UKM-AUT23-PG38+39_Layout 1 28/07/2023 10:14 Page 38
DISPLAYS
SMARTER THAN THE AVERAGE SKID STEER
A new generation of electric skid steer loaders is bringing smarter functionality to this important market segment, enhancing operator ease of use and productivity. Helping to facilitate this transition are intelligent electronic controls and software from Danfoss Power Solutions.
using manual levers. Fatigue from physical exertion, despite sitting at the controls of a compact machine, was common. The shift from manual to electronic controls has vastly improved operator experience. Original equipment manufacturers have replaced levers with ergonomically designed joysticks, for example, reducing operator fatigue. The addition of displays and other human-machine interfaces, along with advanced control systems, is taking this a step further. Manufacturers like FIRSTGREEN Industries are at the forefront.
D
MEET ELISE Previously known as Kovaco Electric, FIRSTGREEN Industries was established in 2020 to bring groundbreaking electric equipment to the global market. The company’s Elise 900 skid steer loader was the first fully electric machine of its kind. From its launch, the Elise 900 was equipped with electronic controls, and a mobile phone acted as the central control panel as well as the machine’s key. The phone could also be used to remotely control the loader. FIRSTGREEN Industries is constantly innovating and upgrading the functionality of its machines in line with market trends and customer feedback. When the OEM set out to design its third- generation skid steer, its customers requested a hard- mounted display in place of the mobile phone. While widely available, mobile phones are not designed for the harsh operating environments of mobile machinery, and viewability in direct sunlight can be a challenge. In addition, phone displays are typically on the small side, limiting the amount of information that can be shown on screen.
38
riving a skid steer across rough terrain used to be an exercise in endurance. Operators felt every bump and rut in their hands as they propelled the machine forward and backward
Through this feedback, FIRSTGREEN Industries saw an opportunity to solve its customers’ challenges. A robust embedded display could certainly improve ease-of-use; it could also promote higher productivity and support operator safety.
TAKING CONTROL With support from Technotrade, FIRSTGREEN Industries’s trusted technology partner and a Danfoss Power Solutions Premier Partner, FIRSTGREEN Industries chose the Danfoss DM700 display for the third-generation Elise 900. Its 7-inch screen, excellent sunlight viewability, and rugged IP66 and IP67 ingress protection ratings provided the ideal combination of features for the application. Located in the top right corner of the Elise 900 cab, the display is connected to the machine’s CAN bus system, which provides stable, quick communication and higher data throughput – a significant
Autumn 2023 UKManufacturing
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
