Ongoing and new trends with equipment

The aggregate industry remains relatively healthy in key sectors – gravel, rock quarrying, stone crushing, ready-mix and more.

While the needs of these producers vary, certain requirements remain universal. Looking ahead, we see every operation, regardless of size, continuing to seek ways to increase productivity and safety, and reduce liability exposure.

All operations want to lower total cost of ownership by decreasing their initial investment, manage preventative maintenance costs, and maintain higher residual values.

Emphasis on relationships

The OEM-dealer-customer relationship is especially important in the success of today’s aggregate operations as they transition between brands.

For instance, a number of multistate and national aggregate producers value having a single point of contact within an OEM, with localized service, repair and maintenance provided by dealers. This gives producers the security of knowing they’ll be taken care of.

Many of today’s producers also genuinely appreciate standard features and option packages that help them keep owning and operating costs in check.

Telematics for example, allow producers to monitor and reallocate equipment usage to reduce idle time and travel times, better schedule service intervals, and perform more timely maintenance.

In one recent case, we had a customer who was looking to add another 5½-yd. wheel loader to their fleet, and they were considering a 3,000-hour-per-year lease. Using our telematics data from their current fleet, we determined, based on the work, travel and idle time ratios, that they would be better served with a less expensive 2,000-hour-per-year lease.

Increased leasing, shorter ownership cycles

This example speaks to another trend. In the past, sand and gravel pits, quarries and other operations tended to hang on to machines for 20,000 or even 30,000 hours, rebuilding and rebuilding. Now, we see increased leasing and shorter ownership cycles, as telematics and other fleet management tools provide more widespread recognition of the savings achieved through optimized equipment use.

More operations are looking to OEMs that offer the right combination of high-quality, high-productivity machines that deliver lower cost of ownership through low acquisition cost, excellent fuel economy, reduced liability and increased residual values.

Greater interest in jobsite safety, reduced liability

Aggregate operations are also especially interested in features such as standard backup cameras that help ensure jobsite safety and reduce liability. In fact, more of the machines we sell into pit and quarry applications include options for all-around view monitoring and moving object detection that help reduce accidents and injuries.

Buying smart

In general, we see aggregate operations choosing to buy smart – making sure they’re getting great value without sacrificing quality, productivity or safety.

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Patti Liljegren is national accounts manager at Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas.