The critical task of weighing extracted material during quarrying has benefited from the industry’s continuing embrace of digitalised solutions.
According to Topcon Positioning Systems vice president of OEM sales – APAC and EMEA Nick Townsend, the aggregates industry is under increasing pressure to meet the growing demands of global construction.
“Rapid urbanisation, large infrastructure projects and economic development are driving a surge in demand for materials like sand, gravel and crushed stone,” he said.
“As construction projects expand, so does the need for aggregates to support roads, buildings and critical infrastructure, making the sector a key player in modern development.”
Digitalisation and automation are emerging tools in efforts to improve efficiency, reduce waste and ensure regulatory compliance. But the industry faces challenges in areas such as rising fuel costs, supply chain disruptions, and a skills gap.
“Labour shortages, especially in attracting skilled workers for advanced machinery, complicate the adoption of new technologies,” Townsend said. “The industry needs solutions that streamline operations, boost productivity and simplify workflows without adding complexity to stay competitive.”
Townsend believes customer feedback is essential to addressing these challenges, helping to identify ‘pinch points’ where technology can drive efficiency and seamlessly integrate into existing systems.
“Operators seek solutions that provide real-time feedback, enhance safety, and improve site visibility,” he said. “Operational disruptions – such as unexpected downtime, equipment failure and delays in material handling – remain a critical issue. Without real-time insights, site managers struggle to prevent costly standstills.
“Digital workflows like Sitelink3D by Topcon bridge communication gaps between on-site teams and control rooms, improving decision-making and coordination.”
When it comes to fuel consumption, trucks moving around sites, idling engines and inefficient hauling routes significantly increase costs and emissions. Topcon’s connective software solution Sitelink3D Haul Truck app offers real-time data on vehicle movements and material flow, helping to eradicate inefficiencies, cut costs and reduce environmental impact.
However, skilled operators are essential to achieving these improved efficiencies.
“With many experienced professionals retiring, a growing skills gap exists, especially in using complex machinery,” Townsend said. “Machine control solutions, like Topcon’s MC-X excavator machine control system, use automated guidance to assist less experienced operators in performing precision work. This is essential for boosting efficiencies and ensuring best practices.”
Safety is vital in an industry where precision is critical. Operators must ensure compliance with stringent regulations while meeting tight deadlines. Digital solutions that provide visibility across sites and monitor equipment performance help businesses stay ahead of regulatory requirements without compromising productivity.
“Technology is reshaping aggregates operations by addressing interconnected challenges – downtime, fuel inefficiency, communication barriers and safety – and this transformation is already happening on job sites,” Townsend said.
Navigating challenges requires cutting-edge solutions that streamline operations and maximise efficiency.
“Innovations include on-board weighing systems for excavators, front loaders and material handlers, like Topcon’s LX-100 and LM-100,” Townsend said. “These provide real-time load data to ensure accurate measurements and prevent overloading.
“Beyond improving productivity, precision technology enhances safety. Real-time data helps reduce human error, prevent over-excavation and minimise unstable surfaces, creating a controlled, efficient work environment that reduces downtime and protects operators.”
Digital workflows and fleet management systems like Sitelink3D help to tie such technologies together. These systems integrate with global navigation satellite system, GNSS, machine control technology to improve the accuracy of digging operations, reduce rework and streamline material movement across the site.
This technology is already in action at Minas de Ríotinto in Spain, one of Europe’s largest and most historic mining operations.
“Automated construction technology has increased productivity by 30 per cent,” Townsend said. “Operators have optimised haulage routes using real-time data, reducing fuel consumption and improving site safety.
Rapid transportation of materials is key to increasing production, and hauling routes need to be as smooth as possible. Rough surfaces can lead to materials wearing out, increased maintenance costs, and potential safety risks for workers and operators.
“To level the grounds at Minas de Ríotinto, contractor Sanchez y Lago paired the Sitelink3D site management system with an MC-X excavator,” Townsend said.
“Since the track and surface designs are automatically imported and processed, operators don’t have to manually check the different layers with a level, keeping them safer within the cab, reducing wear and tear, and improving operations.”
Digital transformation with OUTSET
Interconnected data and cloud integration are revolutionising aggregates extraction.
Analytics driven by artificial intelligence (AI) allows machines to provide real-time operational insights, optimising efficiency and reducing costs.
The concept of a synchronised and interconnected quarry represents the future of the extraction sector. All vehicles – loaders, excavators, dumpers and trucks – work in synergy thanks to real-time data sharing. This enables better coordination of extraction, loading, and transport operations, optimises material distribution by reducing waiting times and energy consumption, ensures intelligent resource management, and improves productivity and operational sustainability.
Implementing these technologies brings economic benefits and lays the foundation for a more competitive, safe and efficient sector. OUTSET helps drive this transformation with systems that manage the entire production cycle. Real-time data connects operations, empowering informed decisions. Intuitive interfaces and comprehensive oversight optimise resources and safety.
The company projects itself towards the future, consolidating its global leadership. With a strong presence in South America, and supported by a network of distributors, the company expands its influence in Europe and lays the foundations for significant growth in Southeast Asia and Oceania.
It was with this spirit of leadership and innovation that OUTSET participated in bauma 2025 in Munich in April, presenting cutting-edge solutions to enhance efficiency and productivity for industry professionals.
Some of the key innovations unveiled at bauma 2025 :
T1 LOADER LFT – a new weighing system for wheeled loaders that is certified for third-party sales with MID OILM R51 certification, ensuring the highest levels of precision and reliability
T1 DIGGER – an advanced technology for excavators, with the introduction of a system with four next-generation inclinometers, designed to precisely compensate and manage surface, excavator arms and bucket
AI-powered algorithms – to accelerate weighing operations and compensate readings, even in adverse positions, ensuring accurate real-time data
Next-generation wireless technology – when used with automotive long-range Bluetooth modules, this helps eliminate the need for complex wiring and improves system reliability
Zero maintenance and ease of use – as a result of innovative diagnostic data analysis, OUTSET systems provide consistent performance without the need for frequent interventions
Direct interconnection to the cloud and customers’ enterprise resource planning systems – a solution that eliminates the need for external hardware, ensuring seamless integration with workflows
OUTSET has reaffirmed its commitment to innovation, offering increasingly intelligent and connected solutions designed to optimise operations and reduce costs. AB
