Whanganui civil construction company Loaders is taking its machinery to a new level with what it believes is the only sensor-driven and global positioning system (GPS) excavator in the region.
Loaders general manager Hayden Loader said the company's "new toy"- purchased as a 2016 Christmas present - was manufactured with the technology to turn a three-man task into a one-man job.
The standard two-dimensional excavator comes with attached sensors - but without a GPS - to indicate to the operator the measured levels. Lights are used to signal a higher or lower level and provide accurate measurements without the assistance of additional workers on the ground.
Loaders went a step further, purchasing the upgraded three-dimensional model with a removable GPS as well as attached sensors. Designs of the site are loaded on to a memory stick and plugged into the excavator, giving a 3D viewing of the site on screen.
Mr Loader said the two-dimensional excavator knows where the bucket is in relation to the site, but the 3D model knows where the excavator is on the planet.
"It goes a step further - for example we are contracted for the construction of the new flight school driveway and carparking at Whanganui airport, and the GPS will show the site design in relation to the global position of the airport."
Mr Loader said any extra soil removed was losing the company money. "This new excavator saves us money because it is only removing the soil needed.
"It also knows exactly how much dirt has been removed and how much to charge the client."
Mr Loader said staff would need to be retrained with the new technology but the operator of the new excavator, Glenn Terrey, is most enthusiastic about the new toy.
"Glenn's been with us for over 20 years and he rang me up just before Christmas after reading up about the thing.
"He couldn't believe all that it could do ... he's seen first-hand the advantages," Mr Loader said.
The excavator cost almost $420,000. But with the amount the company would be saving on soil removal and the reduction of workers required for the job, he estimated the expenditure would be paid back within four years.