A FRUITFUL partnership with leading international surveying equipment specialists – nurtured with efficient sales and support services in the kingdom – has helped position Al Jehat Company (Jatco) well on its growth chart last year.

The surveying and mapping company, a distributor in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain for the Trimble and Nikon ranges of survey, construction and GIS (geographic information system) products, achieved a 60 per cent growth in its Trimble/Nikon business last year and is hoping to repeat this success story in 2010.
“Any potential effect due to the global downturn was more than compensated by an increase in our market share and the introduction of innovative Trimble products,” says a spokesman for the Saudi-based company.
The company’s survey and construction product division is now aiming for a similar growth rate this year and, judging by the Q1 results, is well on track to surpass this target, according to the spokesman.
Jatco is a leading survey and mapping organisation in the Middle East which, over the past 35 years, has offered all aspects of land, engineering and hydrographic surveying expertise to local construction contractors and design engineers.

In addition to providing surveying services, Jatco is also a major player in the sale and support of surveying equipment and positioning solutions from Trimble and Nikon.
“Jatco fully understands that construction companies are under increasing pressure to perform work faster and more accurately than ever before and is working closely with clients in the construction industry to deliver cost-effective production on projects throughout the region,” says the spokesman.
Trimble and Nikon systems point the way to increased speed and enhanced accuracy, he adds. Trimble of the US integrates a wide range of GPS, laser and optical technologies to provide construction customers with cost-effective positioning solutions and increased on-site productivity. In terms of products and services, two areas of innovation have given Trimble a competitive edge – the GPS networks and machine control.
“Many local construction companies are now realising that an investment in Trimble technology will be repaid over a relatively short period – the pay-back is often with the life cycle of a single project,” says the spokesman.
The success of the Jatco/Trimble partnership over recent years has been achieved through adapting Trimble’s innovative solutions to the local market and by emphasising the commercial value of investment in technology, he points out.
Jatco is also well aware that efficient support is vital to product sales. Hence last year, the company expanded its Trimble/Nikon sales and support resources both in terms of manpower and facilities.
The spokesman elaborates: “A high level of support is key to product sales. Hence, advanced training schemes have been implemented in the kingdom and abroad to ensure sales engineers maintain international standards.”
The company continues to expand its infrastructure facilities by investing in sales outlets and service centres, with new showrooms launched in Jeddah and Dammam.
“This, along with increased stock levels, has successfully improved the availability and sales of the Nikon total stations and levels,” says the spokesman.
“These instruments – in particular, the recently-introduced Nikon Nivo – are becoming a standard on many construction sites.
Last year, Jatco launched another service centre in Riyadh, in addition to its existing fully-equipped facility in Dammam.
“This year we plan to launch an additional showroom in Riyadh and a service centre in Jeddah, besides maintaining ongoing training of support engineers and technicians to achieve the highest level of support,” the spokesman says.
Jatco has installed several Trimble GPS or VRS (virtual reference station) networks throughout the kingdom. Clients that have implemented this positioning technology include Jeddah, Makkah and Jubail municipalities. Saudi Aramco and Yanbu Royal Commission are also in the forefront of network application technology.
Elaborating on the GPS networks and machine control systems, the spokesman says: “A VRS network operates 24/7 GPS base stations and within its area of coverage improves productivity while at the same time reducing costs, by eliminating the need to purchase and set up base stations.
“This year, we have continued to see a steady demand for VRS networks. Several municipalities and private organisations are showing an interest in setting up networks for property and construction and GIS applications.”
“Machine control is a relatively new technology to Saudi Arabia. Trimble’s grade control systems can be installed on machines from any manufacturer and offer a means of performing earthworks faster and more profitably than using conventional methods.
“Trimble’s grade control systems are revolutionising the total construction process, whether in the use of excavators, dozers or scrapers for bulk earthworks, motor graders for finished grading or compactors for materials density. Trimble has the capability to place control on the machine and display information so that cab operators can finish jobs faster and more accurately with minimal supervision.
“These systems also results in cost savings by reducing survey and staking costs, less rework, less checking and improved materials yields.”
Jatco, established in 1975 as a specialist survey organisation, has over the past three decades diversified into various disciplines with an emphasis on high technology products and services.
While its survey division and the survey and construction products division focus on supporting the Saudi Arabian construction market, the company’s other activities include information technology, training and specialist manpower services.