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

  • GPS technology developments
    June 13, 2012
    The use of GPS-inclusive technology is proving invaluable to contractors responsible for major transport-related construction projects across the globe. Guy Woodford looked at some of the latest and imminent site solutions featuring GPS Staff at Trimble Heavy Construction based in Sunnyvale, California recently finished developing three new solutions for connecting the construction site. The Trimble Connected Office, the Trimble Connected Controller and the Trimble Connected Machine, are all now available t
  • Break into machine guidance without breaking the bank
    January 10, 2024

    Watch the video

    You don’t get the name “The Dirt Ninja” without a serious obsession with all things heavy equipment and the technologies empowering what’s next for civil construction. For over a decade, Tom Gardocki, co-owner of New Era Excavation, has commanded hundreds of thousands of views on his YouTube channel—with a description that reads, "Anyone can run equipment, very few can operate.” Well said.

  • Concrete paving success with Power Curbers
    August 31, 2022
    A concrete paving contractor in Florida reports success in a range of projects. Brevard Concrete Paving started small, with one truck and trailer, and the firm’s initial projects were jobs such as the installation of residential kerbs, pedestrian walkways and driveways. Soon, the firm had branched out to a wide range of duties such as paving filling station areas and work for the Florida Department of Transportation.
  • GPS machine control speeds dangerous road improvement
    April 11, 2012
    A Canadian contractor has carried out major roadworks to improve safety on a dangerous stretch of road, using technology to complete the work smoothly. Wiltech Developments, located in West Kelowna, British Columbia, has a great deal of experience. In the contracting sector. The firm works in most. of British Columbia and currently owns more than 40 pieces of heavy machinery, with the majority of these units featuring Trimble Grade Control equipment, a move that has improved its operations.