{"id":3306,"date":"2020-03-11T09:10:23","date_gmt":"2020-03-11T13:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/?p=3306"},"modified":"2026-03-26T12:08:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T16:08:03","slug":"what-will-it-take-to-build-the-heavy-equipment-machines-of-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/thought-leadership\/what-will-it-take-to-build-the-heavy-equipment-machines-of-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"What will it take to build the heavy equipment machines of the future?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Using today\u2019s software to create tomorrow\u2019s heavy equipment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Technology is changing rapidly in the heavy equipment\nindustry. From mining to construction to agriculture, heavy equipment builders\nmust be aware of the developments in their industry and how critical it is to\nhave the right design and simulation tools to bring their products to market in\nthe shortest time possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For heavy equipment manufacturers, integrating more\ntechnology to differentiate products means increased complexity. On top of\nthat, customers are more demanding and sophisticated \u2014 they want to rapidly adopt\nautomotive-type capabilities such as economy and creature comforts, which means\nhigher levels of customization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, too many manufacturers use yesterday\u2019s design tools to create today\u2019s machines, and those tactics simply aren\u2019t up to the task. With mechanical, electrical and software engineering teams often scattered across departments and across the globe, there are too many points where information must be shared between disciplines without the luxury of time to work sequentially through the product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trends\nreinforcing the need for a digitalization strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The global market for heavy equipment is estimated at $500\nbillion; experts forecast continued market growth. With a market that size, and\nunderstanding the cyclical nature of the industry itself, it\u2019s easy to see why\ncompanies are adopting a strategy of greater globalization and a pattern of\nconsolidation of local companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forming larger companies with a global presence is a\nstrategic way to manage risk in cyclic markets while bringing the best machines\nto the most appropriate markets at the lowest costs. These entities are trying\nto accomplish cost management by combining common designs with regionalization\nand local manufacturing strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.N. projects a global population of 8.5 billion by 2030. Because a growing population requires more nutrition, farmers are tasked with feeding more people with the same field and fewer workers. Therefore, the need for greater efficiency and automation in farming equipment is high. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manufacturers aim to build durable machines that last decades. In that time frame there are likely multiple improvements to the base machine, electrification and connectivity technology platforms. These improvements occur in three complex areas: mechanical durability, change in controls technology and the multiple upgrade paths for your customers. This continues to make managing services and spare parts a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The trends poised to transform the heavy equipment industry<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a tractor as an example when it comes to looking at these trends. We can assume the base mechanical tractor hasn\u2019t changed much in the last 20 years, yet the increased use of software, sensors and smart devices have created more product revisions in that tractor than the normal reliability growth. Every cylinder, valve and hydraulic pump is equipped with extensive monitoring sensors and controls. Systems are more integrated now than ever before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you focus on tomorrow with advanced technologies,\nmanufacturers can utilize algorithms and gather input to make sure the tractor\nadapts to its conditions, wherever it is being used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building these machines with the right digitalization tools means the design can take place with global engineering teams all looking at different disciplines, such as electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and simulation. These teams must have access to the same data and collaborate with the same information. Changes and enhancements should be able to be implemented from anywhere to accommodate region-specific market conditions and governmental regulations can. AGCO, a global leader in design, manufactures and distributes agricultural solutions and met this challenge by implementing a design anywhere, build anywhere strategy. By using comprehensive software solutions as part of the Xcelerator portfolio, AGCO took the rich data created by design and could share it with different users in manufacturing at multiple sites around the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the case of design anywhere, build anywhere, all of our new product introductions are going to be platform-oriented, and will re-use data\u201d – Gary D\u2019Souza, manufacturing engineering lead, global manufacturing PLM at AGCO. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Read about their successes here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AGCO Corporation: Digitalization supports global manufacturing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sustainability as a\ntrend<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Urbanization is increasing at a dramatic rate and countries\nare pressuring companies to build more efficient vehicles, even banning diesel\nengines in some metropolitan cities. From emissions to safety, there is no\nshortage of regulatory environments, which often vary from country-to-country\nwhile corporate standards vary from company-to-company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How will regional regulations and sustainability impact\nmachine designs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustainability often means fuel economy and emissions, but\nthat\u2019s only part of it. We need to think more than just efficiency but also the\nenvironment in which it operates. Consider the effects of a diesel engine being\nused in a mine shaft where ventilation and shafts are the means for air.\nSustainability in a mine operation can take the form of an electric vehicle\nthat\u2019s user-friendly and cost-effective while autonomy removes the operator\naltogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being able to simulate these environments, automate and\nelectrify makes sense and enhances user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owners are looking to reduce cost of ownership through\nreduction or removal of harm, unplanned downtime and emissions. The goal is to\nreduce these to zero. How so?<\/p>\n\n\n\n