ConExpo: Continental and its role in construction and mining industry

Continental used this year’s ConExpo/ConAgg to show how it is set to support the upcoming productivity leap in the construction and mining industries triggered by digitalization. Continental’s Smart Conveyor Management, a set of digital services for asset surveillance, asset management and asset productivity, has been nominated as a finalist for the ConExpo Next Level Awards Program, putting wind in the company’s sails. Continental showed industry stakeholders how its broad portfolio of rubber products and electronic hardware is complemented by solutions that foster technological progress in the fields of digitalization, automation, connectivity, material competence and sustainability. 

“The construction industry is about to undergo a profound transformation in the coming years. Productivity per construction machine is set to significantly rise thanks to digitalization, creating more value throughout the construction industry,” says Mario Branco, Head of Business Development Off-Highway at Continental.“Continental is ideally positioned to support the industry as a reliable innovation partner. As an automotive supplier and technology company, Continental has set itself the ambitious goal to help shape tomorrow’s construction and mining industry today. Thanks to our broad expertise in the fields of digitalization, automation, connectivity, material competence and sustainability we are extremely well positioned to realize this technological leap together with the industry.” 

Continental at ConExpo: adapting what works for passenger cars, trucks or buses

Continental is achieving further innovations by using passenger car technology and adapting it for construction and mining machinery. For the digital surround view system ProViu 360, the technology company presented several software-based features. Worker Detection, for example, allows the system to detect people near a machine and warn them of collisions. For the ProViu 360 system a platform approach ensures that customers can easily upgrade with new functions without having to make changes to hardware or install new software. 

Ismail Dagli, head of the Automotive Business Area Smart Mobility, says: “We are sure that the construction and mining industries will benefit strongly from automotive technology in the years to come, and that the industries are only just beginning to see how big this potential is.”

Building asset management and IoT solutions to reap an enormous productivity potential

Tire data, such as air pressure and temperature, is recorded and evaluated with the help of the digital tire management system ContiConnect 2.0. If the tire pressure is too low or there is a risk of overheating, the driver is informed directly via a warning system. This ensures a fail-safe, long tire life and fuel-efficient operation. At Continental, all radial tires for earthmoving are equipped with a sensor ex-factory, making them ready for use with ContiConnect. Complementing this, the new generation also offers the ability to track tires both in stock and in use to support predictive maintenance. The next system update, coming in the second quarter of 2023, will enable the monitoring of tires via Bluetooth connected devices. 

With its new IoT solution Zonar SightIQ (IoT = Internet of Things), Continental is setting new standards for productivity management in quarries, mines and on construction sites. The solution is developed by the fleet and asset management experts of Seattle-based Continental subsidiary Zonar and are already in operation with pilot customers in the aggregates industry. SightIQ integrates all available data from mobile machines, vehicles and stationary equipment such as conveyors or tools in a cloud application, regardless of the manufacturer. SightIQ Predict collects and decodes proprietary ECM data across major manufacturers and translates that data into actionable insights and predictive diagnostics, inspection, and peripheral data. SightIQ Optimize consolidates site data into real-time information, regardless of location, across entire fleets. It grants select personnel access to the data so they can streamline site processes and enhance location efficiencies. 

Sustainability is the standard of the future

“We are convinced that sustainable and responsible business practices will increase our innovative capacity and future viability and are essential for Continental’s future success. For this reason, we are actively researching products and solutions for a carbon-free future,” explains Song Qi, head of the Conveying Solutions business area. Transparency about activities on the construction site plays a vital role in this context. Continental was one of the first manufacturers in the world to work with the U.S. Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers (ARPM) to develop an energy efficiency label. The label helps conveyer belt system operators make informed decisions to lower their energy consumption when selecting conveyor belts.