iDig grade indication technology has simple settings and interchangeability between machines, which can speed up the installation of septic tanks and redistribute grade checkers to more productive work
Ron Sergeant discovered a grading technique that allowed him to continue his legacy written by three generations before him. He runs the business according to the principal whose family has served for more than 70 years. As stated on the company’s website, he maintains “…the core belief system, honesty, integrity and good old-fashioned hard work are the keys to success and a happy life.”
The Sergeant & Sons septic tank and excavation site is located in Thorrington, Ohio, south of Lake Erie. This is one of the coldest spots in the area. If you check the company’s Facebook page, you will see photos of snow in the workplace and mention the 14-degree working day.
Sergeant & Sons has been facing many challenges for more than 70 years, establishing the tools, equipment, methods and workflow framework that make the company successful. Ron Sergeant is constantly looking for better methods, which led him to add grading techniques to the framework.
“One of the most challenging things is trying to find someone to help you,” the sheriff explained. “Not many people want to play in a septic tank.”
From March to November, the production season for the Climate Generals in northern Ohio is limited to about eight months. During this favorable weather, he managed a team of five to six people. Throughout the winter, his team may be reduced to two people, and they will continue to work hard.
Dismissing workers in the winter means losing their possibility. Sometimes, when the weather improves, it is not easy to get all employees back to the payroll.
Sergeant discovered information about the iDig system through Josh Isham, a sales consultant at GeoShack in Columbus, Ohio.
Sergeant explained: “We demonstrated the system, installed it on the machine, and were very satisfied with the results.” “It’s really amazing. It’s amazing to be able to dig a hole from two people to three people and basically turn it into one People, another person is laying pipes. They are doing something fruitful, not just holding a laser stick.
“It’s really clever to try this system – to know where my bucket is, where my teeth are, and to be able to make a percentage drop. This is all I did, but basically dug some basements and installed them. Manure tank system.”
The sergeant worried that relying solely on technology might create a knowledge gap among his staff.
He said: “As an owner, you also need to insist that employees understand the old ways of solving problems and completing tasks.” “Technology will and will break. You need a backup plan.”
iDig is an accurate score checking system. A touch screen display installed in the cab allows the operator to see the bucket of the machine relative to the surrounding surface. When the bucket teeth are on a slope, a light bar with red, orange and green LEDs will show the operator.
Three external sensors are mounted on the bucket, boom and bucket. The fourth sensor is located in the cab and is used to describe the pitch and roll of the chassis. These sensors are powered by solar cells and can be charged without plugging into a 120V AC socket.
An integral part of the design of a septic tank system is to ensure the flow through the system. Traditional trenching is usually done using level and slope poles mounted on a tripod. When the soil was cleared, one worker entered the ditch, while another was reading the water level.
The iDig system eliminates the need for grade checkers. These workers can now perform other tasks required for septic tank installation.
A recently completed project by Sergeant involved the installation of 500 feet of 4 inches in length. SDR 35 solid tube. This pipe needs to be used to bring the water collected in the interceptor drain to the sewage outlet. The slope of the drain pipe must be 1%. This means that only a fraction of an inch of land is removed for every foot of ditch.
This drain is Sergeant’s first project using its new iDig system. After setting up the laser transmitter, the process is simple. He set the iDig system to a 1% slope, and then started digging.
Sergeant explained: “I can continue to dig, and my workers can continue to lay the pipeline.”
In the first excavation using iDig, he occasionally asked workers to check the slope to confirm that the shallow slope was correct. Facts have proved that this is one of the most important advantages of the iDig system. The labor previously used exclusively for performance checking can now be set as other tasks. Increased productivity.
In a limited season (affected by changes in weather), completing work faster is essential to increase profitability. Reduce labor costs by eliminating rank inspectors, which also greatly changes the profit calculation.
Usually, the performance check system installed on the machine requires a complete set of components to be permanently installed on each machine. Sergeant owns three excavators: Cat 312, Hyundai 160 and Takeuchi TB290. The iDig system brings new value in this situation.
iDig aims to achieve portability and ease of use. An iDig system can be deployed on any number of excavators. The quick connection base of the components reduces the setup time. After installing and calibrating the system on a specific model of machine, the configuration will be stored in the system memory for future use. The swap can be done very quickly and does not require technical personnel.
The sergeant proved that moving iDig from one machine to another is simple and economical. Each machine does need to install a set of dedicated sensor brackets. This is the only additional cost after purchasing the initial system. After mounting the bracket to the bucket, boom, stick and chassis position on a specific machine, fixing the sensor in place is simple. Perform an initial setup calibration for this particular machine, and then save it in the display computer.
“Use the suction cup to install the display and light bar, and plug the system into a 12v power supply (cigarette lighter). Choose the machine and bucket combination and start digging.” Sergeant said. “The process takes less than five minutes.
“I can bounce it off, throw it on another machine, and start digging. I can save a lot of money.”
Enjoying a family reputation in the future does not always follow a clear path. Sergeant will not evade the inheritance of the family, but to catch up with the trend of new technologies, but to combine established practices with emerging innovations to significantly increase its profitability.
Upholding the principles of family members has allowed the company to go for 70 years. There is no reason why they will not continue to do so.
For more information about the iDig system, please visit https://inteqdistributors.com/idig/ and iDig’s CONEXPO booth number BL446.