Spectra Integrated Systems, the leading provider of construction technology for contractors and construction surveyors in the Carolinas and Virginia for the past decade, is changing its name to SITECH Mid-Atlantic LLC.
But the name is the only thing that’s changing, clarifies Ed Upchurch, president. “The name change is a branding strategy for Trimble and its dealers to project a homogenous image. It won’t change our service or tech support.”
In fact, he added, as a top-tier Trimble distributor, it is still as committed — if not more so — to providing superior products, services training and support.
“Our philosophy hasn’t changed,” Upchurch said. “It’s still about providing service and technical expertise. We are an applications solution provider and we lead the way in emerging technology and support.”
Always at the forefront of technology, in its early days, the company focused on construction laser sales and service, later branching out with the first machine-control systems for construction and agriculture and then 3-D machine control systems using GPS or robotic total stations.
“We still have all the technologies today that we had years ago when we started — lasers, robotics and GPS — but our focus continues to be on growth with emerging technologies, which remains a driving force for everything we do,” Upchurch said.
Originally a group of factory-direct stores owned by Spectra Precision/Trimble, the company has grown to become among Trimble’s largest independently owned dealerships for the past 10 years, with four locations — Charlotte, N.C. its headquarters; Raleigh, N.C.; Charleston, S.C.; and Richmond, Va.
A constant for SITECH Mid-Atlantic is its core values as well as several original employees, both contributing to the company’s expertise. Its operation is multi-faceted, covering field service and installation, including parts and inventory for the heavy highway, agriculture, marine and software businesses.
Trimble comprises 95 percent of SITECH Mid-Atlantic’s business but it also carries brands that augment its primary line, including Rajant, Intuicom and Minds.
A contributing factor to the rapid return on investment is the elimination of the need for stakes when grading.
“That saves labor,” Upchurch said. “The process from earthmoving to rough grading to fine grading is all guided by these systems.”
Beyond grading guidance, Trimble systems provide a connected work site. “Emerging technology will continue to evolve on the machines, providing more ways to connect the office and the site, and machine to machine,” Upchurch said.
Benefits of connecting a job site include: reduction of unnecessary travel time and fuel costs; reduction of machine downtime through remote machine diagnostics; organization of project data; notification for machine operators of design updates; real-time status reports; reduction of need for site measurement; better use of personnel and equipment, keeping operators in the field and machines working.
“SITECH Mid-Atlantic also is an agriculture dealer for Trimble providing guidance, spray control, water management, land leveling and software for the complete, connected farm,” Upchurch said. By providing an industry-specific connected work site, the Trimble system helps farms be in compliance with the EPA.
The combination of Trimble Business Center and VisionLink help a contractor with bidding, project management and controlling costs.
“It helps manage assets and productivity,” Upchurch said. “You can monitor vehicles — their location, movement, idle vs. run time, queue dwell time, oil pressure, fuel level, maintenance intervals, bearing wear…”
The system is capable of monitoring mixed fleets (brands) and can monitor mixed assets, from dozer to water trucks and pickup trucks. Upchurch is confident contractors will benefit from all of this technology — and, he knows, they will have more opportunities to use it.
“The economy will improve, and as it does, a wide array of work will emerge,” Upchurch said. “SITECH Mid-Atlantic is poised to be a major part of that. Our name change reflects our determination to grow as things change, as technology changes, and we’ll be there, helping businesses do their work more efficiently and more productively.” CEG
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