Author: Nina Popovic

What is 3D machine control?

No matter the experience of a machine operator, 3D machine control helps the machine operator to be more precise in the field. 3D machine control assists the machine operator to optimize and precise the work while also making it easier and faster. Additionally, it minimizes the risks of making mistakes, thus negating the consequence of starting over again. 

With 3D machine control, fewer people are required to be at the operating site, since the use of a surveyor isn’t necessary as it is already incorporated into the system. The surveyors may instead work on other assignments to optimize the time in the field, thus bringing the costs down and making it a good long-term investment.

Other benefits include a safer environment in the workplace. Workplace hazards may occur when there are slippery surfaces. These instances will be reduced, as the machine operator can spend more time in the excavator or wheel loader and use the tablet to observe where the work needs to be done. The work of the machine operator is solved faster, which also causes less weariness to the machine.

Is digitalization the future?

Molio, a Danish non-profit construction knowledge centre, made a report in 2020 about the digitalization of the construction industry. It is shown that nearly two-thirds of companies within the construction industry believe digitalization has more potential and much to gain from it. As technology is advancing, the construction industry also enjoys the benefits of technological advancement. Now, it is already an important part of a company’s planning, production and project management.

Companies expect that the issue digitalization faces is the challenge of understanding the new technology. Even though 3D machine control has been used for many years, the demand for it has become more popular in recent years, this may limit the knowledge a machine operator has on 3D machine control. However, things may start to change within a few years. The companies’ clients are beginning to demand digital processes and solutions. It is shown that 82% of the clients strongly agree to have digital solutions to public construction, while 17% agree and only 1% do not agree at all. It is a huge increase compared to 2018, and therefore shows that clients have higher requirements for digitalization and that we are moving towards a digitalized age.

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The report additionally shows that there is a strong correlation between a company’s digitalization and its effectiveness and productivity. 

The barrier that prevents digitalization lies in the culture of the company of the organization. 3D machine control and digitalization are continuously being explored in the construction industry, which might be the reason for the barrier. Another obstacle is the investment it takes to digitalize it. The report shows it is often small companies with a few employees that use it the least, while medium-sized companies use it the most.

Finally, the report shows the biggest flaws with digitalization are linked to more quality and fewer mistakes. It makes the processes faster and more effective and creates a better relationship with the clients and suppliers.

How Unicontrol simplifies digitalization

Our solution to 3D machine control is less complicated than 3D machine control seems to be. At Unicontrol, we focus on being user-friendly and making technology simple to use. Therefore, we have worked on an easy system that takes around 20-30 minutes to learn, and you’re ready to use it.

Our solution is a combination of quality sensors and GPS antennas which makes it easier to see where the machine is localized. It will optimize the coordination with all your excavators and wheel loaders, without the need to take the project home, as it is in our cloud solution which is an extra component to the Unicontrol3D package. It gives you access to all your data on a platform that’s simple to use. That way, all your data for a building project is secured on the cloud.

The goal of 3D GPS machine control is to make it simple to use, without it taking days or even months to learn.

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Michael Hansen from Øbakke says the following about Unicontrol3D:

“The feedback we have received from our customers is that Unicontrol3D is easy to use and understand, it is very user-friendly. Also, for the surveyor, it is easy to transfer and extract data. So overall Unicontrol is just easy to use, which is a substantial advantage for the system.”

We strive to develop all the time and to make it easier for the machine operator. That’s why our solution is developed with the help of feedback and user involvement from our clients, so we always know what our clients need. According to Molio, one of the challenges was also the investment it costs to digitalize. We have therefore at Unicontrol made the price affordable for all entrepreneurs and companies.

If you are interested in hearing more about Unicontrol, you are always welcome to give us a call at +45 898 00 240 or send us an email at contact@unicontrol.io.

Yet another demand is met for the construction industry, with precise and efficient excavation work. Unicontrol in Odense now has a solution ready that makes it much easier to carry out grading using a wheel loader. Machine operators can now themselves level and set surfaces precisely using the wheel loader via drawings and GPS, without any assistance from a manual worker and a surveyor. The Unicontrol 3D machine control system is now available for excavators and wheel loaders. 

The shortage of skilled labour in the construction industry is a growing problem. Contractors are constantly looking for machine operators. Unicontrol meets this challenge using technology that ensures better utilisation of resources on construction sites, by making the individual machine operator more independent and productive. 

This is why even before Unicontrol launched its latest solution, it had already sold the solution to operators in the construction industry in Denmark and Sweden. Unicontrol’s new 3D solution for wheel loaders can be installed on all makes and types of wheel loaders. Unicontrol is the first company in the world that now supports articulated body sensor and installs antennas on the roof.    

Better machine utilisation 

3D machine control for wheel loaders was developed in collaboration with Unicontrol’s distributors and partners, including  Unicontrol’s dealer in Sverige, L5, who could see the potential and demand in the market.      

“There is often a wheel loader present on construction sites and our customers in the construction industry want to use wheel loaders for even more tasks than moving equipment and loading lorries. Using 3D machine control, the contractor can also use a wheel loader for several tasks, including when surfaces need to be levelled and set. And if the grading has meant that a manhole cover has become hidden, Unicontrol’s solution can quickly localise it without having to call in a surveyor. Overall, Unicontrol’s technology increases machine utilisation and productivity on the site,” stated Johan Spector, partner at L5 Navigation. 

In Sweden, construction company M. Holmströms Entreprenad Ab has already ensured it has the new solution, which L5 Navigation supplies under the name L5 U3D-L. 

With Unicontrol 3D fitted on the machine, fast-tracking is ensured, so the system can always follow the machine and the machine operator can carry out the work precisely. This technology is now also available for loaders.          

“We always develop our solutions based on user involvement and workflow analyses in the construction industry. There is a clear need for a user-friendly and simple 3D machine control system, and this is precisely why we developed a 3D machine control system that has a short training time and is sold at an affordable price. Our vision is to be the world-leading manufacturer of a simple 3D GPS machine control system. We will show that machine control can be made simple for the user,” said Ehsan Ekhlas, CCO at Unicontrol.

At construction company Gorm Hansen in Denmark, Technical Manager Henrik Vestergaard is very satisfied with the new technological possibilities that Unicontrol provides to the company’s machine operators: “Unicontrol 3D is an excellent tool for ensuring precise grading, no matter the level of experience the machine operator inside the cab has. At the same time, our machine operators like the fact that machine control allows them to work independently on the construction site. We reach our goals much faster now when it comes to levelling tasks.”     

In Denmark, S.D. Kjærsgaard A/S and HM Entreprenør A/S are also leaders in the use of the new Unicontrol solution for loaders.

Unicontrol was established in 2018 and has distinguished itself as the first developer of 3D machine control for all types of excavators and now sells its technology in more than 15 countries. 

Unicontrol and S.D. Kjærsgaard have made a collaboration that includes Unicontrol3D being offered to CASE machines of S.D. Kjærsgaard. The partnership means the machine operators may use an easy and simple 3D machine control for their projects.
The CCO of Unicontrol, Ehsan Ekhlas says the following about the collaboration:

“We are thrilled to have this collaboration with S.D. Kjærsgaard, as they are leading CASE machines in Denmark. It means a lot to have them as partners since more machine operators will have the opportunity to use Unicontrol3D. Additionally, they have a great service network that is nationwide and therefore can provide quick service.”

CASE has many popular machines, and with their talented service technicians, it is expected to receive machines of high quality. CASE machines are influenced by much innovation, and their innovative upgrades will positively impact the machine operator.
Ekhlas is in no doubt that the collaboration has a bright future. Furthermore, he adds:

“The demand for machine control has grown – it’s the future. That’s why Unicontrol cares about simplifying the process, so it fits all types of companies and entrepreneurs, regardless of the experience.”

Finally, Ekhlas says the following:

“We are excited about the growth in the next few years. We already have a fantastic start with the machines of S.D. Kjærsgaard using Unicontrol3D. So we’re excited to see where the collaboration leads us. “

The popularity of 3D machine control has increasingly been growing in the last few years. Unicontrol has developed a user-friendly system for the machine operator, and it only takes 20-30 minutes to learn. Since Unicontrol3D was launched in 2019, the development of the system has gone fast. It has become more simple and improved with the help of user involvement.

An exciting time is ahead of us!

The Nordbau Messe is finally back in its original format, after huge changes last year due to COVID-19. This year Nordbau will be held from the 8th – 12th September in Neumünster, Germany.

We at Unicontrol will be present here at Nordbau for the first time ever! Unicontrol3D optimizes your work with an excavator with the help of 3D machine control. 3D machine control allows you to work faster and more efficiently with your excavator.

Read more about our 3D machine control Here

Nordbau is a fair in Northern Germany and has an outstanding outdoor area of 69.000 square meters, with +60.000 visitors attending the fair over five days. You can expect exhibitors from over 15 countries and over 800 exhibitions, so there will be plenty of things to do.

We at Unicontrol will gladly bid you welcome at our stand at Hall 8-8151, where you can experience Unicontrol3D in action and have a talk about what we can do for you! You can meet the Unicontrol team from 9:00 – 18:00 every day during the Fair.

Venue:

Holstenhallen 

Justus-von-Liebig-Straße 2-4

24537 Neumünster

Get your ticket to Nordbau at:

https://nordbau.de

If you want to know more about Unicontrol3D, give us a call at +45 89 80 02 40 or at contact@unicontrol.io. 

We’re growing beyond the frames

We increased our turnover by 350 per cent in the second year of our journey, and we expect to reach around 22 million DKK in sales this year, with a new director and a million deposit for global growth.

Even though we are a new company, our progress is going faster than ever imagined. We have, after just two and a half years, 23 employees. We were the first ones to move into the villa of Visti Unlimited where we had our office in just one single room, and now, we’re filling up most of the downstairs area with challenges regarding office space.

We currently have dealers in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland and Belgium. We’re on our way into the Netherlands and even more European countries. However, our ambitions are global!

Thomas Visti’s past is with both Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots, and he has invested in Unicontrol with a former colleague, Lasse Kieffer and The Growth Foundation. Thomas Visti is very excited about the development and growth that we in Unicontrol are experiencing.

Ehsan Eklas is stepping into the role of CCO

Rapid growth requires a new structure and agility.

Ehsan Eklas was the director at Unicontrol, and he is now stepping into the role as CCO as he delegates the director post on to newly acceded Niels Bjerregaard.

As CCO, Ehsan can now focus on entering new markets, build up sales and still be the “face” of the company. Ehsan just returned from training our new distributors in Belgium, and when returning, he noticed that we had welcomed three new employees that he had yet to meet – this is why Niels is an excellent addition to our team.

Niels Bjerregaard as our new CEO

Niels has an economist education and a financial past. Previously he has worked for Danfoss and Elvstrøm Sails, and he has experience with growing global companies. After 21 years away from his birth town, Niels is now back in Odense, where he grew up. 

Niels is here to ensure that we have the foundation and structure to continue the growth and achieve the plans. We have to remove all the inefficiencies that generally follow a start-up, and we have to make sure that we have our core values in place.

We’re going from a start-up company to a scale-up – just as planned!