SPRING 2009 Measured Solutions Construction | Surveying | Mapping From Four Walls to Four Wheels A message from KOREC’s Development Director, Dan Brennan As is often the case, many believe the larger a network of branches a business has to offer, the better it is for customers and the overall performance of the organisation. Reality is that overall costs are harder to maintain and providing a consistent level of customer service from branch to branch can be challenging, with stock remaining idle in one location but often urgently required in another. Over the last six months, here at KOREC we made a conscious decision to review our operational model with two clear objectives; firstly to ensure economies of scale and stan- dardisation of service and secondly enhance our overall offering to our customers. Centralising our operation to a fully equipped purpose built service centre in Huntingdon has enabled the business to manage effec- tively staff sales performance, stock control, improve service and repair times and the overall ability to introduce a ‘can do’ culture Our Services Nationwide Sales, Hire Service and Repair ● Technical Support ● Training and Consultancy ● Installation and Commissioning ● Leasing The Launch Issue! New Trimble Products Following Trimble’s 2009 Dimensions event in Las Vegas, we are delighted to announce the launch of several new products, all of which will be available from KOREC. Please see inside for full details. Insite The Construction newsletter from KOREC into the business. Ultimately it has enabled Management to have a clear overview of the business where historically we have been operationally blind to the performance within the business. Making sure we didn’t lose the local service, we simply exchanged ‘four walls’ for ‘four wheels’. Where we originally had a fixed location, we now have a dedicated Sales & Service vehicle operating from 7:30am to 6pm. With a total fleet of ten fully equipped KOREC branded vehicles, it has enabled our customers to benefit from earlier opening times and have the equipment brought to them on a site of their choice. Each vehicle is manned by trained members of staff and has on board communication facilities to respond quickly to sales and hire orders received by the central hub or by customers on sites. Each Sales & Service Vehicle is supported by our replenishment team who make sure every van is re-stocked with core sales and hire items and collect the day’s hire returns and customer repair collections, all returned to the central hub at Huntingdon. Once at the hub, work can start immediately on the hire fleet turnaround times resulting in increased availability and customer’s own repair equipment being returned within less than five days. KOREC understands that today’s customers are like everyone else – busy! We also understand that in a competitive market like ours, customers look for a company who can not only provide a product but also a service which is why we are determined to respond quickly, efficiently and consistently every time. Thank you for your custom and we look forward to continuing to provide you with the high level of service that you expect from us. Ten fully equipped KOREC Sales & Service Vehicles
From Four Walls to Four WheelsA message from KOREC’s Development Director,Dan Brennan As is often the case, many believe the largera network of branches a business has tooffer, the better it is for customers and theoverall performance of the organisation.
Reality is that overall costs are harder tomaintain and providing a consistent level ofcustomer service from branch to branch canbe challenging, with stock remaining idle inone location but often urgently required inanother.
Over the last six months, here at KOREC wemade a conscious decision to review ouroperational model with two clear objectives;firstly to ensure economies of scale and stan-dardisation of service and secondly enhanceour overall offering to our customers.
Centralising our operation to a fully equippedpurpose built service centre in Huntingdonhas enabled the business to manage effec-tively staff sales performance, stock control,improve service and repair times and theoverall ability to introduce a ‘can do’ culture
Our Services Nationwide Sales, Hire Service and Repair ● Technical Support ● Training andConsultancy ● Installation and Commissioning ● Leasing
The Launch Issue! New Trimble ProductsFollowing Trimble’s 2009 Dimensions event in Las Vegas, we are delighted to announce thelaunch of several new products, all of which will be available from KOREC. Please seeinside for full details.
InsiteThe Construction newsletter from KOREC
into the business. Ultimately it has enabledManagement to have a clear overview ofthe business where historically we havebeen operationally blind to the performancewithin the business.
Making sure we didn’t lose the local service,we simply exchanged ‘four walls’ for ‘fourwheels’. Where we originally had a fixedlocation, we now have a dedicated Sales &Service vehicle operating from 7:30am to6pm.
With a total fleet of ten fully equippedKOREC branded vehicles, it has enabled ourcustomers to benefit from earlier openingtimes and have the equipment brought tothem on a site of their choice. Each vehicleis manned by trained members of staff andhas on board communication facilities torespond quickly to sales and hire ordersreceived by the central hub or by customerson sites.
Each Sales & Service Vehicle is supportedby our replenishment team who make sureevery van is re-stocked with core sales andhire items and collect the day’s hire returnsand customer repair collections, allreturned to the central hub at Huntingdon.Once at the hub, work can start immediatelyon the hire fleet turnaround times resultingin increased availability and customer’sown repair equipment being returned withinless than five days.
KOREC understands that today’s customersare like everyone else – busy! We alsounderstand that in a competitive market likeours, customers look for a company whocan not only provide a product but also aservice which is why we are determined torespond quickly, efficiently and consistentlyevery time. Thank you for your custom andwe look forward tocontinuing to provideyou with the high levelof service that youexpect from us.
For full details on any KOREC product or service please call your local Construction Representative
on 0845 603 1214 or visit www.korecgroup.com
Robotics:-A Profitable Solution
Trimble’s SPS610 Robotic Total Station(forerunner to the newly launched RTSRobotic Total Stations) with SCS900software is proving a profitable solutionfor forward thinking engineeringservices contractor, Paul Gould.
As en experienced engineer and manager specialising in Earthworksand Civils contracting, Norfolk basedPaul has been quick to prepare for thedownturn in construction by setting upon his own.
Fearing that the East would be hitharder than most by the predictedslow down, he recently established hisown company with a view to providingeconomical setting out services acrossthe South East. By undertaking any-thing from single site visits measuringstockpile volumes, to long term on-siteengineering services, he believed thatopportunities would still exist for theefficient and economical services heplanned to offer.
Following extensive trials, he purchaseda Trimble SPS610, one of Trimble’smost versatile instruments offeringconstruction-specific functionality andone-person operation. The SPS610also features Trimble technology suchas Magdrive for fast instrument turningand tracking speeds and MultiTrackwhich allows operation with conventionalprisms or active targets, providing Paulwith exceptional productivity gains.
“Setting up on my own meant that arobotic system was a must,” explainsPaul. “I’ve used most of the majormanufacturer’s instruments over theyears and consequently I trialled sev-eral of the robotic options available.The Trimble SPS610 was by far mypreferred choice and is excellent whenused with the TSC2 logger. The radioconnection is top class and extremelyquick to set up whilst the software hasobviously had an enormous amount ofdevelopment and really is a dream touse. The online service means that Ican download upgrades without delayand really get the most out of mysystem. A key benefit is definitely theability to continue working in poor lightconditions which would be impossiblewith equipment that required a personto use the optics. The majority of the
Presenting.....Trimble New Launches...Trimb
Trimble RTS WLAN Robotic TotalStation The Trimble RTS555, RTS655, and RTS633 Robotic TotalStations for construction layout applications are perfect foruse with the Trimble LM80 Layout Manager and offer a widevariety of accuracies, distance, and operational ranges tomeet your construction needs. With an RTS Total Station,contractors can perform layout tasks more efficiently thanwith conventional methods or mechanical total stations,resulting in increased productivity.
Trimble RTS555 Robotic Total StationThe new Trimble RTS555 Robotic Total Station utilisesWireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology to create awireless link between the controller and robotic total stationto increase layout convenience and productivity in the field.The new wireless solution reduces the number of compo-nents needed, such as the external radio, battery and cablewhen used with the wireless Trimble LM80 Layout Manger.
Trimble RTS655 and RTS633 Robotic Total StationsFor contractors requiring longer range and higher accuracy,
Trimble offers the new RTS655 and RTS633 Robotic Total Stations. With robotic radiorange of up to 700 metres, superior prism tracking, and high accuracy EDM performance,these tough total stations are capable of handling the largest commercial layout jobs.
Trimble GCS900 Grade ControlSystem Version 11
Ideal for contractors who need to be even more productive andefficient, this latest version of Trimble’s GCS900 system includesnew system options for excavators, support for towed scrapersand enhancements for dozers and motor graders.
For excavators, the new Single GPS option provides an additional price point for contractorsto adopt 3D grade control plus an option to use the SPS730 or 930 Universal Total Stationallows contractors to operate in areas with limited or no GPS coverage, for example intunnels, pits and around trees.
For towed scrapers, GCS900 v11 now automates the raising and lowering of the cuttingedge to speed up operation and reduce operator fatigue.
For dozers, dynamic blade rotation—and for both dozers and motor graders dynamic bladeroll—allow operators to get the job done faster and more accurately without the operationalconstraints of having to maintain a straight or vertical blade to maintain accurate guidance.
For further information on all these new products and a full run down of their features andbenefits, please call 0845 603 1214.
Spectra Precision Laser LR20Receiver
A cost-effective option for both elevation and depth grade control,the new LR20 laser receiver can improve the productivity of com-pact construction equipment by providing better grading accuracyand more accurate material usage on the construction site. Nowoperators of small equipment such as mini excavators, backhoes,and small dozers can grade with the same accuracy and produc-tivity enhancements as larger machines.
time, no chain person is needed whichmeans work can be accurately carriedout in a much faster time. Importantly,I know that I am delivering a first classjob because the system allows me tomark my own points rather than relyon someone else, often the most jun-ior member of a construction team.”
Paul concludes, “This is a system thatreally delivers and backed up byKOREC’s helpful sales team and fieldinstructors, offers the reliability that Ineed. My focus for a successful busi-ness is to deliver quality of service andeconomy. So far this has proved to bethe correct decision and my company,Setting Out Services (Norfolk), hasseen business steadily pick up overthe last 6 months.”
Paul Gould (above) can be contactedon 07515 867148 or by email:[email protected]
With the release of the new RTSrobotic total stations, Trimble is alsointroducing version 4.5 of the LM80field software that supports theRTS555 WLAN capabilities andintroduces CAD layer support.
ble New Launches...Trimble New Launches...
Spectra Precision LL100 Laser
Ideal for a variety of general construction elevation controlapplications, the rugged and cost-effective LL100 horizontallaser is tripod mounted and sends a 360 degree plane oflaser light over the work area, allowing one person to takeaccurate elevation measurements up to 150m (500 feet)away with the new HR320 laser receiver.
Trimble Tablet
Highly rugged and portable, the new TrimbleTablet is an integral component of the TrimbleConnected Site portfolio. (Productivity-enhancingtechnology solutions to streamline constructionworkflows between the head office, site teams,site supervisors and earthmoving machines).Eliminating the need for multiple costly devices
on the construction site, it combines laptop computing capabilities with a large, daylightreadable graphics screen and the simplicity and operational power of the Trimble SCS900Site Controller Software.
It is extremely rugged, with an IP67 environmental rating, long battery life and tough wash-able housing and offers built-in cellular and WiFi connectivity for live field updates.
KOREC NEWS KOREC Ireland is the Engcon tiltrotator dealer for Ireland… but what is a tiltrotator and whatcan it bring to your fleet? We caught up with Leo Dixon of Dixon Brother’s Ireland to find outwhy he has recently purchased his 16th unit from KOREC.
Yes we can! Investment in Engcon Tiltrotators gives Irish Rail Plantcompany, Dixon Bros, an edge when things get difficultDixon Brothers of Ireland, specialising in the hire of plant to the rail industry, has justpurchased three Engcon EC-15 tilt rotators from Irish distributors KOREC, taking their fleettotal to 16. The new tiltrotators will be fitted on two Atlas 1604 road railers and a Komatsu138 road/rail excavator.
Since 1998, Dixon Bros has consistently expanded its fleet of specialist road rail excavatorsand in 2003 began equipping these with tiltrotators, contributing to their reputation fordelivering a good job no matter how difficult or confined the site.
Customer ReportFloat my Boat!Trimble GCS900 grade control system is perfectsolution for marina earthworks
Just off the A38 in Derbyshire, Willington Lake is undergoing the first stage of its transforma-tion from a trout fishery into a 585 berth Marina for long boats. Set in 74 acres of unspoiltcountryside, the new Mercia Marina is taking shape following 6 months of earthworksundertaken by Kelston Sparkes Plant Hire and Earth Moving Contractors.
Confronted with around 40,000 m³ of silt to move into low areas of the lake and 75,000 m³of suitable material to re-engineer into piling platforms for the berths, Kelston Sparkes knewthat the job would be almost impossible to set out using traditional methods and that theirTrimble GCS900 grade control system would be the perfect alternative. Managing QuantitySurveyor Kevin Primmer explains, “If we’d tried to set out using any other method thanmachine control, we would have been beset by problems and delays. Deep silts meant thatwe couldn’t open too many areas at once to work on because silt goes back and forth onitself. On top of this we would have had to move even more material to make room for set-ting out and of course the muddiness of the site would have hindered us even more mak-ing stakes almost impossible to use. Trimble’s UK distributors KOREC had already suppliedus with two GCS900 dual GPS systems for a previous project and for this job we used themon CAT D6R and CAT D6K excavators. They really came into their own at the marina andthe site is entirely stakeless apart from setting out for fencing lines.”
The Trimble GCS900 system uses dual MS990 GPS Smart Antennae mounted on the top ofthe dozer`s blade to accurately position it many times per second. These GPS SmartAntennae receive corrections transmitted via a radio from the Trimble GPS base stationwhich is set up on the office roof and easily managed by the site foreman. The on-boardcomputer uses this position information and compares it to the design information to com-pute cut or fill to grade.
Kevin continues, “We already had one driver experienced with the system and followingtraining the other was soon up and running. Our design data is supplied by the client in 2Dand we convert it to 3D using Trimble Terramodel software and then export it into Site Visionand onto data cards which go straight into the control box in the cab. If the design changeswe can get that new information onto a card and into the cab with almost no downtime.Although the driver has everything displayed on screen in front of him, he often works usingjust the light bars.
The system has definitely delivered the +/-50mm we required on the pile bays and we’vealso been doing the roads to around +/-20mm – all work has been to the required toler-ances. For us the main advantage of using this system has been the time savings and Iestimate that we’ve saved around a month on the contract overall. We’ve had good backup from KOREC’s technical support and they’ve quickly put right any minor problems.
Established in 1952, the Bristol based Kelston Sparkes Group is an independent, family runcompany and owns one of the largest fleet of heavy earthmoving plant in the UK. www.kelstonsparkes.co.uk
The Swedish manufactured tiltrotator workslike a wrist connecting the excavator to abucket or grab whilst an integrated controlsystem offers unlimited rotation and tiltingup to 40° in two directions. Widely acceptedin the Scandinavian construction industry formany years, today almost no excavators orbackhoe loaders under 30 tonnes are soldin Scandinavia without one.
“We tend to favour Atlas road rail excava-tors, and in particular the 1604K, on ourfleet. But no matter which machine, whenwe fit a specialist piece of equipment likethe Egncon EC-15 tiltrotator, that machinebecomes more flexible, easier to use andtakes the headache out of working in veryconfined areas,” explains Dixon Bros RailServices Manager, Leo Dixon. “We arecurrently working on the Kildare RouteProject increasing the number of tracksfrom two to four along the route from CherryOrchard to Hazelhatch and the tiltrotatormeans that we can deliver more to ourclient on every shift. When we excavatelarge track sections, we can achieve thefinal level by just setting the bucket and lettingit run – the whole process has been speededup, even when we are working in thetightest corners. In fact, thanks to the highlevel of manipulation that the tiltrotators arebringing to our machines, we’re earning areputation for achieving the unachievable.For difficult jobs, Dixon Bros is becomingthe first port of call.”
Leo Dixon also reports that machines fittedwith tiltrotators are significantly safer on site.Not only do they need less room formanoeuvre, but the easy interchange ofbucket and grabber mean that machinescan also be used for manual handling tasksand site deliveries, providing more rigid andcontrolled handling of pieces of rail.
Leo concludes “Of course back in 2003when KOREC first introduced us to tiltrotators,we questioned the cost and the value thatthey could bring to our business. However,following a site demonstration, the benefitsbecame obvious. Our operators wereapprehensive at first but within a monthwere won over and wouldn’t be withoutthem now. They have been easy to maintainbut if anything does breakdown, KOREChas quickly delivered a replacement and90% of the time has the part in stock.”
Using Trimble’s GCS900 Grade Control System has meant that the muddy Mercia Marina site has been almost stakeless.
Instrument Focus The Trimble LM80 Pocket Layout Manager
Regular readers of Insite will be familiar with the features of our best-selling layout tool theLM80, but following our end of year LM80 ‘Blitz’ we’ve decided to feature it again.
Supported by Trimble’s top LM80 specialists who flew in from America and Europe, ourKOREC Sales Consultants hit the road for a week to demonstrate its benefits to as many ofyou as possible.
Big Capabilities in a Small PackageDesigned to increase accuracy and speed up and simplify the setting-out process, the LM80is the perfect companion for all major makes of total station. It allows users to input drawingdimensions to build a digital replica of the setout plan, which can then be used on site toguide the setting-out of major points, add string dimensions on the drawing or calculate diagonalsor angles.
Improved measurement techniques allow contractors to measure lines, as well as define andaccurately lay out flat or sloping surfaces such as building pads and driveways.
The LM80 lets you: • input blueprint dimensions to build a digital replica of the layout plan • guide the layout of the major points, add string dimensions on the print, or calculate
diagonals or angles • reduce your reliance on third-party specialists • organise and standardise all layout activity for all layout equipment you currently use • cut training costs • increase flexibility if one instrument is unavailable, easily swap it out for another!
Compact, reliable and easy to use, take up has been across a whole range of applications.Phil Norman of PJ and DA Norman and Daniel Anketell-Jones of Harley Curtain Wall kindlyfilled us in on how they are using the LM80 and the reasons behind their purchase:-
Trimble LM80 is ideal for setting-out largefarm buildings
Undertaking a variety of groundworks andcivil engineering projects, PJ and DANorman of North Yorkshire specialises infoundations and high quality concrete floorsfor industrial and agricultural buildings andis using the LM80 in conjunction with aNikon DTM330 Total Station.
“We first saw the LM80 on theKOREC/Trimble stand at last years SEDshow and although we looked at other layoutsystems, most of them were containedwithin the total station software and seemedfar more complicated to use.” explainedDirector, Phil Norman. “Our work meansthat we are frequently setting-out farmbuildings such as grain stores, often up to2000 square metres in area, and the LM80is the perfect tool for the fast and accuratemarking out of base holes for excavationand the positioning of HD bolt boxes. Wecan easily alter or edit plans on site and theon screen plan display is excellent. It’s alsovery helpful in situations where site condi-tions make the use of traditional lines difficultsuch as the very large buildings or steepsloped sites that we often encounter onfarms.”
The storey continues!
LM80 is perfect tool for repeated setting-outon a tower block
Harley Curtain Wall Ltd, a market leader inthe field of design and construction of com-plete building envelopes, has teamed itsLM80 with a Nikon NPL362 ReflectorlessTotal Station.
Ideal for all laying out tasks, the pocketsized LM80 enables Harley Curtain Wall
Project Manager, Daniel Anketell-Jones, toprepare in the office for a perfect layout inthe field.
“My job entails design and survey as wellas planning and coordinating projects,budgetary control and client liaison, “explains Daniel. “I am therefore perfectlypositioned to know what our clients wantand how best to deliver it. We carry out a lotof similar contracts where we need accu-rate surveys - for example the positioning ofbore/bolt holes on each floor of a 12 storeytower block that we are currently workingon in Hounslow. Previously, we used externalsurvey companies but found that communi-cation and the accuracy of the survey wasnot always as good as we required. Wetherefore decided to start carrying out surveysin-house so that we could be sure that theright information was recorded on site andany errors could be quickly rectified. Weliked the idea that the LM80 system could
be easily used on site by the installationteams for setting-out the cladding rails anda definite plus for us is that setting-out withthis system would not necessarily require anengineer on site.”
Daniel continues, “The main benefit for us isaccuracy and reliability which have largeknock on effects. Several times in the past,the surveys we’ve been provided with havebeen wrong in some way or have not givenus what we want and this can often take 1-2weeks to put right. Now we can get theright information ourselves at the start and ifthere is a mistake, we can jump in the carthe next day and go back to site. Theincreased reliability means we can manu-facture all the components before we get tosite. Previously we would have had to get toa certain stage and then measure the finalpieces which would then add an extra 2weeks on to the job to allow for fabrication.”
Harley Curtain Wall Quantity Surveyor, David Vousden, checksout the LM80 and Nikon NPL362
Phil Norman with his LM80 and Nikon DTM330 Total Station
What Version?At the time of going to press, the latest version of these key Construction Softwareproducts are as follows:
Terramodel v10.6Trimble Business Center HCE v1.2SCS900 v2.42Site Vision Office v7.1
Why Train?Increase ProductivityStreamline work practicesMaximise use of Hardware and Software
Here at KOREC, we believe that ourrelationship extends beyond providing aproduct or service and that’s why wespecialise in delivering high quality ‘modular’style training as well as scheduled courses.
Modular training is designed to give you theflexibility to build your own customised train-ing programme tailored to suit your needs.You can choose modules from any of oursoftware/hardware packages and combinethem to make the most productive trainingfor you.
“…a well rounded course that provides asound understanding of survey techniques”
Modular courses include class work andextensive field based training on a range oftopics from basic levelling and setting-out toan introduction to GPS and Robotic TotalStations.
For further information please download ournew training brochure.
KOREC CatalogueLaunchThe 2009 KOREC Catalogue is now availablefor order, featuring the most popular itemsfrom our accessories and consumables divi-sion such as spray paint, levels and staffs.
As a specialist supplier of surveying solutions,our catalogue is backed up by a full rangeof products available for purchase from ouronline shop www.korecgroup.com/direct/The website also features our latest offersand a range of reconditioned survey equip-ment including Total Stations, Laser Levelsand GIS Mapping hardware.
To order your own copy of our catalogue,please call our Customer Support team on 0845 603 1214.
Calling all CollegesKOREC’s Construction Sales Consultant for the north, Rob Hudson, has been fine tuninghis presentation skills with a recent ‘guest speaker’ slot for New College, Durham. Taskedwith passing on his knowledge and enthusiasm for Trimble Products to the College’s HNCCivil Engineering students, Rob enjoyed a lively day and earned a glowing letter or thanksfrom the College’s Lecturer in Construction, Richard Byers.
“This was a really good practical demonstration and good lecture about the systems,making it very interesting and impressive and showed the advanced technology used andalso gave the students "hands on" use of the equipment…..I am sure it will help themunderstand the instruments for completion of their HNC Civil Engineering.”
If you’d like one of our consultants to come and talk to your students, please don’t hesitateto contact us.
KOREC gets Blogging!We are delighted to announce that our new Blog is up and running and content wise,there’s a bit of something for everyone. Similar to an online journal, our blog will featurechronologically listed entries on everything from technical tips and white papers to marketopinion, new releases and the general ponderings of those in the construction know! Visitus now at www.korecgroup.com/blog to catch up on the latest, share stories and leaveyour comments.
Updates
The 2009 KOREC Training Schedule hasbeen finalised and is available online atwww.korecgroup.com .
Both scheduled and customised on-sitecourse options are available and this yearsees the introduction of a Trimble BusinessCenter course.
Trimble Business Center, otherwise knownas TBC, is the latest office software fromTrimble to partner with the SCS900 fieldbased software. The interface is designedto streamline the exchange of databetween one or more Controllers runningSCS900. Data exchange even extends toemail, with TBC containing a function tosend and receive data with SCS Controllersthat are out on site, thus reducing the needto return the Controller or a memory stick tothe office for data exchange.
The Trimble Knowledge Network, located
Training & Support
at www.trimble.com/tkn is a web basedinformation centre for technical information.
The Learning Centre area allows the visitorto browse the various training courses onoffer from Trimble, plus a number of webbased tutorials, some of which are free.Others can be purchased via the TrainingTeam at KOREC.
The Solution Centre part of the site allowsthe user to enter a keyword or questionconcerning a Trimble product. A search isthen made of the relevant Trimble databas-es and a list of relevant links is returned. Itforms a useful single search point for prod-uct and support information.
