Logistics & Rail
Logistik Service GmbH (LogServ)
850 employees, over 2,000 vehicles, heavy-duty machines of superlatives — supervised with a custom-developed Condition Monitoring solution.
Sensitive sensors for steel giants
Huge machines with massive power, such as those used by Logistik Service GmbH in its vehicle fleet, often particularly inspire the male sex and were already in childhood a dream. A nightmare, on the other hand, can be the maintenance of these machines, which of course are unequally more expensive and time-consuming than it is the case with normal fleets of trucks. In order to better analyze the LogServ’s special fleet and to be able to recognize possible maintenance requirements early, it was decided to install a telematics system which keeps “eyes and ears” open at all times.
Rosenberger Telematics — Telematics keeps an eye on LogServ’s large machines
Österreichische Logistik Service GmbH (LogServ) was founded in 2001 as a subsidiary of voestalpine Stahl GmbH and employs 850 people. LogServ manages the internal logistics at the voestalpine site in Linz and operates a fleet of vehicles for land, road, rails and water. In total, the company owns over 2,000 vehicles. Beginning with normal passenger cars over forklifts up to two tugboats the LogServ fleet is highly diverse. The largest machines in it have now become part of a new project in the company.
The shadow side of the steel giants
However, the vehicle fleet is not only visually and functionally impressive, its maintenance is also extremely cost-intensive. This is particularly the case with the largest machines. And thus the company was looking for solutions to counteract this.
Fresh solutions for old problems
In the interview Markus Jaksch, Head of investment planning and technology development at LogServ, tells us about the project “Condition Monitoring”. There has already been a technology partner in this area, but the development never went beyond theory and it was decided to find a new partner.
In 2011, the first conversations took place — including with Rosenberger Telematics GmbH. Particularly intensive was the phase of defining the exact requirements and searching for appropriate solutions. It was clear from the outset that standard fleet sensor technology would not be sufficient in this case. In particular, the tyres had to be monitored more closely. They had previously accounted for up to one quarter of total maintenance costs.
Start of the extensive installations
In 2013, the developments were in a state in which the installation of the telematics systems, including sensors, could begin and gradually, for example, slag and slab transporters, special tractors, special semi-trailers and track excavators were equipped with the solution. The installation went so well that Rosenberger Telematics only had to make the first installations and LogServ took over this work itself after a short time.
The calibration of the sensors was also the responsibility of the user. “Here we had to collect and compare new practice data. This is a work that we had to address ourselves in LogServ”, explains Markus Jaksch.
Of the advantage of not being a group
The settings and installation of the Rosenberger Telematics solution are so easy to do yourself, which is an indication of the system’s user-friendliness. But even if questions arise or errors are reported, the handling is uncomplicated.
“Rosenberger Telematics is luckily not a huge group, so you basically enjoy a very personal and fast support. At Rosenberger Telematics, we have a permanent contact person, who can also be reached at any time,” praises Jaksch.
The matter with the expensive tyres
How does the system actually work? The solution running under the name “Condition Monitoring” has several functions. Thus, the new system automatically records the operating hours. “These values alone can be used to calculate a regular maintenance”, Jaksch explains.
Of course, the vehicles’ position is determined so that the current position can be viewed at any time. And from now on it goes into detail. The system registers starts and deceleration as well as potholes in the service road and also monitors, for example, the tyre pressure per individual tyre in real time. On the basis of all these data, which are evaluated directly in the head office, an early recognition of the need for repair is made possible.
The specially developed Rosenberger Telematics “Crash Sensors”, for example, send a notification via SMS when crossing said potholes to immediately gain knowledge of critical situations and to be able to examine them.
Expansion of the system in the vehicle fleet
Approximately 50 vehicles are currently equipped with the Rosenberger Telematics solution and LogServ is already playing with the idea of expanding its deployment. Thus in the future, probably 130 heavy-duty trailers and pallets will be equipped with the solution to also be able to receive clear information at all times. The same applies to the locomotives of the fleet and which will perhaps be kept in sight in the future possibly also with telematics.
There was only one function of the system, which is not pursued further: “Rosenberger Telematics offers also tank monitoring, but this is relatively complex for our very special machines in terms of the implementation. But since fuel theft is not an issue with these vehicles either, we decided together that we will not pursue this any further in the future,” says Markus Jaksch.
Conclusion
After the original partner of LogServ unfortunately failed to go beyond theory, together with Rosenberger Telematics GmbH the development of a solution was achieved that covered the specific requirements of the user. Precise coordination during development, as well as customer-oriented support and an individually developed system, generally lead to user satisfaction — as is the case with Logistik Service GmbH and its telematics provider Rosenberger Telematics.
The result
Early detection of repair requirements and automated maintenance planning for one of Austria's most diverse heavy-duty fleets — through a custom-developed telematics and sensor solution from Rosenberger Telematics.
“Rosenberger Telematics is luckily not a huge group, so you basically enjoy a very personal and fast support. At Rosenberger Telematics, we have a permanent contact person, who can also be reached at any time.”
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