Source: Awesome Earthmovers
When civil engineering and groundworks specialists Gartell & Son won a major contract to be involved in the construction of an ambitious new facility for Numatic International Ltd they knew there would be some challenges on the site around using GNSS technology due to the local topography and the construction of the planned steel frame building. So they called on the team at SITECH UK & Ireland to help sort out the issues.
Renowned for the iconic Henry vacuum cleaner range, Numatic International is expanding its operations at Chard in Somerset (UK) with a 20,000 square meter facility that will include offices, warehouses, and commercial spaces, featuring a 6,000 square meter warehouse, an injection moulding plant, an assembly line area, and storage for raw materials.
Awesome Earthmovers were recently given an exclusive opportunity to meet with the team and witness the technological prowess and innovation that Gartell & Son are bringing to the redevelopment of this industrial site left vacant three years ago when food company Oscar Mayer decided to relocate its business elsewhere in the UK.
Numatic International already employs about 1,100 people in the Chard area and its new expansion plans, spearheaded by CG Fry with groundworks expertly managed by Gartell & Son, will create new job opportunities in the area. Notably, it also reflects Numatic’s commitment to sustainability, as the plans include provisions for electric vehicles and bicycles.
Founded in 1950 by John Gartell, Gartell & Son has evolved from agricultural contracting to become a leader in groundworks, civil engineering, and construction. Based near Templecombe in Somerset, this family-run business serves both agricultural and industrial sectors across Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Devon. Their dedication to quality is evident through ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications. "Our commitment to quality and innovation and to excellence and environmental responsibility continues to drive us forward in delivering exceptional results for our clients," says Gartell & Son director Andy Gartell.
Infrastructure challenges
The redevelopment of the site for Numatic International includes the construction of a 22-meter-high steel building, presenting unique difficulties, particularly, as we mentioned, in maintaining GNSS signals on machinery working close to the structure. There was also the added difficulty in the presence of a group of trees that came between the building and the machines, further potentially disrupting the robustness of the on-machine GNSS solution.
SITECH UK & Ireland’s Carl Parsons commented: “When Gartell & Son reached out to us to find a machine control solution that could work in that challenging environment in Chard, we recommended and installed a Trimble® Earthworks demonstration kit, featuring our new MS976 GNSS pods. It comes with the latest Trimble ProPoint® GNSS technology which enables the machine to view more satellites with a limited window of the sky and to react quickly to any satellite changes. They were delighted with the results of the demonstration and subsequently invested in the technology.”
Harry Redstone, lead engineer at Gartell & Son, praised its robustness and connectivity, stating, “The new Trimble MS976 GNSS antennas are so robust and connect twice as fast as our older models, working effectively in environments where GNSS usually struggles. They’ve been a great addition to our fleet, and we've already ordered more for our new machines."
Technology workflow
In addition to their state-of-the-art machine control configuration, the survey and engineering team at Gartell are leveraging the cutting-edge Trimble R580 GNSS Smart Antenna and Trimble TSC5 Controller rover system featuring Trimble CenterPoint® RTX correction service, paired with Trimble Siteworks Software. Alongside Trimble Business Center, this setup allows Gartell to efficiently calculate earthwork and material quantities for bids, prepare data for construction stakeout, build 3D models to optimize machine operation, track productivity, and deliver first-class as-built documentation.
Moreover, Trimble WorksManager software, a cloud-based software solution, revolutionizes construction project management by seamlessly connecting the office and the field. It enables project managers to remotely send up-to-date models and designs to the site, ensuring accessibility for machine operators and surveyors. With real-time data synchronization, WorksManager enhances communication, reduces errors, and streamlines operations, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.
Seamless communication
Additionally, the presence of multiple contractors using different machine guidance systems on site posed another challenge. Again working closely with Carl Parsons and SITECH’s technical team, a new Trimble R750 modular GNSS receiver, which runs one set of protocols, and a Trimble TDL450B radio repeater running a second set, were supplied to Gartell & Son to ensure seamless communication and corrections delivered across all the various machinery.
“To date, Gartell & Son have purchased two Trimble Earthworks systems, two base stations, a Trimble R580 rover kit, Trimble Business Center and WorksManager,” says Carl. “We're excited about our long-lasting relationship with the contractor and having the opportunity to provide more workable solutions for them in the future."
Gartell & Son’s latest acquisition, a Liebherr 920 compact excavator, was fitted with a Steelwrist tilt rotator — and a brand new groundbreaking Trimble Earthworks grade control platform featuring the Trimble MS976 GNSS smart antennas, which has resolved the contractors’ challenges of working with GNSS in areas where there is restricted visibility to the sky.
With the added Trimble Earthworks platform, the new state-of-the-art Liebherr 920 compact excavator designed for precision and efficiency, is now at the heart of Gartell & Son's fleet and demonstrates the company’s dedication to quality and innovation. Its blade configuration and operating weight of just over 20 tons, and it being fitted with the Steelwrist tilt rotator, makes it a very versatile tool for various projects.
Operator Paul Lake, with over 22 years of experience, including 13 years with Gartell & Son, skilfully manages the Liebherr 920 excavator. He says that with Trimble’s cutting-edge technology, the Liebherr 920 offers unparalleled control and accuracy. The machine’s advanced hydraulic systems, combined with Paul’s expertise, ensure precise and powerful excavation capabilities. “I find the new Trimble Earthworks platform really easy to use, it’s very intuitive and easy for any operator to understand. The engineering team sends out updates via the WorksManager Platform directly to the machine, which is brilliant,” says Paul.
