Road to Perfection: How 2AGE-MCS Used 3D Technology to Achieve Milling Excellence

Author: Reka Vasszi

When it comes to road construction, precision and speed are not just buzzwords; they're essential. For contractors and operators who manage these complex projects, cutting-edge technology is the secret weapon that keeps everything on track. Enter 2AGE-MCS and their successful collaboration with Leica Geosystems on the RCEA (Route Centre-Europe Atlantique) project in central France. With Leica Geosystems’ machine control solutions, 2AGE-MCS delivered top-notch milling results that left no room for error and stayed ahead of the clock.

The RCEA Project

Picture being assigned the job of milling four kilometres of road in just two days—quite the challenge, right? However, for 2AGE-MCS, this was the task at hand for the RCEA project, a major infrastructure initiative to enhance one of France’s critical traffic routes. The Roger Martin Group entrusted 2AGE-MCS with the responsibility of executing the precise and swift milling work for the RCEA road expansion between Paray and Charolles, guaranteeing the road surface met top safety and quality standards.

The pressure was not only to finish the job in time but also to do it with such precision that the asphalt mix would perfectly glide over the milled surface. So, how did they pull it off? The answer is 3D machine control.

The Power of 3D Machine Control

"Leica Geosystems’ machine control solutions have truly proven their worth," says Bastien Lambert, Director of 2AGE-MCS. And he’s not exaggerating. Armed with the Leica MC1 3D milling solution, mounted on a Wirtgen W 210 XP cold milling machine, the team was able to meet the tough deadline with flying colours.

The system followed the predefined 3D models like glue, ensuring that the surface was millimetre-accurate once the milling bits passed over the surface. This level of accuracy reduced the need for follow-up corrections, saving both time and money.

Speed Meets Simplicity With Automatic Device Switching

Now, let's talk setup. One might expect a complex system like this to take hours to calibrate. But thanks to Leica Geosystems’ engineering, the Leica MC1 system was up and running in just twenty minutes. This quick setup allowed the team to start milling without missing a beat, a critical factor given their tight schedule.

And it wasn’t just fast—it was smart too. Leica’s technology comes with an automatic device-switching feature, called Leica 1-Up system, which saved the team even more time by reducing manual interventions. It automatically switches between different total stations without requiring manual intervention, which significantly reduces downtime and potential errors. By allowing continuous machine guidance, this system ensures that the milling process remains consistently accurate, even over long distances.

As Bastien Lambert, Director of 2AGE-MCS, points out, "This functionality saved us considerable time," highlighting its critical role in maintaining high-quality results throughout the project. To maximise the system's effectiveness, Lambert's team positioned four total stations every 125 meters, enabling real-time monitoring and control that kept the milling operation precisely on track from start to finish.

Boosting Efficiency with Real-Time Adjustments

As the team milled away, real-time data streamed from the total stations to the milling machine at 10 Hz. That means the machine made tiny corrections ten times per second to stay on course. This kind of high-frequency adjustment is like having a super-accurate autopilot guiding the machine, ensuring that the final road surface is as smooth as a runway.

"Without 3D guidance, this would have been impossible. Manual measurement would have significantly reduced our precision and speed," Lambert acknowledges.

In just two days, 2AGE-MCS milled approximately 1,500 tonnes of road surface, moving at a steady pace of about 12 meters per minute. The result? A perfectly milled road that meets all regulatory standards and is ready for the next phase of the project. Thanks to the synergy between 2AGE-MCS’s expertise and Leica Geosystems’ cutting-edge technology, the project was a resounding success.

Why Investing In Technology Is A Game-Changer

When it comes to large-scale infrastructure projects, investing in 3D machine control solutions can be the difference between hitting a deadline with precision or falling short.

The contractor, Roger Martin Group was impressed with accuracy and the short amount of time the job was delivered. Anthony Teriele from Roger Martin commented, “We selected 2AGE-MCS due to their proven expertise and our need for high precision and rapid implementation”.

As Lambert puts it, "Leica Geosystems’ solutions have been instrumental in achieving our goals swiftly and accurately. Their technology has truly enhanced our operational efficiency and precision."

In the fast-paced world of road construction, Leica Geosystems is paving the way to the future—one perfectly milled road at a time.

Learn more about our portfolio covering the life-cycle of a road construction project: https://leica-geosystems.com/industries/heavy-construction/highways