Earthmovers & Excavators – October 2019

20 TradeEarthmovers.com.au

COVER STORY

W

ithmanyofthenewgradersin Australia

arriving from the factory or dealer with

the option for an integrated system and basic

machine control technology already installed, it

is more important than ever to ensure you have

the best solution on your grader that will not only

suit your current needs but also has the ability to

grow with your business.

If you rely on a factory fitted system, you may

be limited by the fact that these systems are

often not upgradeable or transferable between

machines, so if you need a more sophisticated

solution it can be difficult to proceed without

starting again with a different option. This can

be needlessly expensive and time consuming.

Ensuring you have the best machine control

solution is arguably even more important on

your grader because if fine tolerances are not

achieved consistently across the site, it will

result in rework and extra materials, increasing

costs and decreasing efficiencies. Ideally, you

need to get the grade right the first time and

Topcon machine control can ensure you do,

says the distributor for Topcon in Australia,

Position Partners.

“The machine control technology available from

Topcon is compatible across all machine types,

makes and models. This makes it a highly flexible

and customisable solution,” says Josh Allan,

Position Partners’ construction business

manager – Australia.

“A GNSS [Global Navigation Satellite System]

machine control system can be adapted with a

high precision laser transmitter that combined

will deliver millimetre vertical precision for fine

grading tasks; a technology unique to Topcon.”

Topcon machine control technology is the

most flexible on the market, says Position

Partners, so you can mix and match your

solutions to suit whatever job you’re working

on. As every job is different, contractors often

need more than one machine control system

configuration to complete the range of tasks to

the tolerance required.

For example, across one project, the best

solution may need GNSS/GPS (Global Positioning

System) in open sky, fine tolerance achieved

with mmGPS including a high precision laser

transmission, local positioning system (total

station) technology when working in built up

areas or dense tree coverage and have the

ability to include a sonic tracker to follow the

kerb. Position Partners says that Topcon has the

technology and the flexibility to ensure seamless

working across every application at every stage

of the job.

Topcon grader machine control gives

contractors the option to:

• Easily swap machine control technology
  between machines


• Scale up or scale down to suit the job – for
  example boxing out a subdivision with GPS/
  GNSS but then switching to a sonic tracker to
  follow the kerb. Topcon lets you work with 2D
  or 3D technology without having to install a
  whole new system


• Combine GPS/GNSS with other technology,
  including laser or prisms with a total station,
  to increase accuracy even further for final
  trim work.
  “Topcon has the grader machine control
  technology you need for final trim: its flexibility
  and precision is second to none,” says Allan.
  “Topcon machine control technology gives you
  the option to start with an entry-level system,
  then upgrade and adapt that system by renting,
  purchasing or swapping components. This means
  that you can customise the solution to suit you
  and what you need on the project without having
  to go out and purchase a whole new system.”

Topconmachine

control technology

provides the

flexibility to mix and

match your grader

solution to suit

different

applications

You can customise

the solution to suit

you and what

you need.

Top left/right: Choose
single or dual GPS and add
a precision laser transmitter
for fine grading
Bottom right: Easily swap
technologies and use a
total station for areas
without GPS

all in one control