Unique Trimble Technology Enables Continuous and Accurate Milling without Stopping to Transition Total Stations
Munich, April 15, 2013—Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) today introduced version 2.1 of its 3D asphalt milling solution. The Trimble PCS900 Paving Control System for Milling Machines helps contractors mill a smoother and higher quality surface, reduce machine stoppage and minimize costly rework. Cutting-edge hot swap functionality in the Trimble SPS930 Universal Total Station maintains continuity and accuracy of milling operations without stopping the machine. System portability means contractors can use the system on multiple machines and jobsites, reaping a higher return on investment. Collectively, the elimination of stringline, reduced machine stoppage and rework can mean significantly improved productivity for the contractor using the PCS900 system.
The announcement was made today at bauma 2013, the 30th international fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment.
Automatic Total Station Transition Enables Continuous Milling without Stops
The Trimble SPS930 Universal Station provides a clear competitive advantage for the PCS900 Paving Control System. PCS900 uses the industry-leading Trimble SPS930 Universal Total Station and active targets to guide the milling drum to grade. Unique Trimble technology allows the system to hot swap, or automatically and instantly transition, to the next total station without stopping the machine to make a manual transition. By automatically maintaining the same tolerance between total stations, PCS900 also ensures a smoother milled surface at the transition point and reduces the need to re-mill spots along a long roadway project.
Other 3D milling solutions require the mill to stop to make a manual transition each time a total station hand off is required, causing significant delay and reducing the smoothness of the milled surface. In a typical eight-hour shift, this machine stoppage and manual intervention can mean a productivity loss of up to 15 percent waiting for the equipment to be reestablished and recalibrated. The SPS930 also requires significantly fewer manual adjustments than fan laser based systems to maintain its high level of accuracy and deliver a smoother final surface.
2D Interface and Portable Option Get the Mill in Production Faster
PCS900 v2.1 for Milling Machines is very easy for job crews to set up, operate and maintain. As a CAN-based paving control solution, it communicates directly with factory-installed 2D systems from most milling machine manufacturers and allows the operator to control both the 2D and 3D sensor configurations from a single display.
PCS900 requires only one on-machine radio, making it easier to install and maintain than other 3D milling solutions. A new portable version of the PCS900 system encloses the machine radio, power module, and wiring in one easy-to-install magnetically mounted unit, reducing daily set up time to typically less than ten minutes. Unlike other systems that require multiple components to be set up and re-calibrated daily, the PCS900 is easy for contractors to install and move between different milling machines and job sites. Milling contractors can spend more time milling and less time managing the technology.
Availability
Version 2.1 of the Trimble PCS900 Paving Control System for Milling Machines is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2013 through the SITECH® Technology Distributor network. For additional information, please visit: www.trimble.com.
About Trimble’s Heavy Civil Construction Division
Trimble’s Heavy Civil Construction Division is a leading innovator of productivity solutions for the heavy civil construction 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® 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, visit: www.trimble.com.