Aura 3D® – Extended/Augmented Reality with Palfinger: A crane in a china shop? Out of your pocket? For what reason?

Each of us has heard or even used the expression “bull in a china shop”. This story is about two things that don't go together at all: the robust elephant in a fragile environment. A situation that will never exist. Things and situations that don't fit together. A situation where the elephant has no chance and can only look clumsy and clumsy, which is usually interpreted as rowdy behavior. At the end of every comparison there is always a pile of broken pieces.

In short: impossible.

When I was a child, I asked myself another question: How did the elephant get into the china shop?

When it comes to a crane in a china shop, one wonders not only about the supposed impossibility but also about its usefulness. Anyway, what's the point? In the area of ​​extended or augmented reality, nothing is impossible anymore, where the digital and real worlds merge into a whole.

Anyone who doesn't deal with porcelain, but rather with robust elephants such as heavy and oversized machines, knows the problems: How can you explain the details and the advantages to someone when you're not standing in front of them? Of course there are also brochures or similar presentation options. At trade fairs, due to spatial restrictions, it is only possible to a limited extent to physically place all products and machines in an ideal location. The competition has and does that too. If you don't have the right crane next to you, you ultimately run the risk of not setting the decisive tone and losing potential customers and interested parties in the supposed arbitrariness of the market.

Manipulator Palfinger Inman IT150 – Image: Palfinger / Art Konovalov|Shutterstock.com

Anyone who can reach into their pocket and present their products like machines via a SmarVu app from Vuframe on their smartphone, at any second and in any place, can decisively position their unique selling point and the advantages of their products and machines. No matter where and everywhere, far away from any competition.

Suitable for:

• Vuframe® Studio – The platform of unlimited 3D possibilities

The XR app was originally developed by Palfinger with an agency. However, Palfinger is constantly developing its products and in order to reflect these changes in the app, the company always had to turn to the agency - with the constant costs that this entailed.

In addition, two important requirements could not yet be covered:

• Complex, animated 3D models of the lifting machines could not yet be compressed as small as desired without causing a loss of visual quality.
• The question of the data security of the 3D models played out, which were created from construction data, has also not yet been adequately answered.

Palfinger therefore turned to Vuframe® because the Vuframe platform allows you to manage the app yourself and, thanks to the self-developed Aura technology, it is unique on the market in terms of data compression and data security.

Suitable for:

• Success story: PALFINGER goes XR

Why not kill two birds with one stone instead of continuing to anesthetize with drops?

The XR app solution kills two birds with one stone and serves two use cases at the same time - it is a sales solution and digital customer service at the same time.

Palfinger crane in 3D, augmented & virtual reality – Image: Palfinger/palfingerepsilon.com

Use in various areas:

• In the app, the product portfolio can be presented by sales employees in 3D and augmented reality. The digital twins easily solve logistical challenges, especially for large crane structures.
• The so-called AR marker in the app recognizes videos stored in operating instructions that serve to illustrate Palfinger machines and, for example, explain processes visually. Classic, physical instructions are supported digitally for the customer. Palfinger then manages the contents of the AR marker and the app structure itself in the Vuframe® Studio.

App Download

If you select the AR marker in the Palfinger XR app, customers can read additional digital information from the operating instructions using their smartphone or tablet camera. These are usually stored videos that visually explain a specific procedure for operating or maintaining the respective crane.

The advantage: The videos are already stored in the right place in the operating instructions and you don't have to additionally search for the model and application, for example on the Palfinger website, to find out specific handling or processes. All that is required is a mobile device, so that customers can receive the information they need even when they are standing directly in front of the machine.

Demo video of the Palfinger XR app

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The use of Vuframe software also ensures standardized processes, meaning changes can be made easily. Thanks to the automation integrated into the solution, the amount of manual work required is kept to a minimum, which further reduces costs and enables faster implementation.

Founded in 1932, the company stands for the most innovative, reliable and economical lifting solutions worldwide, which are used in commercial vehicles, ships and stationary systems. Innovation and further internationalization of products, processes and services as well as flexibility are the three pillars of the corporate strategy that have already been implemented. In order to be able to specifically meet the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation, the proven strategy was supplemented by a fourth pillar: Palfinger 21st stands for new core competencies, new approaches, new products, services and business models in the digital age.

Palfinger at a glance:

• 1,534 million euros in sales in 2020
• 10,824 employees worldwide
• 34 manufacturing and assembly locations
• 5,000 service points

Numbers for the Palfinger XR app

• Over 8,000 app downloads (iOS and Android)
• Over 20,000 accesses to the 3D visualizations ( SmartVu® )
• Over 130,000 page views

Palfinger XR app – The modes in detail

Palfinger XR app – The modes in detail – Image: Palfinger/palfingerepsilon.com

More about it here:

• Discover the highlights of the latest Palfinger cranes in 3D, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)
• Smartview: Product photo 4.0 / Product image 4.0