An interview with Professor Günter Kunze

Emissions-reducing driveline technology will be among the many innovations on display at bauma 2013.

Among the many innovations at bauma 2013, a key focus will be on drive technology for mobile construction machinery. In an interview with Messe München, Professor Günter Kunze, Head of the Department of Construction Machines and Conveying Technology at the Technical University of Dresden, gives an insight into current progress.

Messe München: International emissions standards are a main factor in the push to further develop drive technologies for mobile construction machinery. What are the key areas at present in this field?

Prof. Günter Kunze: Step by step, in Europe and in the United States of America, significantly tighter limit values are being introduced for new machinery, varying according to performance categories. The focus is on the emission of soot particles and nitrogen oxides. Currently for the off-road category in Europe, EU Stage IIIB is the emissions standard, while in the US, the standard is US Tier 4 Interim. In 2014 these will be replaced respectively by EU Stage IV and US Tier 4 Final, both of which require a further drastic reduction in emissions of nitrogen oxide.

Messe München: What technologies and components can be used to adhere to these regulations?

Prof. Günter Kunze: The limit values so far were observed mainly by making adjustments inside the engine. But in doing so, in some cases, the constructors were confronted with the contradiction that a combustion process low on harmful emissions leads to higher fuel consumption. The requirement for ever tighter limit values has emphasized this "ecological conflict." The limit values for off-road vehicles valid from 2014 require in most cases an additional treatment, downstream of the engine, with effective, durable and low-maintenance emissions-reducing components. Depending on the application, a combination of technologies that reduce soot-particle and nitrogen-oxide emissions at the same time can be used to meet the low limits of EU Stage IIIB and US Tier 4 Final. Here, with mobile machinery, attention must be paid to the special conditions in which the machinery is used, to the variable operating cycles and to the performance requirements of the application in question. The enormous variety in off-road machinery makes it impossible to have a standard solution for emissions treatment. For this reason the manufacturers define the operating conditions – for example, temperatures – in order to enable on the one hand filter cleaning in line with soot loading and on the other urea-dosing to reduce nitrogen oxides, depending on engine power. As these operating conditions do not apply in every case with the application profiles in the off-road area, active-regeneration processes are used. Here, emissions systems generate the required temperature themselves. The emissions temperature is achieved either by means of a flame burner or a combination of a flame burner and a catalytic burner. Other developments are aimed at adjusting the engine for the lowest level of fuel consumption in combination with a significant increase in performance of the SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system. With this the future emissions standards are met with only two emissions components – CR and diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC).

Messe München: As well as the drive system, the operating equipment on a mobile construction machine also has to be supplied with sufficient power. What is happening in this area?

Prof. Günter Kunze: Traditionally combustion engines have been installed that can deliver the performance required. In other words the manufacturers work out the peak demand and design and build the engine to match. However there are many ideas and solutions concerned with the "average requirements" of the construction machine as a parameter in the design of the combustion engine. To cover peak loads, suitable storage is then used, which is mechanically, hydraulically or electrically operated. This is known as downsizing the installed engine performance.

Messe München: For years the sector has been working intensively on hybrid drives, but so far there has been no market breakthrough. How do you see the current state of development?

Prof. Günter Kunze: First it must be said that it has taken even the pioneer in hybrid design – Toyota – more than 10 years to gain acceptance and market penetration in the automotive area. In the case of mobile working machinery, the diversity, low production quantities and high lifetimes lead us to assume that developments will be slower still. Basically a hybrid drive means the availability of at least two sources of power. Many different combinations of these sources are thinkable. For example, it could be a combustion engine and an electrically operated machine in combination with a battery to store electricity. Or two independent batteries, for example in ground conveyors. Machines of both these types have already been designed and marketed. Also possible are solutions that recover energy in mechanical or hydraulic form and then store it. Just which solution is best for which machine, is dependent critically on the requirements profile. In hybrid technology in particular the construction machinery sector is working on many innovations, and these will be on show for the first time at the upcoming bauma trade show.

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Find out when the show is open, what to expect and where to be to get the most out of this triennial international tradeshow in Munich, Germany.

• Hours of Operation
• Facts and Figures
• Industry Trends and Charts

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Quick Facts:

Location: 

New Munich Trade Fair Centre
Munich (Muenchen), Germany

Show Hours (in C.E.T.)

Monday, April 15 – Friday, April 19
9.30 a.m. - 6.30 p.m.

Saturday, April 20
8.30 a.m. - 6.30 p.m.

Sunday, April 21
9.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.

Contact information:

E-mail: [email protected]

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Volvo CE's Fume Extraction System a Candidate for 2013 bauma Innovation Award

Volvo Construction Equipment’s (Volvo CE’s) revolutionary extractor for bituminous fumes is one of three finalists in the machinery component category of the bauma Innovation Awards. The system, which is available as an option on Volvo CE’s C-Series ABG pavers, introduces a new way of removing fumes from the operator’s working environment. The innovative feature improves the working conditions of the operator – who sits directly above the auger channel. By delivering 83% efficiency, the system exceeds the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) guidelines which state that 80% of fumes should be captured. Volvo’s results have been independently certified by an environmental institute.

Behind the breakthrough

“The pioneering system works by using a fume intake, with a fan located directly behind it, on both the left and right hand side of the auger channel,” explains Anders P. Larsson, Executive Vice President of Volvo CE’s Technology function. “The fan captures and transports the fumes via two tubes to the top of the paver where they are then released. This means that the air in the operator’s working environment is significantly cleaner than was previously the case.”

Volvo’s design is located at the back of the machine and features a very short distance between the intake and the fan – eliminating the need for additional piping and funnelling in the auger channel. This increases efficiency, prevents any loss of power and ensures that there is no effect on the operator’s visibility into the auger channel. Because extra power is not needed, smaller fans are used. These can be installed horizontally instead of vertically which offers a smaller, more compact architecture. This also helps to maintain visibility into the auger channel which is vital to ensure consistent material flow and good quality, smooth paving.

Innovative and efficient

During the majority of operating conditions, Volvo’s ABG pavers run on smart power which lowers the engine rpm and considerably reduces fuel consumption. The new fume extraction system continues this environmentally friendly and fuel efficient approach and works just as efficiently when the machine is operated in smart power mode as it does when the machine is working in max power mode.

As well as increased efficiency and visibility, another benefit of the Volvo design is reduced noise. The difference in sound between the system being on or off is insignificant – just 0.3 decibels. This means that there is no risk of the system distracting the operator or causing fatigue.

Paving the way

Although there is currently no legislation insisting pavers meet the NIOSH 80% guideline, the Volvo system has been designed to meet demands from customers and operators in certain markets. Due to the modular design of the Volvo system, it can be retrofitted to machines already in the field.

“We are thrilled to be a finalist in these prestigious awards which honor forward-looking developments and outstanding innovations,” says Anders. “This nomination is a credit to our hard working employees who are helping Volvo CE to deliver world class innovations. Achievements like this are only possible thanks to great teamwork. With more than 180 years of innovation behind us, we are proud of the company’s pioneering spirit and will continue the Volvo tradition of being innovative leaders in the construction industry.”

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THINK BIG! Live at bauma 2013

An extensive program for school children is being organized for the first time at bauma 2013.

A 3,000 square meter display is being put on by the German Engineering Federation—the VDMA—in cooperation with Messe München GmbH and the agricultural machinery association LandBauTechnik Bundesverband. Already over 7,500 pupils from 170 different schools have registered to take part.

All-out action

The aim of this initiative is to fill young people with enthusiasm for technology and the construction and building material machinery sector in particular. The program is aimed primarily at the age range of 13 to 18, across the spectrum of school types. It promises "action" for the entire duration of the show. In Hall B0, specially reserved for this program, twelve companies will be setting up THINK BIG booths, where they will show the schoolchildren just what working in the technology field can involve. For this they will be bringing along a variety of cranes, graders and digger simulators, presenting CAD workplaces, and inviting the youngsters to have a go at dismantling and re-assembling engines and to engage in experiments. On hand at these action stands will be employees from the human resources departments of these firms, young technicians and engineers and also sometimes even the top boss in person, all of them ready and willing to talk and answer questions.

Workshop live!

A part of the hall and the program is dedicated to a "Workshop live." Here trainees and their supervisors will be working in small groups on machinery, using tools and tool trolleys. Two presenters will be looking over the shoulders of these young technicians and asking some of them about their lives and career choices. Construction machinery companies will be supplying equipment for this workshop, comprising a wheel loader, a wheeled excavator, a site hoist, a vibratory plate, a concrete pump and a roller. The whole thing will be broadcast live on a big screen.

Plenty of career information

Between the presentations, a range of films will be shown about apprenticeships, study courses and careers. The youngsters will also be able to gather information at a number of classical "Infopoints": The VDMA, for example, is setting up one such information point about the construction and building material machinery sector, and – supported by the universities – about degree courses in engineering and other study routes in higher education. The LandBauTechnik Bundesverband and bbi, the German association of construction machinery hire companies and suppliers, will also be giving information and advice at a second "Infopoint", this time on apprenticeships in the various fields of technology. And, specially for girls, women involved in the MINT Initiative (which encourages young people’s interest in mathematics, IT, science and technology) will be presenting their offering.

Further information: www.facebook.com/thinkbigbub

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This year's partner country: Indonesia

The partner country holds significant opportunity and growth potential due to its substantial raw materials.

bauma is not just an international event for construction machinery, building material machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment—it is also the world’s biggest trade fair for mining machinery. The partner country chosen for the 2013 edition of bauma is Indonesia. Thanks to its extensive raw material deposits, this country offers tremendous growth potential.

The present conditions are regarded as favorable for new ventures. As part of the general economic upturn in Asia, demand is rising for mineral raw materials, and this in turn is boosting activity in mining. As a result the requirement for mining machinery and technology is also increasing. bauma is an excellent meeting place for both investors in and companies from Indonesia.

The Indonesian mining companies need expertise, technology and capital and they are looking to engage in cooperations with foreign partners. Adam Pamma, a representative of the Association of Indonesian Professionals for Science, Technology and Enterprises (AIPSE) in Germany, comments, "The mining sector in Indonesia is expanding rapidly, driven by good prospects for profit and rising demand on the international market. German partners are expressly welcomed, yet so far they seem not to have explored in any great depth the opportunities this market offers them. Greater involvement would without doubt have good prospects of success."

Indonesia’s raw material reserves are the sixth-largest in the world. According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the republic ranks fifth worldwide for tin reserves, seventh for copper, and 15th for coal. Overall investment in the Indonesian mining sector was around 3,187 million US dollars in 2010. Of that 764 million was in coal, 1,480 million on other mining activities, and 905 million on mining services. Market researchers Business Monitor International (BMI) predicts an average increase in investment of 10 to 11% per year by 2014. The value of production is forecast to reach 123 billion US dollars by 2014.

Indonesia is already the world’s largest exporter of coal for power stations. Extraction is exclusively by open-cast mining. Currently the annual yield is 340 million tonnes, but this is expected to grow to around 500 million tonnes p.a. by 2020. This forecast is based on the increasing demand from Asian economies and the rising needs of electricity suppliers in Indonesia. In particular China and India are buying more and more coal. For example, the electricity company PT PLN currently consumes 40 million tonnes of coal per year, but this figure is expected to double by 2015.

Extensive investment is also lined up in metal mining. Indonesia is the world’s second-largest exporter of tin, and after China the second-largest producer of tin. State-owned PT Timah, the largest company in the tin industry, wants to invest around 100 million euros in equipment for exploration and extraction, in order to increase productivity. Also, the large ore deposits of nickel, copper, iron, bauxite, manganese, gold and silver offer promising opportunities for investment and cooperations. As well as expanding extraction volumes, Indonesia is also planning to increase its processing capacity, in order to generate as much added value as possible in the country. 

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Brazil and Germany

Mining machinery continues to be in high demand due to high raw materials demand.

What do the FIFA World Cup 2014 and the Olympic Games 2016 in Brazil have to do with mining and the manufacturers of mining machinery? In the case of both of these major events, the host country is committed to an enormous ongoing program of investment, which includes infrastructure projects. For this they need raw materials. And to extract these, specialist machinery is required.

The higher the demand for mineral resources, the higher, too, is the demand for mining machinery. At bauma 2013, the International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Construction Vehicles and Construction Equipment, manufacturers from all over the world will be showcasing their latest machinery and technology for this branch of industry. The next bauma takes place from April 15 to 21, 2013 in Munich.

Since 2007 sales by the mining machinery manufacturers in the German Trade Association of Mining Machinery Manufacturers (a part of the VDMA, Germany's engineering federation) have risen by an average of 13% per year. Dr. Paul Rheinländer, Chairman of this trade association, is very happy with this performance. "With these figures, we are one of the few sectors in Germany that grew right through the downturn." The reasons for this, believes Rheinländer, lie in rising demand for raw materials and in the high quality of the products themselves. The export ratio for this sector in Germany is at around 92%. In 2012 the value of machinery exports is put at €5.33 billion.

The association expressly welcomes the raw materials partnerships concluded with Mongolia and Kazakhstan. These are aimed at not only securing supplies of raw materials for Germany, but also strengthening machinery sales in these countries. Similar agreements with Australia, Canada and Chile are also in the pipeline.

In the medium to long term, too, the signs look good for further expansion in business for the mining machinery manufacturers. In more and more countries around the world—above all BRIC, i.e. Brazil, Russia, India and China—there is a growing middle class which has high spending power and an appetite for consumption. Correspondingly, demand for raw materials is rising to cater to these countries and the world as a whole, where the population continues to increase. The manufacturers of mining machinery are set to benefit from these trends.

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Free Map!

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Download a free map of the exibit halls and outdoor areas of bauma 2013 for easier show navigation!

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And the winner is...

The nominees are announced for the bauma Innovation Award 2013.

The nominations for the bauma Innovation Award 2013, which is being presented as part of bauma, the International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Mining Machines, Construction Vehicles and Construction Equipment, have been selected (www.bauma-innovationspreis.de). The 15 nominated innovations were announced at the press conference held at the bauma Media Dialog on January 29, 2013 in Munich, by Johann Sailer, President of the VDMA Construction Machinery and Building Materials Machinery Association.

The award is divided into five categories. Out of a total of 156 submissions from Germany and abroad, the jury selected three groundbreaking innovations per category to go through to the final round.

High-ranking international guests from business and politics are expected to attend the award ceremony, honoring the winners and the nominees, on April 14 in the Allerheiligen-Hofkirche (Court Church of All Saints) in the Residenz Palace in Munich. Most of the new developments will also be on show at bauma. The trade show takes place from April 15 to 21, 2013, in Munich.

Category: Machinery

• Revolution in underground mining – the Mobile Tunnel Miner, Aker Wirth GmbH
• Pipe Express - a new semi-trenchless method for installing pipelines, Herrenknecht AG
• JFI Method - Fully automated production of multi-layer concrete elements, Sommer Anlagentechnik GmbH

Category: Machinery components

• Tablet PC – transferring the digital workplace to the construction machine, Bauer Maschinen GmbH
• Fume Extraction System - Volvo Construction Equipment *See more on Volvo's Fume Extraction System on page XX
• AutoPilot Field Rover – 3D system for controlling offset slipform pavers, Wirtgen GmbH

Category: Construction Process

• Monopile foundation for tidal engine turbine – offshore site in Scotland, Bauer Spezialtiefbau GmbH
• Using revolving tower cranes to erect hybrid-energy wind towers – in a fast construction time, Max Bögl Bauunternehmung GmbH & Co KG
• "PAST": reliable, automated road-building – improved function along the whole building process chain, Hermann Kirchner Bauunternehmung GmbH

Category: Research

• Online grain size analyzer, Technical University of Clausthal
• Parallel kinematics (HEXAPOD) for working equipment on mobile machinery, Technical University of Dresden
• Computer tomography enables orientation analysis of steel fibers in reinforced concrete, Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Category: Design

• Liebherr Compact Loader, Liebherr-Werk Bischofshofen
• Kaiser Walking Mobile Excavator 2013, Kaiser AG Fahrzeugwerk
• EH 100 demolition breaker, Wacker Neuson Vertrieb Europa GmbH & Co KG

The criteria used by the jury of experts in reaching their assessment of the submissions and innovations include the following: sustainability, practical use, contribution towards environmental protection and humanization of the workplace, economic benefit and performance capability combined with energy- and cost-efficiency, and the contribution towards enhancing the image of the construction, building-materials and mining industries or the sector as a whole.

In 2013 the Innovation Award is being presented for the tenth time. The competition is a joint project by the German Engineering Federation (VDMA – Verband Deutscher Maschinen-und Anlagenbau e.V.), the German Construction Industry Association (HDB – Hauptverband der Deutschen Bauindustrie e.V.), the Central Association of the German Construction Industry (ZDB – Zentralverband des deutschen Baugewerbes e.V.), the German Building Materials Association (BBS – Bundesverband Baustoffe – Steine und Erden e.V.) and bauma.