Conexpo has consistently stood out as the premier gathering for the off-highway industry. Held every three years in Las Vegas, Nevada, the trade show attracts a vast array of professionals, including equipment manufacturers, dealers, contractors, and industry experts. With over 2,800 exhibitors and hundreds of thousands of attendees, Conexpo has become an indispensable platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and business development.
One of the most significant aspects of Conexpo is its ability to showcase emerging technologies and trends, offering a glimpse into the industry's future. Exhibitors use this event to unveil their latest innovations, ranging from autonomous machinery to eco-friendly solutions. By bringing together industry leaders and forward-thinking companies, Conexpo fosters an environment of collaboration and sets the stage for groundbreaking advancements. From improved safety features and operator assistance systems to enhance fuel efficiency and automation, Conexpo exhibits demonstrate the industry's commitment to efficiency, productivity, and sustainability.
In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on sustainability and environmental stewardship within the off-highway industry. Conexpo has taken note of this shift and has dedicated significant attention to showcasing eco-friendly solutions. Exhibitors present innovations such as electric and hybrid machinery, emission reduction technologies, and materials made from recycled components. Conexpo catalyzes accelerating the adoption of sustainable practices within the industry.
This year the focus was clear as machine builders are migrating to electrification, with efficiency being a staple in driving this technology. The main challenges of moving to electrification were discussed by industry leaders at the show. A clear pressing challenge is the power density differences between combustible engines versus electric batteries. With combustible diesel engines having a higher power density than electric battery-powered equipment, it proves to be a major issue that machine builders and device manufacturers need to address as the industry heads towards electric power. The best way to address the power density issues within an off-highway vehicle of battery power is to look at its efficiency within the machine. This includes all parts connected to the battery itself such as actuators, pumps, inverters, and hydraulics.
Device manufacturers are moving to adapt to this challenge by utilizing decentralized and fully distributed managed systems. This divides the power generation, fluid storage, and actuation functions among multiple smaller subsystems. There are multiple advantages to doing this and provides a solution to making battery-powered machines more efficient.
The Advantages:
Distributed Power Generation: This allows for localized power generation among the decentralized assets providing flexibility in power delivery and adaptability to specific operational needs.
Modular Design: various subsystems or modules can be added, removed, or modified independently. This modular approach offers flexibility in system configuration and allows for easier maintenance and upgrades of individual modules.
Improved Efficiency: By distributing power generation and actuation functions, hydraulic losses due to long pipe runs and pressure drops are minimized. This can result in more efficient power transmission and reduced energy consumption.
Enhanced Redundancy and Reliability: The decentralization of power generation and actuation functions in a hydraulic system can provide redundancy. If one module or subsystem fails, the remaining modules can continue to operate, reducing downtime and improving overall system reliability.
Optimal Resource Allocation: In certain applications, a decentralized system allows for optimal resource allocation. By distributing power generation and actuation functions, hydraulic fluid can be directed to specific areas or components where it is needed most, optimizing performance and response.
Simplified Maintenance: Decentralized systems can simplify maintenance and troubleshooting. With modular subsystems, individual components or modules can be easily accessed and serviced, reducing downtime and overall maintenance costs. This modularity also facilitates diagnostics and fault isolation within specific subsystems.
Industry leaders recognize that to succeed in electric power, all components connected to the battery must be as efficient as possible. The goal to address power density issues is to limit the amount of power used by the battery. By having these connected assets which are traditionally designed as centralized power sources for fluid-powered combustible engines and taking the approach of a decentralized managed system, you can begin to solve the power density issues of an electric-powered off-highway vehicle.
As technology continues to advance, a new tool has emerged that is revolutionizing the way these industries operate: telematics. This technology is seen moving across the industry at Conexpo for its capabilities of harnessing the power of data and connectivity. Telematics offers a wealth of benefits, including substantial cost savings for end users. Let's explore why the off-highway industry must embrace telematics and how this data knowledge can ultimately save end users money.
Real-Time Equipment Monitoring:
Telematics enables real-time monitoring of off-highway equipment, providing vital insights into performance, maintenance, and overall utilization. Through sensors and onboard systems, data on fuel consumption, engine health, utilization rates, and more can be captured and transmitted to a centralized platform. This valuable information allows operators and fleet managers to proactively address potential issues, optimize equipment usage, and reduce unnecessary downtime.
Predictive Maintenance:
One of the most significant cost-saving advantages of telematics is the ability to implement predictive maintenance strategies. By analyzing data on equipment performance and health, telematics systems can detect patterns, identify early warning signs, and predict when maintenance or repairs are needed. This proactive approach prevents costly breakdowns, minimizes unplanned downtime, and extends the lifespan of machinery. With telematics, maintenance tasks can be scheduled at optimal times, reducing operational disruptions and increasing efficiency.
Improved Asset Utilization:
Telematics provides valuable insights into equipment utilization, enabling end users to optimize their asset allocation. By analyzing data on equipment usage patterns, idle times, and operational efficiency, businesses can identify underutilized assets or instances where equipment can be shared among multiple projects. This leads to smarter resource allocation, better equipment utilization rates, and the ability to maximize returns on investment. Avoiding unnecessary equipment purchases and ensuring assets are utilized to their full potential directly translates into cost savings for end users.
Enhanced Fuel Efficiency:
Fuel costs can be a significant expense for off-highway operations. Telematics helps optimize fuel consumption by monitoring engine performance, identifying inefficient practices, and suggesting improvements. By analyzing data on engine load, idle time, and operator behavior, telematics systems can provide actionable insights to minimize fuel wastage, reduce idle times, and promote more efficient operating practices. Even small improvements in fuel efficiency can result in substantial cost savings over time.
Efficient Fleet Management:
Telematics plays a crucial role in fleet management, allowing businesses to track and monitor their equipment remotely. From location tracking to geofencing, telematics systems provide real-time information on the whereabouts and status of each machine. This helps optimize routes, streamline logistics, and prevent unauthorized use or theft. By having full visibility and control over their fleet, end users can efficiently manage resources, reduce operational inefficiencies, and ensure equipment is in the right place at the right time.
Machine builders must utilize telematics as end users are looking for these insightful parameters to make their fleet more efficient for cost-saving measures. Some challenges face the industry, such as how to implement telematics data across a mixed fleet of assets as well as continuous improvement of telemetry hardware. Time will tell how the industry will work to solve these problems. However, HMS and our Owasys business unit address one major issue in terms of telemetry hardware. Owasys continues to improve telematics hardware so companies can focus more on their platform offerings rather than spend time and money on the telemetry hardware itself.
Conexpo stands as a testament to the off-highway industry's growth, innovation, and adaptability. With its rich history and commitment to showcasing cutting-edge technology, the trade show has become a beacon for industry professionals, offering insights into the future of construction, agriculture, and related sectors. As the off-highway industry continues to evolve, Conexpo remains at the forefront, providing a platform for collaboration, inspiration, and progress. In terms of the hurdles that are seen in the industry, HMS stands ready to tackle all industrial communication needs for device manufacturers and machine builders looking to have their devices communicate to the future of battery technology as well as serve needs in telemetry connectivity.