Integration of Industrial Automation in Heavy Quarrying Excavation Equipment

Develon collaborates with quarry operators to deploy and validate smart crawler excavators equipped with advanced telemetry and control systems.  na.develon-ce.com Develon and quarry management partners have initiated field testing and operational validation of smart crawler excavators within heavy material extraction environments. The joint effort focuses on integrating industrial automation and electronic control platforms to enhance process stability and fuel efficiency during continuous loading operations. Operational Context and Requirements Heavy excavation and quarrying demand continuous process stability, precise hydraulic control, and optimized fuel consumption under variable load conditions. To address these requirements, Develon partnered with quarry site operators to evaluate heavy-duty machinery utilizing integrated sensor networks and automated hydraulic management. The primary objective of this cooperation is to refine machine control algorithms using field-generated operational data, establishing a reliable integration between heavy earthmoving equipment and digital infrastructure. Technical Architecture and System Capabilities The technical solution relies on electro-hydraulic system architectures governed by electronic control units. These platforms actively monitor hydraulic pressure, engine torque demand, and boom positioning. By dynamically adjusting pump displacement according to real-time workload resistance, the system minimizes energy losses caused by throttling. The onboard system communicates via standardized fieldbus protocols, streaming operational metrics such as payload weight, fuel burn rate, and component temperature to central fleet management platforms. This integration provides operator assistance through automated bucket-leveling and boom-height limitation mechanisms, reducing cycle times and preventing equipment overload. Field Deployment and Performance Evaluation System integration and operational testing were demonstrated at the Hillhead trade exhibition, held from 23 to 25 June 2026 in Buxton, Derbyshire. Smart crawler excavators ranging from 37 to 42 tonnes performed material extraction directly at the quarry face, alongside 23-tonne and 26-tonne variants. Complementary equipment — including articulated dump trucks with redesigned cabs, continuously variable transmission wheel loaders, dozers, and mini excavators — operated in coordinated material handling workflows. The field evaluation validated machine stability, load-matching accuracy between excavators and haulers, and consistent power delivery under heavy aggregate loading. Edited by Evgeny Churilov, Induportals Media - Adapted by AI. www.eu.develon-ce.com Powered by Induportals Media Publishing