Skip to main content

Silver Star marries a Topcon GPS system to a Power Curber 5700-C

In the US state of Oklahoma, Silver Star Construction has adopted 3D technology for site modelling and stringless machine control The company, based in the town of Moore, recently used a Topcon Millimeter GPS system mounted on one of their Power Curber 5700-Cs to put down nearly 5,500m of curb and gutter in a residential housing addition in south-west Oklahoma City. Once the dirt work and grading was completed, the concrete crew got to work by mounting the Topcon receivers on their 5700-C. The Topcon
January 19, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The precision of the curb placement can easily be seen from above
In the US state of Oklahoma, Silver Star Construction has adopted 3D technology for site modelling and stringless machine control

The company, based in the town of Moore, recently used a 342 Topcon Millimeter GPS system mounted on one of their Power Curber 5700-Cs to put down nearly 5,500m of curb and gutter in a residential housing addition in south-west Oklahoma City.

Once the dirt work and grading was completed, the concrete crew got to work by mounting the Topcon receivers on their 5700-C. The Topcon unit received the signal from the laser transmitter and set up the Topcon rover to check the vertical and horizontal position of the curb.
With a good concrete mix and steady delivery, the Silver Star crew was able to pour about 1,220m of curb and gutter per day without having to set and remove any stringline.

“It’s very hard for a crew that has set stringline their whole life to watch the machine just take off and follow the 3D guidance,” said Louis Cossey of Silver Star. “For a few times at first we set some stakes just to make ourselves feel better because it’s always been on grade. The advantages of stringless are overwhelming, such as cutting labour costs in half.”

Silver Star does their own 3D modelling to ensure that the model is in correct vertical and horizontal alignment for pouring curb.

“It’s a very basic system once you understand it. Anyone can learn it; it just takes a little time,” said Cossey. “3D is the future and we have several systems. If you’re going to compete in the construction world today, you need a control system. GPS is here to stay and it is constantly changing for the better.”

Over the past 30 years from its founding by one man and a dump truck, Silver Star has accumulated more than 400 machines, including graders and asphalt equipment, dozers, excavators, pavers and slipform machines.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Get paid faster for your work by being efficient, optimised, and careful with resources… get connected now
    September 1, 2023
    In this, the third roundtable meeting in World Highways’ series of Connected Construction discussions, Guy Woodford discusses the implications of developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine control with world-class experts in their field. Find out what Elwyn McLachlan, vice president of Civil Solutions at Trimble, Murray Lodge, senior vice president and general manager of Construction at Topcon Positioning Group, and Magnus Thibblin, vice president Heavy Construction at Hexagon Geosystems have to say about how you should be positioning your company for a successful future.
  • GPS guidance delivers accurate machine control
    July 12, 2012
    GPS systems for machine control can make massive reductions in operating costs for contractors. Using GPS systems for machine control can make massive reductions in operating costs for contractors and the pace of technology improvements from manufacturers has been rapid. This market segment is dominated by Leica Geosystems, Trimble and Topcon, all of which introduced an array of new products earlier this year. Topcon's dozer control system first seen in public at the Intermat show in Paris, offers notable c
  • Power Curbers focuses on slipforming versatility
    January 6, 2017
    Power Curbers and its sister company Power Pavers exhibited the adaptable 5700-C and SF-1700 models at bauma, slipformers that have been both designed to provide the customer with a high degree of versatility.
  • Power Curbers focuses on slipforming versatility
    April 30, 2013
    Power Curbers and its sister company Power Pavers exhibited the adaptable 5700-C and SF-1700 models at bauma, slipformers that have been both designed to provide the customer with a high degree of versatility.