Luc Le Maire, senior vice president at Topcon Positioning Systems, outlines how Topcon is breaking new ground in aggregates efficiency.
The continued increase in large-scale housing and infrastructure projects across Europe, the Middle East and Africa is expected to deliver a much-needed boost to both the construction and aggregates industries. Welcome, though it may be, meeting this increased demand will be no easy feat for businesses charged with delivering these projects. Costs remain high, and as economic challenges persist, firms are increasingly looking for ways to work smarter, not harder.
Efficiency is more important than ever. While key infrastructure projects are a silver lining after an uncertain year, the performance of mineral products remains mixed. [1] This makes the efficiency gains on offer from technologies such as machine control, precision weighing solutions, and digital workflow software worth their weight in gold. But while we’re seeing these being embraced more and more, the digital transformation of the aggregates industry needs to ramp up if we’re to deliver against construction demand.
Using precision technologies can improve productivity from day one. For example, by enabling less experienced operators to get up to grade faster and even seasoned workers to operate with a higher degree of accuracy, machine control technology can immediately get work done quicker while making for a safer work environment. Meanwhile, intelligent onboard weighing solutions eliminate errors and inefficiencies at this crucial juncture. When both of these are combined with digital workflow software, project managers can access a broad yet detailed view of their operations, enabling them to make significant improvements. Put simply, precision technology can help aggregates businesses take care of the individual jobs that make their larger strategies work with greater efficiency.
Productivity meets pinpoint precision
Inaccuracies and errors on the jobsite pose a serious risk to project efficiency. At a time when the pressure is on to deliver large-scale projects at speed, it’s a risk that must be mitigated. Machine control technology addresses this by providing constant position and grade guidance to operators, enhancing efficiency and precision for even the most skilled professionals. Through intuitive displays, systems like MC-Max by Topcon allow plans to be uploaded directly to the cab, guaranteeing that no matter the job, work can be completed quickly and accurately.
The value of this added accuracy doesn’t just increase productivity for the quarry but also makes it a safer place to work. By providing operators with real-time data on positioning and grade, machine control reduces the risk of human error, ensuring that tasks like digging and grading are completed to plan. This precision minimises the chance of over-excavation, unstable slopes, or uneven surfaces, which could lead to accidents or equipment failure. Through a safer, more controlled work environment, aggregates businesses can protect operators and reduce operational downtime due to accidents, ensuring that quarries and construction sites remain efficient and secure.
Weighing that works
From labour to materials to fuel, aggregates businesses are grappling with rising costs. With many of these increases beyond the control of individual businesses, finding savings in other areas is essential. One such area is weighing, a critical element of any aggregates operation and one where accuracy can significantly impact cost and environmental sustainability.
Onboard weighing systems for excavators and loaders provide precise measurements of the material being handled, eliminating the need for operator guesswork. These systems use accelerometers to account for variables like hydraulic oil temperature, ensuring consistent accuracy regardless of material type or operator experience. Small inaccuracies in load estimates can lead to unnecessary trips, increased fuel consumption and wasted time, but precision weighing technology ensures that businesses operate as efficiently and sustainably as possible.
Weighing accuracy doesn’t just look after the bottom line, but also contributes to safety. Overloaded trucks pose serious risks, not just to workers on site but also to other road users and the public when they leave the quarry. Accurate weighing avoids this by ensuring that trucks are filled to exactly the right level every time.
Taking workflows digital
The benefits of precision technology on individual jobs like excavation and weighing are significant in themselves. However, their full potential can be realised by integrating these technologies into digital workflows. By offering a detailed view of an entire aggregates operation, these solutions enable managers to go beyond isolated gains and identify inefficiencies across the board.
Connected digital systems allow project managers to make informed decisions based on real-time data. Systems like the Sitelink3D Haul Truck app by Topcon track the real-time movement of haul trucks across a site, providing instant feedback on routes, load status and delays. This ability to track truck movements and payloads as they happen enables swift responses to bottlenecks to optimize fleet use and improve haul cycle efficiency.
In a sector where thousands of moving parts need to align, precision technology and digital workflows offer construction and aggregates businesses the tools they need to do more with less. By reducing human error, optimizing resources and minimising waste, these solutions help companies thrive in a challenging economic environment while meeting both efficiency and sustainability goals. As the industry continues to evolve, those who leverage these technological innovations will be best positioned for future success.
Topcon Positioning Systems is an industry-leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of precision measurement and workflow solutions for the global construction, geospatial and agriculture markets. Topcon Positioning Systems is headquartered in Livermore, California, US. Its European head office is in Zoetermeer, Netherlands.
[1] https://mineralproducts.org/News/2024/release16.aspx
