Pipeline Constructors Inc. Utilizes Komatsu Smart Construction Solutions to Monitor Equipment and Collect Data in Real Time

Ron Denmark, the owner and the president of Pipeline Constructors Inc., founded the company in 1987 alongside his father, Roy. Based in Northeast Florida, Pipeline Constructors started as a commercial site contractor, specializing in land clearing, earthwork, utilities, roadwork and paving, often working with school boards and military bases.

After transitioning to single-family projects around 2005, Pipeline Constructors faced a severe setback during the 2007 market crash, which reduced its workforce from 100 employees to just five. Despite this challenging period, the company survived and began recovering in 2011, fully returning to single-family projects by 2015.

“Our resilience during the market crash is a testament to our team’s dedication,” Ron explained. “We had to downsize significantly, but our core team remained strong. As the market recovered, we were fortunate to bring back many of the skilled workers we had to let go. Their loyalty and expertise are invaluable to us and are the reason we’ve grown to the point we are at today.”

Currently, Pipeline Constructors primarily focuses on sitework infrastructure for single-family homes and multifamily apartments, partnering with national homebuilders to prepare lots for new constructions. Pipeline Constructors strategically serves Duval, Clay, St. Johns and Flagler counties, which has allowed it to maintain a strong local presence and ensure high-quality project delivery.

Adopting GPS

A significant contributor to Pipeline Constructors’ operational success has been its investment in Komatsu Intelligent Machine Control (IMC) equipment, which features factory-integrated GPS technology and grade control solutions.

“In 2015, we bought our first GPS machine, and the impact was immediate,” Ron shared. “From that point, our fleet expanded to include Komatsu IMC equipment. The transition from traditional methods to GPS has drastically increased our efficiency, allowing us to accomplish more with fewer resources. It’s hard to imagine returning to the old ways.”

The company’s fleet includes a range of IMC equipment, such as a Komatsu D51PXi-24 dozer and a Komatsu PC290LCi-11 excavator. These machines enable precise grading and digging, which can significantly reduce the need for rework.

“I love to run them,” noted Superintendent Evan Denmark. “The visibility on the D51 is great, and the IMC excavator is amazing, especially when digging ponds. You don’t have to have a surveyor out here every day putting new grade stakes in the ground. The data’s right there on the machine, so you just lock it in and go.”

The integration of IMC equipment extends beyond just excavation and grading. Terry Qualls, who is responsible for construction layouts, highlighted how these machines have improved the company’s workflow.

“Since adding the IMC excavators to the fleet, we’ve seen an immediate increase in productivity of 10% to 15%,” explained Terry. “The IMC excavators free up our dozers, especially for pond construction. The excavator can cut the pond’s slope to grade without relying on the dozer to continuously monitor the grade. The dozer just slicks it off for grass seeding at the end, freeing up the dozer to work on other aspects of the job.”

Pipeline Constructors especially appreciates that the IMC machines are user-friendly and accurate.

“The operators prefer the IMC machines for laying pressure pipes because it removes the guesswork,” noted Terry. “The ability to collect as-built data on the spot and send it directly to the office also speeds up the process tremendously. It saves us both time and money.”

Incorporating IMC technology has not only streamlined operations but also elevated the quality of work.

“The data integration from our IMC machines allows for seamless communication between the field and office,” Ron added. “Surveyors can download data directly from the machines, cutting out redundant steps and ensuring precision.”

Adding Smart Construction solutions

To manage the data and monitor its fleet in real time, Pipeline Constructors recently adopted several of Komatsu’s Smart Construction solutions, including Smart Construction Remote, Smart Construction Drone and Smart Construction Dashboard. One of the key components of the Smart Construction solutions is that they can all be used together with My Komatsu, which helps boost the company’s productivity.

“Komatsu’s IMC and Smart Construction solutions have allowed us to exponentially grow our volume of business with significantly fewer people,” commented Ron. “If you go back to around ‘05, prior to using GPS, we were right at 100 employees. The volume of business that we were doing at that time compared to the volume of business we’re doing today is roughly eight to 10 times greater — but with only 150 employees. Without this technology, there’s no way I can do the level of where we are today.”

Smart Construction Remote is particularly valuable for troubleshooting and efficiency.

“With Remote, I can access any of the machines integrated into our Dashboard from my desk and see what the operator sees on his screen,” explained Terry. “If there’s a grading issue, I can troubleshoot on the spot without leaving the office. If they need a new CAD file, I can directly input it into the machine. This saves us time and eliminates the need for long drives to the site.”

Smart Construction Drone and Smart Construction Dashboard are other critical tools that have streamlined operations.

“Dashboard allows us to see our site and process drone data quickly,” said Terry. “Previously, processing drone data could take days, but with Dashboard, it’s often ready within hours. This speed enables us to communicate our needs in near-real time and make informed decisions faster. By the next day, I’ve got my drone data. I’m able to compare it to my model to see where we’re at and where we still need to add or take away dirt, allowing us to make fast decisions and maximize our efficiency.”

Ron emphasized the practical benefits of these technologies, commenting, “Using Smart Construction, we can collect as-built data as the machine operates to capture job site progress in real time. That’s useful if a dispute arises. We can support our work through facts and data.”

From real-time data collection and processing to remote troubleshooting and precise installations, these tools have enhanced the company’s capabilities.

“It’s helping us put dirt where it needs to be the first time, reducing rework and increasing overall efficiency,” Terry stated.

Support from Linder

To successfully implement its Smart Construction solutions, Pipeline Constructors worked closely with Linder Industrial Machinery Company. The relationship, which dates to the early 2000s, has helped Pipeline Constructors survive lean years and flourish during strong economic times.

“When we first started partnering with Linder, I’m not sure GPS existed,” reflected Ron. “Around ‘05, GPS became prevalent, but I didn’t see the value initially. However, after observing our competitors evolving faster, we decided to invest in GPS technology with Linder in 2015 and have seen tremendous growth since then.”

Ron continued, “My first salesman was Chuck Colarusso, who became a valued friend. Despite the challenges during the recession, Linder’s support remained steadfast, and by 2017, Mike Teston became our salesman and has done a fabulous job since. Anytime I have a question about equipment, he answers his phone.”

For support that extends beyond sales, Pipeline Constructors relies on Linder Technology Solutions Expert (TSE) Steve Fuller.

“From a business standpoint, Linder offers tremendous support,” Ron explained. “Steve helped teach our team how to use the Smart Construction solutions, and he answers any questions we have. He’s been an invaluable resource for us.”

Terry added, “Linder has been phenomenal in keeping us up to date and ensuring we have the necessary training. Whenever I have a question about Smart Construction or IMC machines, I reach out to Steve or Mike, and they always provide valuable solutions.”

Evan concluded, “We’ve been in a relationship with Linder for 20 to 25 years, and their service and product support have been excellent. From the quality of the machines to the support from the sales team, we’re very comfortable working with them, and our team enjoys using their equipment. We look forward to the partnership continuing into the future.”