"What will the 'Construction Site 4.0' look like? What added values can HAMM contribute to BIM as a roller manufacturer? Which mechanical characteristics will be relevant in 10, 20, 30 years' time? And what demands will employees place on their working environment in road building in 2030? In addressing these questions, we are developing our visions for the future of road construction. From these we generate concrete new concepts and solutions around our core competence, compaction" says Dr. Axel Römer, Head of Research and Development at HAMM.
Construction site of the future
Digitalisation, electromobility and globalisation are already changing our world today in many ways. Nevertheless, rollers will continue to be needed for the compaction of soil and asphalt in the years to come – albeit with growing requirements in terms of process efficiency, precision and transparency. HAMM identified this trend at an early stage and equipped the rollers with numerous assistance systems to aid the driver as well as for process documentation and optimisation.
An example of this is the compliance with compaction specifications with the aid of the HCQ Navigator. With WITOS HCQ, HAMM is expanding its offering in this area. The new module enables the compaction progress to be monitored – in real time as well as remotely. For example, construction managers will in future be able to obtain comprehensive information on the progress of construction at any time without having to be on site. They will be able to control processes from the office and take decisions on the basis of qualified information. This in turn brings savings in travel time and costs and enables quality improvements to be achieved through timely interventions.
Today, HAMM is already offering modules for the construction site of the future. For example, networked systems such as WITOS HCQ and WITOS FleetView optimise process planning, machine availability and quality during laying and compaction.HAMM also sees the potential for even greater efficiency in the optimisation of machine utilisation with the aid of WITOS FleetView. It facilitates maintenance and diagnostics, speeds up response times in the event of faults, and also enables systematic analyses of operating and user behaviour. Finally, regular maintenance and timely cost-optimising replacement of wearing parts increases roller availability. At the same time, unscheduled downtimes, often involving transport costs and organisational work, are avoided.
Another HAMM approach for the workplace of the future is a remotely controlled compactor that has already been operating for two years at a quarry in Germany. If the remote-control concept is projected further down the line, the so-called shadow rollers quickly lead on to autonomously operating rollers. HAMM has adopted a scientific approach to the subject and has for the first time visualised the thinking on the subject in the form of the "Autonomous Roller F1". This is not based on an actual machine but is a study on the compaction of the future. It shows what a driverless roller with alternative drive concepts might look like and what technical, organisational and economic opportunities might be derived for road building.
At the end of 2018, HAMM was accoladed the "Best of Best" award at the Automotive Brand Contest 2018 in the category "Commercial Vehicles" for this innovative vision of the future. Added to this achievement was the "German Design Award 2019 in Gold" in the category "Utility Vehicles" at the beginning 2019. Both are prestigious design prizes awarded by international juries from the automotive and design worlds.
Working environment of the future
The progressive developments are also set to transform workplaces in the compaction sector. Obviously, however, the totally autonomous, driverless construction site remains in the distant future. This is the reason why in recent years HAMM has developed the Easy Drive operating concept for the current generations of tandem rollers, compactors and pneumatic tyre rollers. As a result, HAMM has succeeded in simplifying and standardising the roller operation and in doing so, has taken ergonomics and operator comfort to a new level.
The company will continue to pursue this path in the years ahead and is presenting a new cabin concept, with even more space and scope for individual adjustment of the workplace; the working environments in the next generation of rollers will be even more agreeable and comfortable than before.
Another aspect is the presentation of information for the roller drivers. The developers are currently working on alternative concepts for the integrated display of all machine and construction site data. Here, the emphasis is providing the drivers with clear and comprehensive information on the machine and the compaction process, enabling them to record and evaluate the status quickly and easily. This brings about an improvement in compaction quality, while reducing the physical burden.
Sustainable construction
The ever-growing importance of the "environmental friendliness" mega-trend for rollers in the years to come is already becoming apparent today. "Protecting the environment and cutting costs often go hand in hand," says Dr. Axel Römer. For example, the power hybrid technology, automatic engine-off and Eco mode ensure reduced fuel consumption and thus lower exhaust gas and noise emissions. One of the biggest tasks for developers in the coming years is the adaptation of the rollers to the requirements of the next exhaust emission standard (EU Stage V). This will make the rollers even more environment-friendly.
The sustainable compaction offering is already complemented by a range of technologies: for example, with oscillation compaction the number of passes can be reduced. Another example for sustainable construction is the HCQ Navigator. Through process optimisation, it facilitates faster and more homogenous compaction, which ultimately saves energy, time and costs.
Continuing to optimise compaction
All in all, HAMM remains committed to its principles and will continue to provide the construction industry with innovative solutions in its core competence – compaction. In line with this, HAMM premiered a new development - a split oscillation drum - in Bauma-Munich 2019. This patented solution combines the advantages of oscillation with those of a split drum.
"As the trendsetter and driving force of the compaction sector, we will continue to move ahead and develop in a sustainable way in the years to come – that is, with equal emphasis on asphalt construction and earthwork. To this end, we maintain an active dialogue with our customers and will continue to serve as a partner to the construction industry in the years ahead," said Dr. Stefan Klumpp, Chief Technology Officer at HAMM.
