Digital construction site steals show on Samoter’s first day

A Komatsu dozer demonstrates collision avoidance technology at Samoter 2023 in Verona, Italy

Machine control, remote control, autonomy and collision avoidance technology worked together with machines from the likes of Develon, Kobelco and Komatsu, to give the audience a vision of what tomorrow’s construction sites may look like.

Topcon and Leica positioning technology was on show, as well as Trimble’s augmented reality solution, SiteVision.

Caterpillar’s Cat Command System was utilised to demonstrate applications as diverse as the remote control loading of a hauler and the remote removal of an explosive device discovered during excavation.

The show demonstrated the advances that have been made in the area of machine control, as a Komatsu dozer made short work of grading, with the operator a passive observer.

Later, a 23-tonne Develon excavator demonstrated the delicate operations that can now be undertaken using the latest tiltrotator attachments from Engcon and Steelwrist.

Construction’s significance

Earlier, the show, which is running in conjunction with the paving and road infrastructure equipment fair, Asphaltica, opened with with speeches from regional mayors and government ministers, who stressed construction’s importance to Italy, as a vital component of its economic recovery.

Italy’s minister of infrastructure and transport, Matteo Salvini, described the importance of infrastructure developments, mentioning the proposed bridge across the Strait of Messina, which, after many years of debate, is potentially now set to connect the island of Sicily with the mainland.

Samoter’s organisers said the show’s six halls and three outdoor areas will host 536 companies from 23 nations over the course of the week, who will vie for the attention of buyers from more than 100 countries.

Alongside equipment and solutions exhibits, Samoter will also host more than 80 market and technical conferences and workshops.