Atlas Excavating, headquartered in West Lafayette, Indiana, is a thriving civil construction and earthwork firm. But it wasn’t always so diverse.
The family-owned business started out more than 30 years ago laying pipes for public sewer projects and new subdivisions. GPS-enabled machine control technology from Leica Geosystems helped Atlas chart a new direction by seeking out new types of projects while adding work to their portfolio, doubling their team size, triggering a growth boom, and allowing them to take on much larger projects.
“Technology has transformed our company,” says Atlas COO Nick Dillon. “We were historically a pipe company [with] 10 pipe crews and one dirt crew. Now we have seven dirt crews.”
While the company expected its technology investment to help with business growth, machine control has also provided other advantages. Here are three surprising benefits Atlas Excavating has discovered on its technology journey.
1. The Technology is a Talent Magnet
By turning to advanced technology, Atlas has been able to recruit younger workers who are more familiar with technology and comfortable using it.
Even though these new additions don’t have the same experience as veteran operators at Atlas, technology empowers them to work beyond their experience levels. Training teams to use the Leica technology is quick and easy. As a result, Atlas has drastically reduced training time, allowed workers to hit the jobsite quicker, and delivered consistently high-quality results with operators who have varying levels of experience.
More tenured team members have also embraced these new tools, realizing it helps them accomplish more.
“It is right; we can prove that it’s right; there is no interpretation from one person to the next,” Dillon says. “It’s taken the human error out of it.”
2. It Streamlines Excavation Work
Initially, the Atlas team kept a dozer with a GPS system on it tied to the excavator, constantly working the dirt around. Thanks to a partnership with Westside Tractor, a Leica dealer, the Atlas team demoed an excavator with machine control and immediately saw the benefit.
The job exponentially increased efficiency by freeing up the dozer to grade another part of the project, as the excavator could accurately cut to grade all day long.
After seeing the technology in action, they immediately bought two excavator systems.
“[Before when] we did dirt jobs, we used to do everything twice,” Dillon said. “Now we’re not making the mistakes; we’re doing it once and leaving.”
3. It Enables More Investment—and More Growth
With its increased efficiency, Atlas can sometimes cut its grading estimates by upwards of 50%. That has made the company extremely competitive, driving even more customers their way.
“Ultimately, that’s what it’s done: made us cheaper, faster, more efficient,” Dillon says.
Because of its success, Atlas has continued adding equipment, allowing the company to move into larger markets and projects. As a result, they’ve experienced a growth boom in recent years, moving from small to multi-million-dollar commercial projects.
“We’re doing fewer small commercial sites and subdivisions,” Dillon says. “It’s allowed us to expand to bigger markets.”
To speak with a heavy construction expert who can guide you on your technology journey, contact us.
