Topcon technology is making life a whole lot easier and more efficient for the Canadian based HALL Group of Companies, one of British Columbia’s Top Construction Companies and their Heavy Civil Division, HALL Constructors. Founded in 2010 in British Columbia, HALL Constructors specialises in challenging and complex civil infrastructure, large scale excavation, shoring and foundations, highway and bridge construction, underground utilities, and site development projects.
“WE ALSO
ENJOY
REMOTE ACCESS TO ALL OF OUR DOZERS ENABLING US TO CHANGE THINGS
‘ON THE FLY’
.”
Awesome Earthmovers caught up with the team while working as part of a joint venture on a major $140 million project to improve and widen Highway 1 through the township of Langley in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
The project will provide relief for traffic congestion in the Fraser Valley and will also include High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and electric vehicle lanes. Construction on the 10km stretch of highway began last summer, with the project scheduled for completion in late 2026.
It is the type of contract that HALL Constructors excel in, having established an unrivalled reputation together with significant expansion in a short space of time, with a portfolio that includes major infrastructure undertakings supporting air, rail and transportation hubs, as well as a wide range of successful projects such as road and arterial route upgrades.
With the capacity to support federal, municipal and private development projects, it is equipped to tackle even the largest or most complex of tasks such as that on the Highway 1 contract where we found out how it has been utilising a variety of Topcon products to great effect on the scheme.
Competitive Edge
By making continuous investments in state-of-the-art equipment, cutting-edge technology, and ongoing training for personnel, HALL Constructors has managed to maintain a competitive edge to stay ahead of the curve in the industry. It has assembled a team of highly-skilled professionals, including engineers, project managers, superintendents, foremen and trades people to drive the company’s rapid and continued growth.
The company regularly reviews its systems and processes and it not only gives its staff great training and opportunities to advance, but also the best equipment and technology in the industry, which is why it utilises Topcon's precision satellite based positioning technologies which include Robotic Total Station, Digital automatic levels, GPS Base and Rover RTK GPS, and GPS vertical control systems.
The HALL Group of Companies operates a modern, well-maintained heavy equipment fleet of over 200 pieces and are industry leaders in adopting the latest equipment technologies, with the vast majority of the excavator fleet equipped with machine grade control. The HALL Group has an industry-leading maintenance team of over 12 Heavy Equipment Technicians strategically located throughout the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and Alberta.
The HALL Group’s excavator fleet boasts over 90 units, ranging from 6 to 52 tons. It also has an extensive dozer fleet, from D3 to D8 sizes, with automatic grade control, while a large fleet of 30-ton articulated trucks complements the group’s compaction roller fleet of over 12 units. In addition, its various civil projects are supported with the latest skid steers, wheel loaders, and backhoes.
HALL Group’s specialised fleet also includes 30-ton long-reach and telescoping excavators capable of reaching depths of 30 metres, so it is well-positioned to take on any major heavy civil or infrastructure project throughout Western Canada.
Topcon products are fitted to many of the company’s construction machines including excavators and dozers, some of which are being used on the Highway 1 scheme, improving efficiency and accuracy over traditional ways of doing things on site.
Commented HALL Constructors site superintendent on the Highway 1 project, Joe Jury: “We have around eight pieces of machinery on the site using Topcon technologies in a variety of tasks such as earthworks, grading and other construction activities. We also enjoy remote access to all of our dozers enabling us to change things ‘on the fly’.
“Primarily, we are using Topcon’s MC-Max 3D machine control for our excavators and dozers. It can be set to automatic mode making life easier and less stressful for the operator. The automated dozer blade control, for example, dramatically reduces the number of passes required to get within design grade tolerances and our automated excavator control improves the rate at which material can be disposed of.
Joe Jury Site Superintendent HALL Constructor
User Friendly & Uncomplicated
“The products are not overly complicated and all are very user friendly. Our operators can easily understand and see in 3D where they need to be and what needs to be done. The technology helps them to ensure the work is done accurately and efficiently – and changes in design can also be incorporated in a real-time scenario.”
“Topcon products have dramatically improved both the speed in which work is done as well as helping us to minimise re-working, saving time and expense. Our field survey teams also use Topcon rovers which provide a good interface between equipment operators and ground personnel.
“TOPCON PRODUCTS HAVE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED BOTH THE
SPEED
IN WHICH WORK IS DONE AS WELL AS HELPING US TO MINIMISE RE-WORKING.”
“In addition, the technology has significantly improved our versatility, especially on larger projects where operational plans can quickly change, and without doubt has given us an edge over all of our competition.”
Using Topcon technology, of course, has many other benefits for HALL Constructors. It boosts productivity and contributes to safety on site as less people are needed to work around machinery and it also helps to counter any challenges regarding labour shortages. Topcon positioning technology can also be moved from one machine to the next as and when needed.
Top Notch Service & Support
Equally as important to the Topcon products HALL Constructors are using is the service and support provided by Brandt, the exclusive Canadian dealer who operates from 56 locations across the country. They are part of the Brandt Group of Companies which employs over 6,000 people and services markets not only in Canada, but also the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
Brandt’s hard-working team of industry-certified specialists works closely with customers providing and servicing the full line-up of Topcon positioning products. Their expertise separates them from the rest as the best choice for GPS, lasers, total stations, machine automation and supplies.
Brandt is committed to providing customers with complete satisfaction. There’s no other company better placed to provide customers with a more innovative Total Positioning Solution. No matter what makes or models of equipment customers operate, Topcon machine control technology can bring their fleet to the next level by updating older machines and improving new ones.
Added HALL Constructor’s Joe Jury: “The level of support and service from Topcon is top notch. The team at Brandt are very responsive to any request we may have for product support including over the phone and on site visits. Would we recommend Topcon? Absolutely, because Topcon has provided us with everything we need in terms of accuracy, reliability, efficiency and productivity.”