A new device that promises to enhance safety and reliability for the earthmoving industry has been launched by
The Cramlington, Newcastle, north-east England-based manufacturer of buckets and couplers, unveiled Miller Mate at the inaugural
Miller Mate is an in-cab device that is said to simplify the safe and correct operation of a quick coupler during the attachment changeover process. It replaces the existing toggle-style switch with a simple and intuitive full-colour LED interface which can be mounted in the cab of any new or existing plant.
“Miller Mate is a simple solution to a potentially serious problem,” said Keith Miller, chairman of Miller International.
“We realised that coupler safety has always focused on the design of the coupler itself, but if there is ever an incident with a quick coupler it is those working nearby who are affected. The new product helps to minimise the potential risks to those working in the vicinity of the machine.”
The in-cab display of Miller Mate shows graphic illustrations of the correct operating procedure as per the manufacturer’s recommendations. It encourages the operator to place the quick coupler in the correct positions throughout the attach and release processes.
Miller Mate operates the hydraulic cylinder within the coupler only when the operator has confirmed they are at the correct stage of the process.
“We’re always looking out for the latest technology to ensure the safe operation of our machinery and when Miller showed us Miller Mate, we knew that we had to add it to our machines,” said Patrick Flannery, director of Flannery Plant, one of the companies that helped to develop Miller Mate.
“We now know that when our machines are out on hire, every operator will be reminded of the correct and safe operating procedure every time they change the attachment.”
Other key features of Millar Mate include the dynamic safety checks, which are carried out every time the unit is switched on, with potential problems displayed on the screen to alert the operator. The system also logs every changeover to monitor the operator’s performance and flag up any potentially dangerous errors.
Miller’s main manufacturing site is in Cramlington and it also supplies the latest in coupler technology from its joint venture casting facility in northern China.
From both sites Miller manufactures a range of buckets, quick couplers and other attachments for the earthmoving industry as well as providing a custom-build service which offers specialised and tailor-made products to suit specific applications, machines and environments. Miller’s customers include manufacturers such as
