iMC UPDATE CORNER Making the grade: opening the door to tomorrow’s job site
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ith the first intelligent continues to expand their support team allows the operator to now Machine Control (iMC) utilize automatics 100% of the as more iMC machines enter the market. dozer debuting in 2013, time. We use the term “Grass to Komatsu’s Smart Construction team Komatsu’s iMC technology Grade” to help customers better focuses on developing new solutions has been on the market visualize this concept. to optimize job site efficiencies beyond for the better part of the machine control. Dedicated support last decade. Komatsu Kirby-Smith and other Komatsu Partnering with customers has continued to lead the distributors meet several times on their Smart Construction construction industry throughout the year to collaborate on Rebecca McNatt, journey and helping them forward, debuting the Director of Construction ideas and share feedback from the field take full advantage of first fully integrated Technology, Kirby-Smith to continuously improve iMC products their intelligent machines machine control excavator Machinery Inc. and Smart Construction Solutions. is something we take very in 2014, pioneering the seriously. Whether purchasing or renting, Komatsu conducts TSE training meetings concept of Smart Construction — a to communicate releases and new Kirby-Smith provides dedicated support suite of products, services and digital for the entire duration the customer owns developments, which also allows our solutions that offer interconnectivity TSEs to learn from the experiences of or rents an iMC unit. When a machine and streamline improvement over their contemporaries around the country. is delivered to a new iMC customer, the entire construction process — and Komatsu is diligent to ensure that when our team performs training and stays most recently, the evolution of iMC 2.0 customers move equipment into different on-site until the customer is comfortable technology for dozers and excavators. territories for new projects, they receive operating, and whenever a customer At Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc., we are needs help, we’re always a phone call the same support they have come to count excited about the growth we’ve seen in on from distributors like Kirby-Smith. away to assist remotely. the adoption of iMC technology. It feels We offer customers all the necessary More updates ahead like we are introducing more customers hardware such as TopCon Base & It is impossible to fit all the benefits and to the iMC product line each day, Rovers, and all Komatsu iMC equipment ways this technology is changing the opening the door to tomorrow’s job site is compatible with Trimble, Leica industry into one article (we haven’t even with them. More and more contractors and Cellular network systems, so discussed iMC excavators!) so in each are beginning to embrace the efficiency connectivity is never an issue. Our team issue of Kirby-Smith Connection, we plan and increased production offered by consists of Komatsu factory-trained to take you through what we are seeing fully integrated intelligent Machine technical solution experts (TSEs) / Smart in the field related to Smart Construction. Control technology. They understand Construction consultants to support If you haven’t opened the door yet how this technology can increase technology needs and certified iMC to greater levels of productivity and productivity and reduce costs. technicians to keep equipment running efficiency, just know that Kirby-Smith Take, for example, the concept of at top performance. and our Smart Construction Team is Grade Control Technology. In an ready to partner with you in “Making Supporting iMC equipment doesn’t industry faced with a severe operator stop at the distributor level. Komatsu the Grade.” ■ shortage, Komatsu enables novice operators to perform with the precision More and more contractors are beginning to embrace the efficiency and increased production offered and efficiency of a more seasoned by fully integrated intelligent Machine Control (iMC) technology. operator — making the grade as designed. Features such as Proactive Dozing Control (proprietary to Komatsu) use terrain mapping to collect data from each pass and plan the next pass. Knowing the terrain, the machine can grade and follow existing grade contours just like an experienced operator would. Most people in the industry associate grade control with only the finish grade process, but Proactive Dozing Control
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