane. The controller delivers efficient, smooth operation with the most finite control for precise placements of loads while allowing for multiple functions to run at once. Additionally, with a full suite of feedback screens, the Stellar CDTpro includes the current load of the crane, distance to maximum capacity, and haptic vibration alerts to inform the operator they are approaching maximum load capacity.
What are some tech or equipment that are on the horizon?
We are always evolving to meet the needs of our customers in every industry they serve. As the equipment being serviced continues to evolve and become larger, we’ve had to produce equipment that can handle the components that become larger while also improving payload and continuing to maintain the Stellar quality that customers know and trust.
Stellar
Anything else readers should know about equipment moving from the mine to the job site?
When it comes down to it, professionals in every industry are always looking for ways to increase productivity, maximize efficiency, and make the most of the equipment they invest in. The construction industry can really benefit from looking at other industries, like mining, to see how they are accomplishing their goals and see what overlap there may be.
