The infrastructure projects carried out by De Romein that require earthmoving operations are becoming more and more efficient through the use of GNSS, regardless of whether it involves building a golf course, digging a pit, or excavating a trench for pipelines. De Romein recently used a trench cutting machine that featured a GNSS system. This was an unusual project in that a special machine was able to cut to the desired depth with exceptionally high precision.

A few years ago, De Romein discovered for itself the use of GNSS while developing a golf course. De Romein is a Dutch company specialising in earthworks, construction, civil engineering and pipelines. The CEO, Robin Meijer, rapidly identified new ways the X63 machine control system could be used to work more efficiently at his own company, thereby also offering the customer additional options. “Technology is great. But when it’s not used right, it brings no benefit” said Meijer. “The added value must be derived even in one’s own company! Today we work with a couple of rover systems, base stations and ten machine control systems.”

Robin explains further how he aims to use his company to reduce the customer’s worries: “What I’m saying is that we carry out projects in complete autonomy. But this additional service cannot be offered to the customer with earthworks machinery. We always start by clearly defining the different phases of a project. Those phases might include, for example, conducting the reference survey, clearing the grounds, coarse levelling, excavating the trenches, spreading the earth, finishing and delivery. By using a GNSS control system during all phases and different materials, we are now able to plan more efficiently, thereby improving our accuracy, which, in turn, has raised productivity by 10 to 15%. 

Since De Romein started working with GNSS support, the approach to the project has also changed. What does “changed” mean and what does it mean for your company? Robin explains: “It starts with the basics. The draftsman has a digital 3D proposal available and can also add the customer’s drawings in addition to the company’s own reference survey. Staking out with pegs becomes superfluous as a result, and the machine operator sees exactly how deep, where and at what angle he has to excavate. The machine operators now have a tool which initially met with scepticism – scepticism which soon turned to enthusiasm.”

Survey manager Grieto Loots adds: “It’s another way of working. Instead of actually planting stakes in the ground, you have to trust blindly what you see only on the display screen in the cab. Sitelink3D, the system which permits me to watch along in real time with the machine operators on the construction site, is very reliable, however. Because I can load new projects with this system and initially provide remote support in case of problems, it saves us a lot of time on the road.”

Robin: “Meanwhile our own employees see the advantages of this way of working; it’s more effective, faster and more precise. At the end of the day, the customer also has a major benefit, of course, because projects are carried out on-time, within budget and as planned. I’m happy to see that everyone throughout the company, without exception, now recognises the advantages, and that enables us to expand the services for our customers. This is really important in this market segment! This technology provides us with an overall concept for today and also for the future.”

With new innovations, De Romein dares to play the role of a trailblazer. Robin: “In every market, you have to keep pace with developments. Not every solution fits every company: you have to examine them very carefully and possibly try them out, and then estimate how much benefit they will bring to the company, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Only then can the right choice be made!”