The Mill Assist Digital Assistance System
Cost-Optimization in ECO Mode
Smart assistance systems that aid machine operators and reduce their workload will shape the future of road construction, and are already field-proven realities at Wirtgen. In automatic mode, the Mill Assist Mill machine control system allows operators to choose one of three operating strategies – one of which is ECO mode, which assures cost-optimized machine performance.
It sets parameters that consistently ensure the most favorable balance between milling performance and operating costs This not only improves machine performance, but also considerably reduces diesel, water and pick consumption, as well as carbon emissions. Mill Assist therefore makes a real contribution to sustainability in road construction.
Focus on Sustainability
The demands on today’s cold milling machines are numerous: Along with performance and quality, a decisive role is also played by factors such as fuel and pick consumption and the reduction of local noise and carbon emissions. In order to achieve the optimal settings for these, the operator must repeatedly check and readjust the individual machine parameters. Tasks that require considerable experience and absolute concentration. Preselection of the ECO mode operating strategy in Mill Assist noticeably relieves the operator’ workload.
Mill Assist offers three operating strategies:
Depending on the operating strategy selected, the machine automatically adjusts the essential setting parameters.
ECO Mode: Focus on Cost-Optimization
ECO mode is always the right choice when the goal is to keep fuel and pick consumption costs as low as possible. For example, on concrete construction sites where the hardness of the material to be milled inevitably leads to increased pick wear.
In ECO mode, the system continuously adapts machine operating parameters to the properties of the road pavement being milled. The optimization of the parameters leads to a reduction of pick wear and the machine downtimes that would otherwise be required for replacing worn picks. Parallel to this, fuel consumption is also reduced. Firstly, this leads to a working strategy that fulfills increasing demands for sustainability and, secondly, to considerably lower operating costs throughout the service life of a cold milling machine.
ECO mode: Easy Setting
As the video shows: all you need to do is press the button to activate ECO mode. The system now determines the most cost-efficient settings – as can be clearly seen in the efficiency display of the control panel. As a quick glance shows: at a low milling drum speed (green), the fuel consumption (white) and pick wear (red) are significantly reduced.
The Highlights of ECO Mode at a Glance:
Mill Assist as a Key Component for Optimized Machine Operation
Mill Assist is already a standard feature of the large and compact milling machines of the new F series, and is one of the key components for cost-effective, efficient and sustainable working processes. In automatic mode, the assistance system always strikes the most favorable balance between milling performance and operating costs. It automatically adjusts the engine speed, milling drum speed, travel drive, water system, and machine advance speed and improves the machine’s overall performance. At the same time, the machine operator is continually informed about the working status and the current efficiency of the machine. Options for the further optimization of milling parameters are displayed on the control panel and can be adopted if and when required.
