By the very nature of construction projects, the vehicles deployed must endure mud, dust and water along with uneven terrains, heavy vibrations and extremes of temperature. Such environments pose serious considerations for the vehicle builders.
Global competition in the construction sector results in high costs and the pressure to innovate. Technical manufacturing solutions are sought to ensure progress. By developing a variety of versions of equipment, the manufacturers satisfy customer needs and in many cases secure market niches.
To reduce manufacturing costs, modular platforms and components are developed.
Moreover, on the supplier side, there is an increasing focus on intercompany cooperation. Such strategic partnerships improve competence and aid development, production and logistics.
Up to fifty percent of the added value of construction machinery is produced by suppliers. Yesterday’s part suppliers are now establishing themselves as specialists in collaborations or are developing to become system suppliers. The complexity of construction machinery requires cross-company cooperation. New business models will considerably change the cooperation within this industry. Modern electronic media are becoming increasingly important for the coordination of tasks based on the division of labour.
Flexibility is one of the biggest challenges for the construction machinery industry. The market is subject to considerable fluctuations and high competitive pressure.
The growing model diversity and the increasing degree of equipment contribute to a rise in production individuality. This requires an optimisation of material and of information flow. C-parts management systems simplify processes, minimise stocks, avoid supply shortages and reduce costs.
There must, of course, be an uninterrupted supply to the assembly and maintenance lines. Even just a missing or faulty fastener risks bringing production to a standstill!
As a provider of complete solutions and systems, Böllhoff manufactures products and provides services for all areas of the construction machinery value added chain.
Construction machinery is exposed to extreme influences. Different weather conditions, extreme forces, different workloads and varying maintenance heavily impact upon individual components. Among other things, EU directives demand noise reduction and the driver’s exposure to vibration. Apart from that, customers expect heavy-duty machinery to meet all demands. Fastening and assembly processes are often the key to realising material and composite construction concepts.
Volvo Construction
Böllhoff organised a customer fair at the factory premises of Volvo. There, services, products and systems adapted to the specific customer needs were presented. Many of the Volvo employees acquired information about current developments in fastening technology.
Apart from that, the Böllhoff experts made a presentation on the optimisation potential of fasteners and assembly processes employed by Volvo. The basis for these results was the analysis of processes carried out in a line walk on the day of the presentation in the company production facilities.
Hamm AG
At regular intervals, the numerous unloading points in the customer’s production are supplied with different parts, components as per drawing, fastening technologies of Böllhoff’s own production as well as with other C-parts. Thanks to the early collaboration with the design engineers complexity of joining and installation methods can be significantly reduced.
Bomag
To optimise assembly processes and at the same time reduce assembly and procurement costs, Böllhoff application engineering experts analysed the complete fastening technology of certain Bomag model.
Böllhoff’s flexibility and strength in innovation is reflected in its wide range of fastening and assembly products for the production and technological development of the manufacture of construction machinery. Quick-release fasteners are manufactured as are nuts, thread inserts, blind rivet nuts, rivets, standard and custom made parts in all the required dimensions and materials. All fasteners and their material processing systems are carefully coordinated. Production and design processes are also optimised through Böllhoff’s innovative joining and assembly systems.