Productivity is the key to success on the job site, and the faster a crew can reach maximum productivity, the better. As part of Komatsu’s suite of Smart Construction products, services, and digital solutions, the company’s intelligent Machine Control 2.0 (iMC 2.0) gives contractors the opportunity to take advantage of sophisticated, productivity-enhancing automation.

“Aimed to quickly lessen the skill gap between new and experienced operators—and improve the bottom line for contractors—our excavators with iMC 2.0 technology can help contractors transform their construction job sites into highly efficient, highly productive operations,”

said Andrew Earing, senior product manager, tracked products, Komatsu.

Built on Komatsu’s intelligent machine control platform, and developed with input from leading construction companies, iMC 2.0 offers additional new features on the company’s mid-to large-size construction excavators: the PC290LCi-11, PC360LCi-11, and the PC390LCi-11. An excellent match for footing excavation, trenching and slope work, these excavators with updated, factory-integrated systems, help to minimize over-excavation and empower operators to dig straight to grade quickly and accurately.

Auto tilt bucket control

With integrated machine control, auto tilt bucket control assists operators by aligning the bucket parallel with the slope, so that finish grading can be accomplished without needing to align the machine with the target surface.

Perform finish grading using only arm input

The new bucket angle hold control helps operators reach finish grade quickly and accurately. It automatically holds the bucket angle to the design surface during arm operation, enabling operators to perform finish grading using only arm input.

The post Komatsu’s Proprietary Intelligent Machine Control 2.0 Promotes Significant Productivity Gains for Excavators appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Choose the best farming solution for you and your land. Combine the highest possible yields with sustainability. This will start with the correct tillage. The choices you make depend on various factors and should match your specific circumstances, like soil structure, crop rotation, residue management, economic and ecological viabilities.

You must consider environmental and legal issues. From conventional methods to conservation tillage: the balance of operations at the right time has to be found to achieve high yields with the best soil condition (air, moisture, biological activity, etc.) with a minimum amount of energy, time and investment. For this, Kverneland offers a full range of intelligent farming solutions.

Conventional tillage

Intensive method of cultivation

• Complete soil inversion e.g. by a plough

• Less than 15-30% crop residues left on the soil surface

• Seedbed preparation done by an active tool or special seedbed harrow

• High phytosanitary effect by reduced pressure of weed and fungi diseases – fewer herbicides and fungicides needed

• Better dry-off and faster increase of soil temperature for better nutrients absorption

Conservation tillage

Mulch Tillage

Reduced-intensity in terms of depth and frequency

• More than 30% of residues are left on the soil surface

• Extended repose period of the soil

• Cultivator and/or discs incorporate the crop residues within the top 10cm of soil for stable bearing soil

• Full-width tillage – seedbed preparation and seeding in one pass

• Protection against soil erosion; reduce soil loss by run-off and improve water storage capacity.

• Improvement of soil moisture retention

Strip Tillage

• Zonal strip loosening before or during seeding of up to 1/3 of the row width (Loibl, 2006). Up to 70% of the soil surface remains untouched

• Strip-till combines the soil drying and warming benefits of conventional tillage with the soil-protecting advantages of no-till by disturbing only the area of the soil where the seeds are placed

• Exact fertilizing deposit

• Soil protection against erosion and drought

Vertical Tillage / No-Till

• Extensive method

• Working soil vertically avoids additional horizontal layers or density changes

• Increasing water infiltration, root development, and nutrient take-up

• Plants’ roots dictate the overall health of the plant, as they deliver nutrients and water throughout the season, contributing to a higher yield

• A strong set of roots make plants more resistant to wind and drought.

• Lower energy input required

Source: Kverneland

The post Kverneland Presents its Intelligent Farming Solutions appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

The focus of these latest developments has been on improving sprayer output while ensuring that the highest possible application quality is maintained and also delivering an improved operator environment. The premium design cab offers a new generation operator interface with fully integrated technology, such as the John Deere universal 4640 display mounted on a new armrest.

JDLink telematics for wirelessly transferring data both to and from the sprayer is available as standard, including free activation for five years. An upgraded lighting package improves visibility at night, both when working in the field and filling the sprayer with chemicals, to ensure maximum productivity in all conditions. The new cab is available at two specification levels depending on customer requirements, as well as with optional Category 4 operator protection to meet the latest safety regulations.

Both models are available with steel booms from 24 to 36m wide and continue to use John Deere’s leading PowrSpray solution system, with direct rate control for fast filling and highly accurate application rates. Combined with the innovative, automated AirRinse system, this reduces the solution system’s dead volume to as low as 5 litres for maximum cleaning performance.

To ensure that nozzles are no longer a limiting factor for efficient spraying, ExactApply is now available as an option on the new R4140i and R4150i. Already available for two years on US machines, ExactApply is an ‘intelligent’ solution that combines the ability to change spray nozzles manually from the cab or automatically depending on application rate and speed. It can also maintain droplet size while changing speed through the use of pulse width modulation (PWM) technology up to 30Hz.

With ExactApply, each nozzle is controlled individually via GPS based section control. Furthermore, with PWM enabled, turn compensation ensures that application rates remain consistent across the full boom width even when turning the sprayer. ExactApply technology enables savings in crop protection products of around £5/ha, while at the same time yield can be increased by up to three per cent by reducing under/overdosing to a minimum.

To reduce non-productive time on the road, the sprayers also feature a new 50kph transmission option. Production of the John Deere R4140i and R4150i self-propelled sprayers starts in October 2019, with availability from dealers planned for early 2020.

Source: John Deere

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Since its introduction the success of the Komatsu excavator intelligent Machine Control system in delivering step changes in productivity, efficiency and cost saving for customers’ businesses has led to it being recognised as the benchmark technology in the construction industry. With the introduction of the PC360LCi-11, customers can now experience those benefits on large infrastructure and earthmoving projects.

“Since we introduced the PC210LCi-11, customers have seen the opportunities of using of our intelligent Machine Control technology on jobs that require higher volume excavation, and many have been asking for a larger machine to deliver those benefits,” says Rob Macintyre, Product Manager at Komatsu Europe. “In launching the new PC360LCi-11 we are responding to that customer demand, and we see huge potential for it to realise major productivity, efficiency and cost saving gains in these types of applications.”

Operating weights of the PC360LCi-11 range from 35.600 – 36.200 kg, depending on the configuration, and it has a maximum recommended bucket capacity of 2.66m³. The fuel efficient, EU Stage IV Komatsu SAA6D114E-6 engine puts out a net 192 kW / 257 HP @ 1.950 rpm.

The latest KOMTRAX telematics, and the Komatsu Care maintenance program for customers, offer top fleet management and support, protect the machine against misuse and guarantee maximum efficiency and uptime.

Innovative: Automatic Real Time Digging Control

With Komatsu’s unique intelligent Machine Control, the bucket is automatically limited from digging beyond the target surface. The control function maintains grade automatically, with real-time bucket edge positioning in relation to the machine and the job surface. Status is instantly displayed on the full colour, multi-function 12.1” control box monitor, eliminating the wait time associated with conventional sensors.

Integrated: Standard Factory- Installed Integrated Machine Control System

Fully factory-installed, Komatsu’s integrated intelligent Machine Control system includes stroke sensing hydraulic cylinders for the boom, arm and bucket, developed over two machine generations by Komatsu for precise real time bucket edge positioning. The IMU (Inertial Measuring Unit) gives provides machine orientation and determines machine angle from gyro and accelerometer data. High performance antennae send satellite signals to a GNSS receiver that processes them and provides real time position of the machine.

Intelligent: Enhancements for Optimized Performance

The Komatsu PC360LCi-11 intelligent Machine Control excavator lets the operator focus on moving material efficiently without worrying about digging too deep. The touch screen control box monitor, makes grading easy and accurate, providing the operator with real time information on bucket edge position in relation to design surface, “as-built” status, and customisable spilt screen views in profile, plan or 3D format.

By setting 3D design data on the control box monitor, the use of traditional guidance methods such as stakes and grade rails can be reduced or eliminated, as can surveying and final inspection. Safety is greatly improved, with less people needed on the job site and near the machine.

Intelligent ON/OFF switches for the semi-automatic function, and raise/lower of the design offset, are fully integrated in the joysticks. This further increases efficiency and safety for the operator.

Benefits

The unique benefits of the new Komatsu PC360LCi-11 combine the high productivity of a bulk earthmoving excavator with the renowned accuracy of Komatsu intelligent Machine Control. This is achieved by powerful hydraulics and breakout forces when excavating, fast cycle times when truck loading, and by completing grading automatically in just one pass. Fewer machine cycles are required and operator performance is improved, with vastly reduced risk of re-work, lower fuel costs and increased machine utilisation.

Source: Komatsu news

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