“Link-Belt Construction Equipment will include telematics on all of its display units at CONEXPO 2014 and telematics will be included on all new production Link-Belt crane models within 18 months from the CONEXPO launch,” said Link-Belt Manager of Marketing & Technical Communications, Bruce Kabalen, in a statement prior to CONEXPO 2014.
Link-Belt Pulse Telematics Unit
Building from the existing Link-Belt Pulse system, wiring harnesses, transducers and other hardware will be engineered into each new Link-Belt model, and the new Link-Belt Pulse Telematics Unit will be installed. “This lays the foundation for remote diagnostics in the future for troubleshooting and possible remote service,” Kabalen says. Link-Belt Pulse Telematics Units and live data were available at CONEXPO on all display models.
A1A Software Partnership
Link-Belt will partner with A1A Software for its telematics initiative. A1A’s web portal, iCraneTrax Lite, powered by Link-Belt Pulse, will be controlled by crane customers and offers real-time crane information to assist in fleet management, dispatch, job costs, and more. “We want to show that telematics has a purpose beyond the data,” Kabalen says. “Crane owners will be able to use this simple web portal to help to run their businesses efficiently and create alerts for real-use maintenance intervals.”
Link-Belt chose A1A Software again, due to its successful partnership with the firm and its industry-leading site planning software 3DLift Plan. “We strongly believe that A1A understands the needs of the crane owner better than any single OEM and we hope our telematics initiative will have the same acceptance of the crane community that 3DLiftplan has experienced,” Kabalen says.
Customer Training
Link-Belt also launched its new Preferred Technician Training Program (PTTP) for Link-Belt Crane Owners. The new PTTP program provides customers with in-depth Link-Belt product and concept training, both online and at the factory. Customers interested in this new training were able to see it in action at CONEXPO 2014.
3D Manuals
Link-Belt also launched enhancements to its Link-Belt Preferred support platform which provides serial number specific searches, integrated 3D image renderings and quicker navigation to its dealer and customer support information.
“As our products evolve, we also have to look toward the future of service and support of the crane,” says Kabalen. “This new product makes finding what the user needs much more efficient and retains the dealer/customer relationship that is fundamental to our customer support philosophy.”