RadarEye is an advanced camera and monitor system that feeds constant, real-time
vision and detection information of a working area to the vehicle operator.
FLEET MANAGEMENT: MONITORING
CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS JAN 2014
3
ORLACO INTRODUCED
RadarEye, an innovative
vision system, to the market in 2012. Since its
introduction, the system has been helping to
improve the safety and efficiency of industrial
vehicles for numerous companies. One such
company is Sibelco Benelux.
Impressed at first glance
Sibelco extracts and refines various types of sand
and minerals, mostly high quality silica sand for in-
dustrial use. Hans Ophelders first noticed RadarEye
during a trade event for the road transport sector in
the RAI in Amsterdam in April 2012. “At that time,
only one wheel loader at our new plant in Maas-
mechelen was equipped with a vision testing system
of another brand, which consisted of two ultrasonic
sensors and three cameras,” he explains. “That sys-
tem was good in its own right, but it had difficulty
giving the loader operators a clear picture through
the dusty, sandy environment we work in,” he adds.
RadarEye rises to the occasion
After an informative conversation with the Orlaco
sales representative, a trial run of the RadarEye sys-
tem was arranged. An Orlaco service team went to
the Sibelco plant in Maasmechelen (Belgium) and
installed RadarEye on one of its wheel loaders. To
evaluate the two systems fairly, the other wheel
loader used the ultrasonic system. The operators
were able to compare the performance of the two
systems during a regular working day. Hans says,
“RadarEye came out on top because of its ease
of use, clear on-board screen reception, and abil-
ity to ‘see’ clearly through the sand and dust. We
are gradually installing RadarEye systems onto all
our wheel loader trucks throughout our Benelux
locations, because it seems to make a significant
difference to our loader operators.”
Additional job satisfaction
One such operator is Jos Denneman. Jos has been
operating wheel loaders for Sibelco for 25 years
and is satisfied working with the Orlaco RadarEye
vision system. “The RadarEye system is a solid,
no-nonsense vision system that helps me get
the job done. It makes my work in the cab more
comfortable because I don’t have to twist and turn
to check that I’m positioning the truck accurately.
The real-time feedback I get on the large dashboard
display is very sharp, and the built-in warning signals
let me know what’s behind me when I’m backing up
and when to stop. All in all, it’s just a safer and more
efficient way to work.”
Keeping safety in check
In a busy work environment like Sibelco, there are
any number of vehicles and people moving around
the dusty terrain throughout a given day. That is
why it was agreed that Orlaco technicians would
come to various Sibelco sites and perform yearly
safety checks on each and every RadarEye system.
Preventive Control Checks (PCCs) involve an entire
check of the active vision systems to ensure ongo-
ing optimum use. “After all,” says Hans, “the Sibelco
machines have to meet yearly quality and safety in-
spections and checks on this important safety tool
should be included.”
Thinking with the customer
Orlaco does its best to ensure that its customers
are satisfied with its products. “A few weeks after
working with the RadarEye vision system, the op-
erators mentioned that the system’s warning signals
weren’t optimal. With the various bells, whistles and
moving parts to contend with in a wheel loader cab,
RadarEye’s warning beep was lost in the commo-
tion,” says Hans. “We went to Orlaco with this and
they reverted quickly, with a tailor made solution: a
large, silent STOP icon now flashes on the screen as
a warning, catching the eyes of the operators and
warning them to stop or make an adjustment. It’s
this kind of attentive service that makes all of us at
Sibelco glad we chose to install the Orlaco RadarEye
vision systems,” he says in conclusion.
Orlaco develops and produces quality camera
systems for a variety of vehicles and ships. The
outstanding view offered by their vision systems in
all conditions can help machine operators work more
efficiently, safely, and comfortably. Leading OEMs,
their importers and dealers throughout Europe,
supply and maintain the Orlaco systems.
❂
AT SIBELCO
Making a difference
A large, silent STOP icon flashes on the screen as a
warning, catching the eyes of operators and warning
them to stop or make an adjustment.
Mounted on the vehicle, the clear on-board screen
reception, and ability to ‘see’ clearly through the sand and
dust makes the system ideal for construction environments.
