This article appeared in the March 2020 issue of PowerTALK™ News
March 23, 2020–Komatsu has launched the SMARTCONSTRUCTION Retrofit kit, the add-on kit to offer ICT capabilities, such as 3D machine guidance and payload measurement, to conventional construction equipment in Japan in late April through LANDLOG Ltd.
Conventional construction equipment with no ICT capabilities account for over 98% of all construction equipment working on construction sites in Japan. When the SMARTCONSTRUCTION Retrofit kit is added to conventional equipment, it will enable the equipment to use ICT functions, such as 3D machine guidance and payload measurement, about on par with ICT-intensive equipment.
To accelerate the pace of achieving digital transformation of construction worksite operations, the SMARTCONSTRUCTION Retrofit kit can be added to other makes if they are hydraulic excavators. To make ICT functions more user-friendly, Komatsu offers the GNSS correction service with information distribution, which is needed for 3D construction work, as well as the “SMARTCONSTRUCTION Pilot” application for the SMARTCONSTRUCTION Retrofit kit, which transmits 3D design data and manages construction records. This application allows for the use of commercially available tablets as monitors.
Source: Komatsu Press Release
PSR Analysis:
The introduction of ICT functionality in upcoming models is being standardized. But as mentioned in the release, 98% of existing models do not have ICT functionality. This retrofit kit enables ICT construction even with these older models.
One of the breakthroughs of Komatsu’s approach is that hydraulic excavators can be installed, regardless of maker or model. Of course, many other manufacturers, such as Hitachi Construction Machinery, Sumitomo Construction Machinery and Kobelco, are also accelerating their ICT efforts.
Komatsu’s strategy is to stay ahead of the competition and make its services the industry standard. The labor shortage will worsen in the future, and demand for ICT at construction sites will continue to grow. By setting the GNSS positioning satellite system’s own base station, the error between the drawing and the site can be reduced to a radius of 2 cm. This is a great achievement and is expected quickly to expand the market. PSR
Akihiro Komuro is Research Analyst, Far East and Southeast Asia
