Test Drive Machine Control - Look before you leap alternatives

Written by Paul F. Hahn

Created on Sunday, 06 June 2010 13:33

I think with the number of players in the game, it is obvious that machine control is here to stay. So it is a question of when, not if, machine control systems will be on most machines. It is well documented that both large heavy and highway and small site preparation contractors have realized excellent return on investment by adopting the technology.  The list of benefits goes on and on (labor savings, material savings, increased accuracy, faster completion, reduced fuel costs, reduced maintenance, etc.). More competitive bids, more contracts won and more profitability are some of the other benefits reported.

So how does one get into machine control without making a large purchase all at once?  There are lots of alternatives:

I spoke with David Larsson of SITECH Northern California and learned that many financial programs and options are available.  Customers can rent machine control systems on a monthly basis and when they are done using it, they can simply return it. .  Systems can be rented for six months and all of the rent will be applied to the purchase price or, if you prefer, you can return the equipment. This allows you to charge the monthly rent to the job. Another option is to lease the system.  Many don’t realize that leasing does not impact your line of credit at your bank, so it is a valuable financing tool.  Leasing companies are quite flexible and more creative than banks.  One program allows you to make no payments for nine months with zero interest charged.  At the end of the nine months you have the option to buy the machine control system outright, in a lump sum payment, or roll it into a one to three year lease.  This option allows you to make money with the system before it is time to pay.  It also allows you to see the benefits of the system before you have to make a purchase decision. Monthly lease payments can also be charged to the job just like rental costs.

The buzz about machine control has also created a larger market for 2D systems. Many of these contractors will then make the migration to full-blown 3D systems once they’ve realize the benefits of machine control and have the right job to deploy it on. During our discussion on rental/leasing option Larsson told me that a new product for excavators is available from Trimble Navigation.  It allows contractors to enter into the world of machine control at a $10,000 price point. At that price, I don’t think renting or leasing would be an issue.

Another approach some contractors have taken to get into 3D machine control is to purchase/rent/lease a GPS system.  This allows the contractor to get familiar with to the technology; working with data models, performing grade checking and layout tasks.  Later, the GPS equipment becomes part of the machine control system and is already familiar. This is an option to spread the costs and ease into a fully automated system that will make your bids more competitive while increasing your profitability.

So, if renting, rent-to-own or leasing sounds like a prudent way to obtain the latest technology and to start benefitting from all that machine control has to offer; check with your local machine control dealer and see what options are available. Be prepared to pay for training and installations.  Data models can be produced in-house (once your people are trained) or purchased from third party data prep providers.  So don’t let the price tag discourage you from getting your feet wet with this powerful technology.  There are many options and different ways to ease into machine control.  You will likely do it sooner or later; so why not get started now and gain a competitive edge over those who have decided to wait?

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