Next Level Cone Automation That Puts Dealers in Control

Listening, Learning, and Improving

As Superior’s Shamus Coughlin describes, that list grew to more than 100 items. He says Superior addressed 90% of them with version 7.2, which was released last month.

“We took it to heart when people would call in and need support,” says Coughlin, automation manager at Superior. He joined the company last June after 17 years with Astec (and a short stint in between with McCourt Equipment).

Sensors were sometimes at the center of automation issues, according to Coughlin. While end users sought data about their crushers, some of the sensors providing it were more problematic than they were worth.

In the end, feedback from end users afforded Superior the opportunity to strike a better balance between the data that’s critical to operations and the kind end users can do without.

“If you want data to protect and run the machine, you need to have enough sensors and electronic modules,” Coughlin says. “It’s finding a balance of what is enough to get the data you need, but not so many delicate parts that they become more of a nuisance."

“We don’t want to be a cause of downtime, so our job in the automation department is finding the right balance,” Coughlin says.

The new Vantage Automation v7.2 interface streamlines calibration with intuitive visuals and simplified navigation, making setup and troubleshooting easier for operators and dealers.

A Smarter, Simpler User Experience

One goal Superior had with its update was to simplify the user experience with Vantage Automation. The new touchscreen is a means of doing so.

“The big changes all come in the touchscreen interface,” Coughlin says. “It’s what the operator uses to perform all the functions on the crushers and it's the biggest of our improvements.”

With the new interface, operators can now troubleshoot issues on the spot—without needing an engineer or programmer on-site. The goal is to make problem-solving faster and more intuitive, reducing the need for remote support from a Superior technician.

When cone crusher problems arise now, the new Vantage Automation allows for solving those more efficiently.

“Setting up the machine quickly to get it functional and crushing is important,” Coughlin says. “So, when you do have an issue, quickly pinpointing the source is important.”

And with end users now more easily able to uncover such issues, the dealer experience should be simplified too.

“In many cases, our dealers shouldn't have to call Superior for help,” Coughlin says. “They can use the alarms and the data right on the screen to troubleshoot the problem.”

The overall experience is a more pleasant one, he adds.

“Navigating through all the screens is so much easier,” Coughlin says. “We updated the images to be easier to read in the bright sunlight and grouped data together where it makes more sense – especially for people who aren’t as familiar with the machine at first.”

Managing warranty claims should be simpler following the update, as well.

“When you have data on what actually happened over time, then you can lay out the event a little more clearly and get a better picture of what happened," Coughlin says. "That’s becoming more critical and important.”