The Universal Fiber Systems team and Board of Directors are excited to welcome Jonathan Craig as our new CEO. Jonathan’s extensive expertise in fiber technologies and global business strategy, shaped by key leadership roles within our supply chain ecosystem, makes him an excellent choice to lead UFS into its next chapter.

Marc Ammen, outgoing CEO and Executive Board Chair

Craig succeeds Marc Ammen, who is retiring after over fifteen years as CEO and twenty-five years with Universal Fiber Systems. Under Ammen’s leadership, UFS achieved significant growth, establishing global manufacturing sites and completing key acquisitions, including Sapona Yarns and Fiber Innovation Technologies. Ammen will continue to serve as Executive Chair of the Board of Directors.

Craig joins Universal Fiber Systems from Ascend Performance Materials, where he most recently served as Vice President of Polymers and Fibers. During his tenure, he was instrumental in delivering significant profit growth by driving operational efficiency, customer-focused innovation, and industry-leading sustainability initiatives. He led the transformation of a specialty chemicals division and previously held senior roles in supply chain and finance at Ascend. Earlier in his career, Craig also held leadership positions at Bigler LP and Biogen Idec.

His appointment comes at a pivotal time for UFS, as the company expands its global footprint and now serves twenty-seven end markets through targeted investments and strategic acquisitions.

I’m honored to join Universal Fiber Systems and lead such a talented and dedicated team. UFS has a strong history of innovation and serving diverse customer needs. I’m excited to build on that legacy and work closely with our teams and customers to create meaningful solutions for the future. This opportunity is not just a professional milestone but also a meaningful transition for my family. I’m grateful for the support of my wife Elizabeth and our four children as we begin this next chapter together.

Jonathan Craig

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The NFPA 660 introduces a risk-based, performance-oriented approach, allowing tailored safety measures based on specific risks. The standard refines Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) requirements within a unified framework, enhancing clarity and removing redundancies. Additionally, it includes industry-specific chapters to address unique risks.

Eric Potorski, industrial vacuum specialist at Goodway Technologies, stated:

Making sure that our customers are purchasing the right equipment to safely address their environment and application has always been a top priority for us. Our robust and detailed consultation helps gather the necessary information to understand the material they are collecting, the environment and the disposal process. This thorough analysis is an effective, safe and necessary standard to be compliant with your DHA.

Goodway Technologies, a leader in industrial cleaning and maintenance solutions, is providing next steps to help businesses comply with NFPA 660:

• Review the standard: Familiarize yourself with NFPA 660 and understand how it applies to your facility.
• Conduct a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA): If you haven’t already, perform a DHA to identify and mitigate potential hazards.
• Update safety procedures: Adjust your safety protocols and training programs to align with the new standard.
• Invest in proper equipment: Ensure you have the right dust collection, ventilation and housekeeping systems in place.
• Work with experts: Consulting with combustible dust safety professionals can help streamline compliance and enhance workplace safety.

Potorski continued:

This unified standard helps facilities proactively identify a more consistent approach to hazard management. Our team can provide consultation to help incorporate routine maintenance and find the right solutions for the right applications.

To help reduce potential hazards associated with combustible dust explosions, facilities can also implement the following best practices.

1. Ensure access to all hidden areas of the facility. Evaluate dust buildup on every horizontal surface, including ductwork, beam and joist surfaces, and areas above suspended ceilings.
2. Frequently inspect for dust. OSHA inspectors look for accumulations of 1/32 of an inch, which is about the thickness of a standard paper clip. Immediate cleaning is necessary when a layer of that amount covers a surface area equal to 5% of the floor area.
3. Implement regular cleaning intervals. Develop a plan for timely cleaning, ensuring that work cycle dust is removed concurrently with operations and not allowed to accumulate. Be cautious of dust dispersion during housekeeping.
4. Relocate dust collectors outside. Dust collectors with a volume greater than 8 cubic feet should be situated on the exterior of buildings to limit risks.
5. Ensure electrical wiring and equipment are approved for dust hazard conditions. OSHA recommends using proper electrical equipment in hazardous locations to eliminate a common ignition source.
6. Use certified industrial vacuums for picking up explosive material. In hazardous dust environments, “explosion-proof vacuums” approved for Class II conditions should be used to prevent sparks.
7. Control ignition sources. Post “No Smoking” signs, control static electricity through bonding and grounding equipment, and provide necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent ignition from static electricity.
8. Perform regular preventive maintenance on equipment. Faulty equipment is a common cause of ignition.
9. Train employees to recognize and prevent hazards. Proactively train new employees before they start work and periodically refresh their knowledge. Employees should understand safe work practices, as well as plant programs for dust control and ignition source control. Encourage employees to report unsafe practices and foster a company culture of safety. If fine dust, powders or other flammable materials are used in the facility, consider implementing these tips to enhance preparedness.

While this information can serve as a reference, it is important for plant and facility managers to discuss best practices with their safety officer or maintenance personnel before selecting equipment or implementing safety and preventative maintenance measures.

For more information on Goodway Technologies’ diverse line of industrial vacuums, visit Goodway.

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Texas and California lead the rankings, with Dallas taking the top spot, followed by Houston (#2), Los Angeles (#3), and San Francisco (#5). Atlanta secured the #4 position, completing the top five cities. Other notable cities on the list include Honolulu, New York, and Tampa, emphasizing the widespread nature of pest issues across diverse regions.

Marc Potzler, Board Certified Entomologist and Technical Service Manager for Terminix, explained:

Pest pressures in commercial spaces can vary by region, season, and industry, but they all have one thing in common: if left unaddressed, pests can harm employee health, disrupt daily operations, and damage reputations. This annual ranking aims to raise awareness around the importance of year-round pest management to protect businesses of all types.

Top 10 Pest Cities for Businesses in 2025:

1. Dallas
2. Houston
3. Los Angeles
4. Atlanta
5. San Francisco
6. Honolulu
7. New York
8. Tampa, FL
9. Columbus, Ohio
10. Miami

Businesses and organizations in America’s buggiest cities face unique challenges in managing pest infestations, which can disrupt operations, harm reputations, and pose health risks. According to the report, industries such as restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, warehouses, and healthcare facilities are particularly vulnerable due to factors such as food availability, high foot traffic, and storage conditions:

1. Restaurants: Food availability attracts pests like rodents and cockroaches, making these establishments prime targets for infestations.
2. Food retail: With a constant supply of food products and potential spills, grocery stores create an inviting environment for pests.
3. Hotels: High foot traffic and varying cleanliness standards can lead to pest issues, particularly bed bugs and cockroaches.
4. Warehouses: Often storing food or products, warehouses can provide plenty of hiding spots for pests, making inspections crucial.
5. Hospitals and healthcare facilities: The combination of food and waste, along with high foot traffic, makes healthcare facilities and hospitals vulnerable to pests.

Recognizing these risks empowers business and institutional owners and managers to take proactive steps to protect their properties and customers.

Terminix’s latest report highlights how pest control is a crucial consideration for businesses from coast to coast. Regardless of size or industry, all companies can benefit from an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan tailored to the business’s unique needs. Unlike traditional methods that rely on chemical treatments, IPM integrates various approaches to minimize environmental impacts and enhance long-term effectiveness.

For more information about how to protect your business, organization or institution from pests, visit Terminix.

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Maxwell increased segments of the plant’s cooling system capacity by approximately 20%, which results in an increase in production capacity by an estimated 10% or more per year. The Ludwigshafen plant produces high-quality materials for the refractory, ceramic and polishing industries, and is one of the company’s eight production facilities.

The installation was commissioned to demonstrate that Maxwell could reduce the plant’s maintenance requirements and increase production capacity during certain periods of high ambient temperature. This is the second industrial plant in which Maxwell has been used to achieve similar results.

Maxwell is an engineered suspension of sub-micron particles in a base fluid of water or water/glycol (“nanofluid”). Maxwell is a drop-in additive for cooling and heating systems, that works by enhancing heat transfer resulting in reduced energy consumption and increased thermal system capacity.

Almatis’ Ruediger Bastian, global director of Process Technology, stated:

This project is a testament to our pursuit of energy efficiency at every level of our operations. We are always looking for ways to accelerate the energy transition and provide more efficient services that benefit our customers, our stakeholder and the communities in which we operate. This successful project proves the power of international partnership and technological collaboration, and we look forward to working with HTMS to further the application of their technology to advance sustainable cooling solutions.

How Maxwell works in a chilled water system

When added to a chilled water loop at a 2% concentration, Maxwell increases the system’s cooling capacity by up to 20%, explains HTMS. This increased cooling capacity allows chillers, fan units, pumps, heat exchangers and other process equipment to operate more efficiently, reducing electrical energy consumption and carbon emissions. Maxwell is a non-toxic, non-corrosive material and fully recoverable and recyclable.

Thomas Grizzetti, CEO of HTMS, remarked:

Thanks to the ease of installation, and use in both new and existing cooling and heating systems, Maxwell can have a material impact on energy usage and the carbon footprint of a broad range of industries and sectors globally. Maxwell is a significant step forward for businesses wishing to drive down energy use, increase system capacity and meet regulated energy efficiency targets increasingly promulgated by governments globally.

HTMS is one of 15 start-ups from across Europe picked to be part of this year’s bigger-than-ever Amazon Sustainability Accelerator. HTMS is among the participants hoping to grow by helping other businesses reduce their impact on the environment.

Find out more about the Maxwell drop-in heat transfer fluid additive at HTMS.

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Billions of tons of concrete, asphalt, steel, glass and other construction materials and products are required to build, maintain and operate our country’s buildings and infrastructure. The U.S. leads the world in the production of clean construction materials, and these transformative awards from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, touted as the largest climate investment in history, will reduce climate pollution by helping businesses measure the carbon emissions associated with extracting, transporting and manufacturing their products.

The grants will support the Biden-Harris Administration’s Federal Buy Clean Initiative, which leverages the U.S. government’s sway as the largest purchaser on Earth to catalyze demand for clean construction materials used in federal buildings, highways and infrastructure projects. The grants will be awarded to businesses, universities and nonprofit organizations serving all 50 states and will help disclose the environmental impacts associated with manufacturing concrete, asphalt, glass, steel, wood and other materials.

Deputy EPA Administrator Janet McCabe announced the grant selections at Superior Paving, an asphalt facility in Chantilly, Virginia, alongside Richard Willis, PhD, Vice President for Engineering, Research, & Technology at the National Asphalt Pavement Association, and additional federal and industry leaders.

Ranging from $250,000 to $10 million, the grants will help businesses develop robust, high-quality environmental product declarations (EPDs), which show environmental impacts across the life of a product and can catalyze more sustainable purchasing decisions by allowing buyers to compare products. Investments in data and tools will make high-quality EPDs available for 14 material categories, which include both new and salvaged or reused materials.

These efforts will help standardize and expand the market for construction products with lower greenhouse gas emissions. They will make it easier for federal, state and local governments and other institutional buyers to ensure the construction projects they fund use more climate-friendly products and materials.

The grant selections include a diverse range of projects to help measure and ultimately reduce greenhouse gases. For example:

• A company in Georgia will receive funding to report the emissions savings gained by switching from higher-carbon components in cement and concrete to recycled and innovative materials.
• A project in Maine will help a company that manufactures insulation made from wood fiber track the quantity of energy and raw materials used in each of their processes.
• A project in Illinois will help a nonprofit organization that sells reused architectural materials measure how much the salvaged materials reduce carbon emissions.
• A large insulation manufacturer based in Indiana will use grant funding to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions for their full product portfolio.
• A major university will use grant funds to research and document carbon emissions savings from reusing structural steel.
• Several projects will support workforce development to grow the number of sustainable construction professionals available to support these important efforts.

A shared project of improving the robustness of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) in the cement industry will be led by the Portland Cement Association (PCA) in partnership with the American Coal Ash Association (ACAA), Natural Pozzolan Association (NPA), and Slag Cement Association (SCA). One of the goals of the project is to significantly boost the number of facility-specific EPDs — including those for slag cement producers. SCA hopes to show the sustainability benefits of utilizing slag cement as one of the strongest carbon reduction tools for the cement and concrete industry.

EPA is also announcing expanded technical assistance opportunities to businesses, the federal government and other organizations across America. EPA will initially offer EPD development support and direct businesses to resources to help them measure and reduce the embodied carbon associated with their materials, such as those provided by the ENERGY STAR Industrial program. Federal agencies and their suppliers will be able to compare the climate impact of various materials to drive near-term greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Robust EPD data will be further strengthened by a new label program under development that will identify low carbon construction materials for the growing Buy Clean marketplace.

Together, the grants and technical assistance programs are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support American jobs. These programs are made possible by the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which creates significant investments aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with the extraction, transport and manufacturing of construction materials and products.

In support of the Federal Buy Clean Initiative, the Inflation Reduction Act also provides more than $2 billion to the General Services Administration to use low embodied carbon materials in the construction and renovation of federal buildings and $2 billion to the Federal Highway Administration to incentivize or reimburse the use of low embodied carbon construction materials in certain transportation projects.

Selections are contingent upon completion of legal and administrative requirements, and grantees are tentatively expected to receive their funding in late summer.

Read summaries of proposed grantee projects (PDF), with the complete list of organizations selected for funding, at EPA.

Learn more about EPA’s Grant Program for Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gases in Construction Materials and Products.

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CS is never satisfied with the status-quo — so we are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible. In a world that desperately needs all of our best ideas and energy, we invite challenge and partnership to provide real-time innovation and forward-thinking solutions.

Roadmap: The Common Materials Framework

• • Human Health
  • Climate Health
  • Circular Economy
  • Ecosystem Health  
  • Social Health + Equality

HUMAN HEALTH

• • PVC and Red-List free – Acrovyn avoids the worst-in-class chemicals of concern; PVC, ILFI’s Red List, and Green Science Policy Institute’s Six Classes
  • Health Product Declaration (HPD) – Ingredient transparency with LEEDv4 compliant HPD at 100ppm for Acrovyn sheet products
  • Indoor air quality (IAQ) – Intertek Certified Clean Air GOLD, meeting the California Department of Public Health Standard Method v1.2 01350-2017 indoor air quality for low-emitting products on many CS Interior Product Solutions

CLIMATE HEALTH

• • 100% renewable electricity – CS conducted energy audits and is implementing energy reduction projects at its Hughesville and Muncy, PA, manufacturing facilities. It is also using 100% wind electricity through power purchasing agreements at these same Pennsylvania manufacturing facilities.
  • Low-embodied carbon – CS holds 38 product-specific wall protection environmental product declarations, and one for louver products is coming soon.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

• • Recycled content – To reduce embodied carbon, CS recently switched its resin and has relaunched Acrovyn as the first wall protection product with up to 50% postconsumer recycled content from PET bottles and other food-grade single-use plastics. This innovation allows the company to maintain performance and material health characteristics, leading to better outcomes for all.

ECOSYSTEM HEALTH

• • Manufacturing and supply chain environmental impacts – Through certifications like FSC and Cradle to Cradle on GridLine and Acrovyn products, environmental impacts such as pollution and water footprints are analyzed and impact reduction strategies are implemented.

SOCIAL HEALTH + EQUALITY

• • Positive impact projects – Across the globe, employees volunteered at various nonprofits in honor of Construction Specialties’ 75th anniversary. This amplified the company’s ongoing partnerships with nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity, Adopt-A-Highway, and more.

Our people-first culture drives us to pursue a better future for all. We’re committed to creating positive change through education, social impact, wellness programs, and healthy environments for our employees, customers, and communities. We have a responsible philosophy that governs our product design, manufacturing, and lifecycle through the five pillars of sustainability.

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These large swarms of cicadas can lead to an increase in the need for cooling tower cleaning. This brings an increased probability that they could clog cooling tower components and lead to reduced efficiency and increased risk of bacteria growth. Therefore, it is crucial for building operators and owners to incorporate comprehensive maintenance plans and assess increasing the frequency of cleaning to prevent any negative impact on the cooling tower systems.

Tim Kane, president and CEO of Goodway Technologies, explained:

The effectiveness and cleanliness of cooling towers has a significant impact on chiller efficiency. While routine cleaning is always important, it’s also critical to look at the potential impact of the double brood of cicadas in your area and determine how it influences your maintenance plan.

Ongoing maintenance also helps to mitigate the risk of Legionella outbreaks while also improving system efficiency. Below, Goodway offers some additional best practices when it comes to cooling tower maintenance.

Five steps to proper cooling tower maintenance

1. Inspect towers at least monthly. Sediment, scale and slime can lead to buildup and help Legionella grow and thrive. Regular inspections will help determine when to schedule cleaning.
2. Clean tower basin surfaces. If sediment is visible, the basin needs to be cleaned, and cooling tower vacuums make it easier to remove contaminants without shutting down or draining your system.
3. Descale the fill. The tower fill provides the perfect environment for bacterial growth, especially Legionella. A descaler will dissolve the scale and mineral deposits, that Legionella like to hide in, leaving the surface ready for cleaning.
4. Clean the fill. A cooling tower fill cleaner will remove dirt and debris and inhibit the growth of other bacteria, when utilized in conjunction with appropriate biocides.
5. Disinfect the tower. Cooling towers can be a dangerous breeding ground for bacteria, which makes it important to reduce the nutrients available for Legionella growth. BioSpray Tower can kill 99.9% of Legionella pneumophila and is on the EPA list of disinfectants for use against SARS-COV-2 when applied properly on hard non-porous surfaces. It offers a labor-saving, no-rinse formula.

While cooling tower cleaning and maintenance can seem daunting, securing the right equipment can help make the job less labor intensive, more effective and decrease total downtime.  From cooling tower vacuums and tower fill cleaners to cleaning solutions and descalers, Goodway has new, simpler options to efficiently clean towers without shutting down the system. Goodway cooling tower products also help facilities meet ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2015, a standard for maintenance and the remediation of Legionella in commercial building water.

Learn more about the company’s complete line of cooling tower maintenance products here. Founded in 1966, Goodway Technologies provides innovative maintenance solutions for a wide variety of industries, including commercial HVAC, food and beverage processing, power generation, and manufacturing. Goodway works with its customers to create better solutions for tube cleaning systems, industrial vacuums, cooling tower maintenance systems, dry steam solutions, conveyor belt cleaning, descaling systems, coil cleaning products, and practically everything else for the care and maintenance of commercial and production facilities.

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The industrial sector accounts for 30% of U.S. greenhouse emissions, primarily from energy use in manufacturing plants. ENERGY STAR certified plants have reduced their energy use through a variety of energy efficiency projects and management practices. For example:

• Ardagh’s Houston, TX, container glass facility operated a highly efficient furnace, used recycled glass, and installed energy-efficient lighting fixtures, among other initiatives.

• Bimbo Bakeries USA installed advanced controls and high-efficiency burners in ovens, oxidizers, and boilers and expanded investments in metering systems, enabling real-time monitoring and control of energy usage.
• Ash Grove’s Seattle, WA, cement plant saved energy by increasing the amount of limestone in its Portland Limestone cement, thereby reducing energy needed for clinker production, and improving equipment automation.
• GCC’s Rapid City, SD, cement plant upgraded its preheater and improved kiln combustion efficiency. This plant and GCC’s Pueblo, Colo., cement plant integrated alternative fuels, lowering carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining high levels of energy efficiency.
• J.R. Simplot Company’s Helm, CA, nitrogenous fertilizer plant commissioned an on-site, one-megawatt solar photovoltaic project, reducing source energy consumption and avoiding greenhouse gas emissions.
• Koch Fertilizer’s Beatrice, NE, fertilizer plant reduced steam use and the number of continuously running pumps, while the Enid, Okla., plant improved steam utilization and implemented advanced process controls.
• Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s Anacortes, WA, refinery reduced steam trap failures by more than 20% by equipping operators with handheld trap-testing devices to instantly identify leaks. The St. Paul Park, Minn., refinery completed a three-year effort to reinforce insulation across the entire site, cutting carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions by close to 16,000 metric tons per year.
• Nissan North America replaced more than 20,000 light fixtures with LEDs across all U.S. manufacturing sites and conducted a combination of energy treasure hunts and third-party assessments targeting energy efficiency.

Manufacturing plants use the EPA’s ENERGY STAR energy performance indicators or, in the case of petroleum refineries, the Solomon Associates Energy Intensity Index scoring system, to assess their energy performance. Plants that score at least 75 out of 100 — indicating that they are more energy efficient than 75% of similar facilities nationwide — are eligible to earn ENERGY STAR certification. ENERGY STAR certification is available for 21 manufacturing sectors, from cement and steel to glass and commercial bakeries. More than 270 plants have achieved ENERGY STAR certification since 2006.

See all ENERGY STAR certified manufacturing plants in 2023 here.

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According to EPA, the science is clear: climate change can supercharge the risks of dangerous chemical releases. That is why both actions require facilities to evaluate those risks and to plan for and respond to such releases. Both actions also strengthen protections for communities already overburdened by pollution, because many regulated facilities have historically been located in or near these communities.

Clifford Villa, EPA deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management, stated:

As climate change increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, planning and preparedness for these incidents are especially important. These new requirements will help protect the environment and communities by ensuring that facilities have planned for and can respond to worst-case discharges of hazardous substances, particularly in communities with environmental justice concerns, which are disproportionately located in proximity to industrial facilities.

These response plans are an important tool to ensure facilities are prepared to respond to a worst-case discharge of hazardous substances. The final rule requires various components to be included in the response plans, including hazard evaluation, personnel roles and responsibilities, response actions, and drills and exercises.

EPA anticipates that approximately 5,400 facilities will meet the criteria to submit a facility response plan. Additionally, the final rule provides a process for EPA Regional Administrators to assess facilities on a case-by-case basis and, if appropriate, to require a facility to develop a response plan based on, among other things, concerns related to potential impacts of a worst-case discharge on communities with environmental justice concerns.

In developing the final rule, EPA considered input received during the 120-day public comment period. The final rule revised the proposed criteria to lower the threshold quantity of Clean Water Act hazardous substances on site to more comprehensively screen for facilities that could cause substantial harm to the environment.

Regulated facilities are required to submit response plans to EPA within 36 months of the effective date of the rule. During this time, the agency is committed to conducting outreach and providing compliance assistance to the regulated community and implementing organizations to help them understand the requirements.

For more information on the final rule, see EPA’s Clean Water Act Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plans website.

Background

Section 311(j)(5) of the Clean Water Act directs the President to issue regulations requiring a facility owner or operator of a facility to prepare and submit to the EPA a plan for responding, to the maximum extent practicable, to a worst-case discharge, and to a substantial threat of such a discharge, of oil or a hazardous substance.

In 1994, EPA promulgated regulations for worst-case discharges of oil under 40 CFR part 112, subpart D. This action regulates worst-case discharges of Clean Water Act hazardous substances from onshore, non-transportation-related facilities under section 311(j)(5).

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Gone are the days of solely relying on manual operation and scheduled maintenance; today’s AI-driven equipment boasts real-time data analysis and adaptive controls that greatly improve operational productivity.

This technology not only bolsters the capacity of machinery but also extends its lifespan and minimizes costs associated with wear and tear.

By leveraging machine learning (ML) algorithms, AI systems continuously refine their performance, ensuring that heavy equipment operates at its peak.

This shift towards intelligent machinery is setting new benchmarks in construction, mining and agriculture, fundamentally transforming how these sectors engage with heavy-duty tasks.

Improving heavy equipment efficiency

Heavy machinery is the backbone of industries such as construction, mining and agriculture. Perfect used heavy equipment, updated with AI technology, performs better than ever.

This modern tech makes these machines smarter and more efficient.

Read on to discover how AI boosts efficiency in heavy equipment.

Automation and data collection

Automation in heavy equipment means machines do more work with less human effort. Imagine excavators or bulldozers operating semi-autonomously on a construction site.

They dig, lift and move materials accurately and quickly.

• Less downtime: Machines work around the clock.
• Fewer errors: AI reduces human mistakes.
• Optimized operations: Smart scheduling and task assignment.

Data collection tells us how machines are performing. Sensors on equipment gather tons of data.

This data includes fuel usage, working hours, and much more. AI processes this data and helps improve how we use heavy machines.

Predictive maintenance

AI makes maintenance smarter, too. Predictive maintenance uses AI to foresee problems before they happen.

This means fixing a part before it breaks and halts work.

• Less downtime: Fix issues before they stop the machine.
• Cost savings: Avoid expensive repairs and lost productivity.
• Longevity: Extend the life of perfect used heavy equipment.

With AI, machines tell us what they need and when. This tech can predict tire failures, engine issues, and more. It’s like having a fortune teller for your equipment, keeping it running smoothly.

Enhancing safety and accuracy

The arrival of AI in the heavy equipment sector has brought remarkable improvements. Notably, it enhances both safety and accuracy, reducing workplace incidents and increasing operational precision.

Machines can now avoid errors that humans might make. Workers stay safe, and tasks are done right the first time.

Real-time monitoring and alerts

Artificial intelligence infuses heavy equipment with the power to monitor conditions continuously.

This means potential issues are spotted before they cause harm. Check out how real-time monitoring reshapes safety:

• Sensors detect irregularities instantly, triggering alerts.
• Machine health is closely watched, prompting timely maintenance.
• Operators receive real-time data on equipment status, avoiding accidents.

Alerts are life-savers, giving workers the chance to resolve issues quickly. This keeps everyone safe and machines running smoothly.

Autonomous operation

AI propels heavy machinery into the future with autonomous operation. Here’s how automation is changing the game:

1. Robotic machines perform dangerous jobs, keeping people out of harm’s way.
2. AI-driven equipment works with incredible accuracy and consistency, enhancing quality.
3. Automated processes adapt to changing environments, maintaining safety.

This leap in technology means heavy equipment can work around the clock without tiring, making mistakes, or risking lives. It’s a win-win for productivity and, more importantly, for the safety of everyone involved.

Reducing downtime and costs

Reducing downtime and costs stands as a crucial benefit derived from the incorporation of AI in handling the best used heavy equipment.

The advanced analytics and predictive capabilities of AI systems are transforming how companies operate, ensuring machines run smoother and with fewer interruptions.

This shift means significant savings and increased job productivity.

Optimizing operations and workflows

AI technology is a game-changer for enhancing operational proficiency. By learning from data, AI predicts equipment failure before it occurs. This allows for preemptive maintenance, which is far less disruptive than unexpected repair work.

Bold advancements in AI assist in streamlining job assignments. The technology manages equipment use around the clock, matching tasks with the best used heavy equipment for the job.

This ensures machines operate at peak efficiency and work continues seamlessly.

• Real-time monitoring of equipment health.
• Automated scheduling for maintenance.
• Enhanced communication between machines and operators.

Efficient resource allocation

AI excels in allocating resources optimally. It decides the best way to deploy machines and staff, cutting waste. With precise usage patterns and forecasts, AI ensures that every piece of equipment is in the right place at the right time.

The result? The total operational cost comes down. Project managers gain a clear view of asset performance, improving decisions on equipment rental or purchase.

The AI systems also monitor fuel usage and energy efficiency, pushing down operating expenses.

Challenges and considerations

As artificial intelligence reshapes heavy equipment efficiency, several challenges and considerations surface. Decision-makers must address these issues to fully leverage AI’s potential.

Integration and compatibility

Integrating AI into existing heavy equipment requires careful planning.

• Compatibility with current systems is crucial.
• Upgrades or replacements may be necessary.
• Staff training ensures smooth adoption.

These factors ensure the seamless integration of AI technologies with heavy machinery.

Ethical and privacy concerns

Implementing AI brings ethical and privacy issues to the forefront.

• Data handling must comply with regulations.
• Transparent AI use builds public trust.
• Addressing job displacement concerns is vital.

It is essential to ensure ethical use and data protection while harnessing AI’s power.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How is AI useful in heavy industry?

AI enhances efficiency in heavy industries by optimizing operations, reducing downtime, and improving safety.

It enables predictive maintenance, boosts automation, and streamlines supply chain management, leading to increased productivity. AI-driven analytics assist in making data-driven decisions, saving time and costs.

How does AI improve business efficiency?

AI streamlines operations by automating routine tasks, enhancing data analysis, and enabling predictive maintenance.

It also tailors customer experiences and aids in informed decision-making, thus boosting business efficiency.

How can the use of AI help improve the safety and efficiency of the factory?

AI enhances factory safety by predicting maintenance needs and reducing machine downtime. It streamlines processes, boosts operational efficiency, and minimizes human error risks. AI-driven robotics can perform hazardous tasks, further safeguarding workers.

How can AI impact the construction industry?

AI can improve construction project planning, enhance design optimization, and streamline operations. It reduces risks by predicting project outcomes and maintenance needs, boosting efficiency and safety.

Conclusion

As we wrap up our discussion on AI in heavy machinery, it’s clear the transformation is impressive. Smart automation increases productivity and safety, proving indispensable for future operations.

Embracing AI-driven technology helps businesses stay competitive and eco-conscious. The journey with artificial intelligence is just beginning, promising even greater advancements ahead.

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