Tim Earl: Total Control, Every Time

Machine control makes everything easier for this busy Christchurch owner/operator.

“Absolutely unreal” is how Christchurch Komatsu D61 owner/operator Tim Earl describes his Topcon 3D-MC² machine control system. But there’s nothing intangible about the time saving benefits he gets out of his software.

“I do a lot of planning off of dirt that arrives on dump trucks and the Topcon system has really cut down on the number of passes I need to do to get everything nice and smooth,” says Tim.

“It means I can get through daily tasks a lot more quickly, but also the results are absolutely immaculate every time. The automatic setting gives you absolute accuracy, but you can still utilise manual settings if you want to.

“I don’t care if you pride yourself on being able to level by eye; the Topcon system is going to get it that much more precise every single time.”

Tim has used the system on his dozer on a variety of projects around the rapidly redeveloping city, including at the Wigram Skies subdivision on the site of the former Wigram Aerodrome, as well as in the new Justice and Emergency Services Precinct in the heart of the city; an anchor project for the CBD which will headquarter Police, fire, Civil Defence and the High Court.

“Because I’m working across a number of sites I’m dealing with different soils; shingle or sandy silt, depending on where we are. The system works perfectly regardless of where I am, which gives me a consistency that makes estimating hours and costs that much easier,” Tim continues.

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“Before I came across the 3D-MC² system I was using a different brand of machine control, and I have to say the tolerances just weren’t there; there was still too much guesswork involved which I didn’t like.

“I studied up on Topcon though and knew before I bought it that it would give me the solutions I needed. I was also impressed with how easy it was to learn to use in the first place; this sort of technology might seem a bit daunting to take on for some guys, but the touchscreen is pretty straightforward to use. Most people have more complicated mobile phones these days.”

Tim says he also likes the flexibility the Topcon machine control system gives him; if new numbers are required for a job, the parameters are simply loaded onto a USB stick and downloaded into the 3D-MC² head unit. The system recalibrates and Tim can get on with the task at hand.

“I’m just one guy with one machine, but I genuinely think I’m ahead of the curve on this; ahead of some of the big companies even. I couldn’t imagine having to go back to the old way of operating now. Why would you when Topcon’s machine control system provides such great results?”