Komatsu Equipment Company, headquartered in Salt Lake City, with locations in Utah, Nevada and Wyoming, held a three-day demo event in Las Vegas Nov. 7 to 9. The below-average temperatures and gusting winds did not deter from the steady flow of attendees who were anxious to try out the latest Komatsu has to offer.

The event gave KEC customers the chance to "dig in" and get behind the controls of high-performance, "intelligent" Komatsu dozers, excavators, loaders and more. Komatsu trainers were on hand to assist with comprehensive demos and provide in-depth information.

"Increasing customer productivity is the driving principle behind the Komatsu Intelligent Machine Control systems," said Chris Faulhaber, KEC business manager of SMART Construction. "The focus of this event is to really show the support we can offer to our customers. We were first to market with the integrated dozers in 2013 and first to market with our integrated excavators in 2014. At the center of Komatsu is the machines, but the center of SMART construction is our customer. Our SMART construction is not just about the equipment we can offer, but the solutions."

Komatsu also offers drone surveys or creating 3D models of the job site.

"When the customer gets the construction plans from the engineer, we can take those construction plans and make a digital 3D model of the final surface and then we load into the machine to control the blade", he said.

Faulhaber pointed out that for KEC, it's all about partnering with the customer.

"We like to think of SMART construction as a project manager assistant that can aid with anything on a project," he said. "With a shrinking operator pool, it's becoming harder and harder to meet construction deadlines. Machine control can step in and fill that gap."

Faulhaber added that it can help a less experienced operator achieve the same kind of production as a more veteran operator.

For more information, visit komatsueq.com.

Komatsu trainers explain the technology behind this integrated Komatsu excavator.  

Troy Bailey of TNT Construction based in Cedar City, Utah, attended the demo specifically to test out the intelligent machine control on this Komatsu D375A dozer. Bailey said, “this was my first opportunity to test out these machines and I’m really impressed with the productivity and efficiency.”  

Even though Steve Cox has retired from his contracting business in Wyoming, he still enjoys staying up-to-date on the latest technological advancements. Cox came to refine his skills on this integrated Komatsu PC390LCI excavator.  

Kurt Cannon of Riverton, Utah, is ready to test this Komatsu PC210LCi excavator.  

Bruce Waldron, of Smooth Stone Homes, headquartered in St. George, Utah, honed his operator skills on this Komatsu D155AXI dozer.  

Husband and wife, Jared and Andrea Street of Desert Hills, Utah, came to test the Komatsu D155AXI but could not resist the power of this Komatsu D375A dozer equipped with aftermarket GPS.  

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