CDE TP reaches a utilization rate of close to 100% for machines equipped with Trimble grade control systems; customers experience more accurate, safe, and productive grading?from bulk earthworks to fine grading

French machine equipment rental company CDE TP has expertise in earthmoving machinery and innovative technology that is used in the areas of civil engineering, earthworks, landfill construction, and much more. The company is based in Rigny-Saint-Martin, in the Meuse area of France and it has a rich history dating back to the 1990s. Didier Nanty, CDE TP's director, started the company with his father and began by hiring equipment to earthmoving contractors. Today the company employs about fifty people and has a fleet of thirty machines, ranging from dozers to graders and scrapers. Early on, the business was mainly focused on leasing or hiring equipment and operators, however more recently they have become more directly involved in performing earthworks.

Nanty believes that CDE TP's greatest technological and competitive asset resides in its machinery equipped with machine control technology. He is a long-time advocate and supporter of machine control systems because they offer significant productivity gains. He believes machine control offers marked improvements in safety, accuracy, and quality.

The company has been offering guided machines since 2004 starting with a bulldozer and a motor grader equipped with 3D guiding technology. The company's offerings have evolved as the technologies have advanced. CDE TP has recently added to its fleet two excavators equipped with Trimble® GCS900 Grade Control System. Together, these are the most highly utilized machines of the entire machine fleet.

"In the beginning, except for earth-moving contractors who were already familiar with the benefits of 3D guiding systems, the other customers - roads, utilities, drainage, etc. - were very wary of this technology," said Nanty. "They are now becoming increasingly interested and we are there to support them. Today, our machines with machine control technology are the first to be rented. They have a utilization ratio close to 100%, whereas it is closer to 80% for our other equipment."

For equipping its machines, CDE TP has placed its trust in both Trimble and SITECH®, the local Trimble dealer. Trimble was selected because of the solutions' proven track record of delivering superior accuracy and greater productivity. By offering GCS900 grade control, CDE TP believes it helps customers become more productive-by reducing rework, materials usage and machinery wear and fuel use- and therefore more profitable in their contracting and earthmoving projects. Because the system puts design surfaces, grades and alignments inside the cab and uses GPS, GPS and laser, or total station technology to accurately position the blade or bucket, CDE TP customers can get to finished grade more quickly and reduce material overages. This, in turn, allows earthworks contractors to bid future projects more accurately and complete even the most complex jobs in a tight timeframe.

"For us, this is a strategic choice," said Nanty. "We opted for Trimble because the company's technological leadership over its competitors is indisputable. Another very important measure is ease of use for drivers and operators. This is absolutely vital for us in the rental industry and Trimble fulfills this criterion perfectly."

In addition to giving customers high-accuracy options for all earthworks, Nanty also appreciates the interfaces used between the surveying, machine, and site-work functions and the wireless connectivity between the office and the machine for sharing files. Flexible configurations and improved job site connectivity allows his team to streamline workflows and meet tighter project requirements, while staying on deadline and under budget.

"Recently we added an excavator with 3D guidance to the fleet," said Christophe Durrmeyer, CDE TP's land surveyor. "Since we received it a month ago, the excavator has not come back to our facility a single time and the same goes for our bulldozer, also equipped with the same 3D guiding system. Both machines are fully utilized!"

Nanty adds that looking ahead he plans to install Trimble technology on the motor grader and expects that machine to also be fully utilized.

"Having a fleet of rental equipment with machine control technology allows us to be more competitive and deliver a better product for our customers" said Nanty.