Kilmac expands connected construction capabilities with Trimble technology investment

Scottish civil engineering and groundworks contractor Kilmac Ltd has expanded its surveying capabilities with a major investment in Trimble off-machine construction technology supplied by SITECH UK & Ireland. The package includes six Trimble SPS720 robotic total stations, six Trimble R780 GNSS rovers and six Trimble TSC710 data collectors running Trimble Siteworks software, allowing survey teams to work across several large projects simultaneously.

The new equipment complements Kilmac’s existing Trimble machine control systems, creating a connected construction technology ecosystem spanning the office, site survey teams and earthmoving machinery. By linking design information, survey data and machine guidance, the contractor aims to improve accuracy, increase productivity and give project teams greater visibility over work as it progresses. The investment should also reduce manual setting-out, minimise rework and help operators complete excavation, grading and drainage tasks more efficiently.

SITECH UK & Ireland has worked with Kilmac for more than four years, supporting the company as it has gradually introduced digital construction workflows across its operations. The latest investment completes Kilmac’s move towards a wider suite of Trimble Civil Construction Technology, with Trimble Business Center and WorksManager providing additional connectivity between office-based teams, field personnel and machine operators.

Liam Payne, Technical Sales Consultant at SITECH UK & Ireland, said: “SITECH has worked closely with Kilmac for over four years, helping to broaden the scope of the company’s technology adoption. This most recent investment completes the company’s transition to a full suite of Trimble Civil Construction Technology, delivering a fully connected site for maximum productivity.

“It’s great to see continued investment in connected site technology and digital construction workflows across Scotland, and we look forward to continuing to support the Kilmac team, who have been early adopters in much of the technology we now see as essential across the industry.”

The equipment will support Kilmac’s growing workload across Scotland, including its involvement in the £76 million Clackmannanshire Wellbeing Hub and Lochies School development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2027. Kilmac’s work on the project includes large-scale earthmoving, surface water and foul water drainage, service tracking and landscaping. Combining survey technology with machine control allows design information to move more consistently between the project office, site engineers and construction equipment, helping excavation and grading work remain within the required tolerances.

The use of GNSS rovers and robotic total stations also gives Kilmac’s survey teams greater flexibility across projects with different accuracy requirements and site conditions. GNSS equipment can provide fast positioning over large working areas, while total stations support precise measurement where satellite reception may be restricted or tighter tolerances are required. Trimble Siteworks running on the TSC710 data collectors enables site teams to access designs, record measurements and complete setting-out tasks in the field.

For contractors carrying out earthworks, roads, foundations and drainage, connecting survey and machine control technology can improve machine utilisation while reducing unnecessary fuel use, material movement and repeat passes. More accurate excavation and grading can also lower wear on construction equipment and attachments, while helping fleet operators maintain productivity and control the total cost of ownership across increasingly complex projects.

Bert Hope, Procurement Director at Kilmac Ltd, said: “Kilmac is proud to continually evolve alongside the needs of the industry and, as such, our relationship with technology has continued to develop and grow. Working with SITECH has not only enabled us to integrate Trimble technology into all facets of our operation, but to benefit from ongoing training and 24/7 support to ensure we are able to deliver projects on time and within budget.”

Founded in 2004, Kilmac delivers earthworks, drainage, road construction, foundations and hard landscaping across several sectors. Its latest technology investment reflects the growing use of connected surveying, machine guidance and digital project management systems among civil engineering and groundworks contractors seeking greater control over productivity, accuracy and project costs.