New Version of Trimble Grade Control System Benefits Road Resurfacing Contractors


Trimble GCS900 Grade Control System Supports Milling Machines for Better Efficiency on Road Projects

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 18 -- Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) today introduced a new version of its Trimble GCS900 Grade Control System. This new release further expands the mix of machines supported by the GCS900 system to include milling machines (cold planers) helping contractors to bid more competitively on many stimulus funded resurfacing projects, and to maximize the return on their investment in advanced technology. By expanding the heavy equipment machine mix to include this new machine type, Trimble reinforces its commitment to meeting the contractor's needs for productivity technology across all types of development projects and all phases of the construction life cycle.

Improved Productivity for Road Resurfacing Contractors

Infrastructure stimulus funds in many countries are being allocated toward road resurfacing projects. These projects typically involve the removal or milling of the asphalt or concrete road surface to a prescribed depth to fix cracks, potholes or other surface damage.

Using Trimble GCS900 Grade Control System on a milling machine, a heavy and highway contractor can realize significant material savings and increased road smoothness during the ensuing paving operation. Controlling the precise cutting depth of the mill means the contractor is less likely to overcut existing surface and less likely to require additional costly asphalt or concrete material in the re-paving process.

Controlling the cutting depth can reduce the number of passes required of the mill, the need for additional grading or re-milling work and wear on the milling machine and blade. More efficient use of the mill also means the machine can be moved to the next site quicker to save time and reduce cost.

New Configuration for Milling Machines

With the addition of milling machines to the Trimble GCS900 Grade Control System machine mix, heavy and highway contractors can utilize key Trimble machine control components on more machines and for more applications, allowing both new and existing users to realize a higher and more rapid return on their investment in technology.

The new configuration for milling machines allows contractors to implement total station-based machine control technology across more machines in their fleet. The Trimble SPS Series Universal Total Station is ideal for high accuracy work and for operating in areas with limited or no GPS coverage, for example in tunnels, under overpasses, in pits and around trees. Using Trimble GCS900, contractors can now port their machine control positioning system components between dozers, graders, excavators, soil compactors, trimmers, and milling machines.

Trimble GCS900 Grade Control System for milling machines is available now through Trimble's worldwide Heavy and Highway Construction Distribution Channel.

About Trimble's Heavy and Highway Division

Trimble's Heavy and Highway Division is a leading innovator of productivity solutions for the heavy and highway contractor. Trimble's solutions leverage a variety of technologies, including Global Positioning System (GPS), construction lasers, total stations, wireless data communications, the Internet, and application software. As part of the Trimble Connected Site(TM) strategy, these solutions provide a high-level of process and workflow integration from the design phase through to the finished project--delivering significant improvements in productivity throughout the construction lifecycle.

About Trimble

Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location -- including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.

For more information Trimble's Web site at www.trimble.com.

Source: Trimble

All Topics