Equipping aggregate producers to move more

The construction and mining industries have generated consistent growth over the last couple of years, and we expect 2019 will also end favorably.

As we look toward 2020, there are indications the market will remain stable and high growth is not expected.

In the construction segment, we have seen positive trends in spending, with nearly 156,000 jobs created in the last year alone, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. Additionally, pending infrastructure reform could drive a stable construction industry for the foreseeable future.

In the mining industry, we anticipate the market to remain flat in 2020 due in part to global market uncertainty. Still, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mining industry has seen a slight uptick in employment, with the addition of about 200 jobs, since 2018. This, coupled with a stable commodities market in 2019, suggests the mining industry will hold steady through 2020.

As the overall off-the-road (OTR) industry seeks to maintain productivity while reducing operating costs, it is critical that site managers and producers integrate their operations for optimal efficiency. The need for efficiency is driving demand for technology-based solutions to help maximize resources to better manage jobsites.

In fact, the majority of construction industry professionals today say mobile technology is a top priority for the efficiency of everyday operations. Remote machine monitoring will likely become the standard rather than a recommendation, and data and telematics will continue to modify mining practices for increased uptime.

For tire manufacturers, this means our solutions will need to integrate with the connected vehicle and equipment ecosystem.

Today’s OTR customers recognize that tires are one of a mine and construction site’s most valuable assets and must be properly managed. These producers expect more than just products from a tire manufacturer – they demand technologies, data analytics and services to help them move more every day.

Integrated technologies to move more

Technology is an integral part of tracking and managing all aspects of a jobsite to help reduce unexpected downtime. For tires, this means implementing an easy-to-use system that captures and reports real-time tire performance data via mobile devices.

But it’s more than just gathering data. It’s about ensuring timely tire service based on the insights derived from the data. It’s critical that devices translate data into actionable intelligence on tire and vehicle performance so operators and their trusted servicing partners can shift maintenance procedures from a reactive to proactive model of tire service. This always-on, predictive model of tire service helps ensure tires are better managed and perform as intended every day.

For example, many tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) measure tire pressure and temperature, which is key to everyday operations and jobsite safety. Next-generation TPMS technologies will generate real-time monitoring reports, complete with geo-fencing and speed alerts that can notify site managers about unusual or unsafe activities.

Advanced TPMS solutions will also have the capability to monitor areas of multi-directional acceleration, while providing additional tracking of a variety of tire conditions that influence overall productivity.

This new era of technology will help maximize producers’ existing tire programs and provide insights into the most detailed aspects of their business. As tire industry leaders provide more intelligent technologies, customers and their service partners will be better equipped with real-time data and vehicle-technology integrations to unlock predictive tire maintenance, elevating the OTR industry to new heights.

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Tim Netzel is marketing director of off-the-road (OTR) for the United States and Canada at Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.