At Schneider Excavating, we have always prided ourselves on being on the cutting edge of technology. We were one of the first companies in the area to purchase a robotic total station. This allowed for much more efficient staking of job sites. Since 1992 we have not relied on any outside engineering firms to stake for us and have been completely self sufficient with grade control. In fact, we have been so efficient, other trades have hired us to stake for them.

Although GPS technology has been around for a long time, it has been constantly improving and becoming more stream line. We were not eager to purchase equipment that had not been thoroughly tested and proven. In 2005, Schneider Excavating purchased its first GPS units, two Topcon Hiper Lites. In the months to follow, we implemented GPS grade control on several machines including a grader and multiple bulldozers. We have since added enough equipment that all of our jobs are running with GPS on them. We also now have six excavators with GPS, which can dig anything from a pond to building footings without a single stake! This proves to be very useful in situations where stakes are going to be removed shortly after excavation because the operator has a monitor inside that cab that is continuously showing him what the elevation and grade at his bucket is.

Today, virtually all of our jobs run with GPS equipment on them. It makes us more efficient, more accurate, and more knowledgeable. An entire site grading revision can be implemented within a day, causing fewer errors and down time, and allowing the project to run smoother. We no longer have operators waiting because there are no stakes to grade to. This creates more productive equipment, which means a more cost effective project for us as well as the customer, especially when considering other contractors may not have any layout capability and would require the entire site to be staked several times to achieve the proper grades.

Technology though, doesn’t mean anything without the expertise and experience to back it up. Fred Hartzheim, P.E. is a Civil Engineer who has managed the grade control and layout since 1997. He has an eye for detail and troubleshooting. We have a lot of equipment moving around on a daily basis and Fred makes sure that all of the equipment is up to date with the latest files for each job. Schneider Excavating is also known for having very skillful and conscientious operators. It was no surprise then that they have adapted to GPS technology and have become very proficient with it. All together we have a great team of people to keep things running well. GPS technology is only one reason it pays to have Schneider Excavating on your job.

Schneider Excavating, Inc.   20079 W Main Street   P.O. Box 92   Lannon, WI 53046-9741   Phone: 262-251-4200   Fax: 262-251-4216
An equal opportunity employer