8 hot-button topics for construction at the Power Progress Summit

Taking place in a month’s time, on 1-2 October in Chicago, USA, the unique two-day conference (formerly the Diesel Progress Summit) is organised by Construction Briefing’s sister publication Power Progress. It also incorporates the Off-Highway Conference led by Off-Highway Research (OHR).

It is set to focus on some of the dramatic changes in engines and power trains used in off-highway machinery for the construction, mining, agriculture, forestry and marine sectors, as well as on-highway commercial vehicles.

And it will bring into play conversations related to automation and autonomy, connectivity, artificial intelligence and more.

Here are details of 8 hot-button topics set to be discussed at the Power Progress Summit that will offer invaluable insight to construction companies:

1) Caterpillar discusses the transition to electrified worksites

Rob Hoenes

Caterpillar’s Rob L. Hoenes, who has recently been appointed as the US-based OEM’s senior vice president for the Electrification and Energy Solutions Division (E+ES), will appear as a keynote speaker to discuss the transition to electrified worksites and how manufacturers of construction equipment can facilitate it.

As of September this year, Hoenes oversees Caterpillar’s efforts to deliver zero exhaust emission products and technologies, as well as advanced electrified powertrain technologies.

E+ES collaborates with other Caterpillar divisions to define product architectures that accommodate multiple power sources and drivetrains and identify the company’s role in the future value chain including new services growth opportunities.

Hoenes joined Caterpillar in 1990 and spent his first four years in engineering. He went on to gain 15 years of experience in various roles within sales and marketing in North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. From there, he spent 10 years in product management, including leading product groups for medium wheel loaders, SEM and large dozers in Illinois and China. He was also the worldwide product manager for medium tractor products.

In May 2019, the Caterpillar Board of Directors appointed Hoenes as vice president of the Material Handling & Underground Division based in East Peoria, Illinois, USA. He was later appointed senior vice president for the company’s Resource Industries Operations & Products division, which consists of more than 12 product lines, eight global manufacturing facilities and approximately 8,000 employees.

2) How data and artificial intelligence can optimise power systems

Keynote speaker Brad Sutton, executive director of Powertrain Engineering for the Engine Business at Cummins will discuss how data and artificial intelligence (AI) can facilitate power system optimization and lifecycles.

In his role at Cummins, Sutton is involved in advancing the digitalisation of engineering processes, recognising its role in shaping the future of the engine business. 

He has spent 25 years at the company and champions initiatives such as RePower and Leading Inclusion for Technical (LIFT), where he plays a key role in fostering diversity, inclusion and talent development within the organisation.   

3) The political vs. practical approach to reducing emissions

Dan Romito

Dan Romito of Pickering Energy Partners will focus on the role politics plays in choosing certain emissions or decarbonisation technologies and whether such choices are the most practical ones.

Romito argues that regulations are being put in place by governments to cause some technologies to succeed at the expense of others.

He calls for additional objectivity in evaluating emissions reduction, saying that the debate has become “incredibly emotional”.

“As companies become more savvy and more sophisticated in data tracking and as they become better versed in installing a higher degree of confidence in the data that they’re conveying within the public realm, they don’t have to continue fighting emotional arguments with counter emotional arguments,” he told Power Briefing earlier this year.

4) The role hybrids can play in decarbonisation and why diesel shouldn’t be dismissed 

Hatz product manager Ben Froland will present on the role of hybrid electric systems that combine internal combustion with battery electric power.

He will consider what the term ‘decarbonisation’ – which he contends has been relegated to ‘buzzword’ status – actually means. He will also discuss why it is important to avoid discarding existing technologies, such as diesel engines, out of hand.

5) How electrification and autonomy in commercial vehicles will transform transportation

The transportation sector is at an inflection point and struggling to determine which road to follow on the journey to decarbonization.

Two experts from global strategy consultancy Roland Berger, Dr. Wilfried Aulbur, senior partner, and Giovanni Schelfi, partner, will consider how electrification and autonomy in the commercial vehicles could transform the sector.

The Power Progress Summit features a new name, new partner, new format and even more topics to help attendees navigate the energy transition. (Photo: Eason Photography)

6) The outlook for North American construction equipment

As part of the Off-Highway Conference, which takes place during the second day of the Power Progress Summit, OHR managing director Chris Sleight will share the latest updates on the outlook for the North American and global construction equipment sectors.

Sleight is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on the global construction equipment market, holds a degree in civil engineering, and is the former editor of both International Construction and Construction Europe magazines.

7) A roadmap for alternative fuels in off-highway equipment

As part of the Off-Highway Conference, Alex Woodrow, managing director of Knibb Gormezano Partners (KGP), will examine the ‘alternative fuels roadmap for off-highway equipment’.

Woodrow joined KGP in 1994 and has degrees in manufacturing, engineering and economics, as well as in automotive systems engineering. KGP has delivered hundreds of projects focused on powertrain and material technologies markets, technologies, legislative and industry trends in automotive and adjacent sectors.

8) The North American used equipment market

Tara Stryker, vice president of RB Global, a giant of the global auction industry that owns auctioneer Ritchie Bros and tech platform SmartEquip will draw on two decades of industry experience to paint a picture of North America’s used equipment market during the Off-Highway Conference.

Power Progress Summit: Top 6 reasons for engineers to attend Summit is your key to understanding the way forward in designing machines and vehicles to meet changing customer needs