When Mr. Charlie Trimble and two other partners from Hewlett-Packard founded Trimble in 1978 in Silicon Valley's venerable Los Altos Theatre, they didn't even realize they were creating a whole new industry. But as history has shown, they did create a whole new industry.
From its earliest days, Trimble was dedicated to developing innovative location and navigation products. Initially, the fledgling start-up relied on LORAN technology to develop its products for the marine navigation market, while LORAN, Inc. was a provider of ground-based navigation, positioning, and timing systems in U.S. coastal waters. At the same time, the Global Positioning System (GPS) was emerging as a dual-use technology in the United States. In the same year that Trimble was founded, the first GPS satellite, NavStar, was launched.
Mr. Charlie Trimble became interested in this space-based positioning system because, when deployed, GPS would contain at least 24 positioning satellites in orbit, making it possible to determine the position of any point on the Earth with extreme accuracy. Recognizing the enormous potential of this unique new technology to change the way the world is modeled, Mr. Charlie and the other founders set the company's goal of fully developing the immature GPS technology, and Trimble purchased the emerging GPS technology from Hewlett-Packard.
By focusing its resources on developing innovative products that take full advantage of the expanded GPS capabilities, Trimble has redefined and resurrected not only the commercialization of GPS, but also the expansion of GPS applications into the traditional mapping and navigation markets, both of which are highly dependent on location-based technologies. The integration of GPS technology with other technologies, such as wireless communications, will lead to many new market opportunities centered on positioning information.
In 1982, Trimble seized the opportunity of the recent launch of GPS satellites by the U.S. government to begin the process of engineering GPS products, and Trimble's first products using GPS technology benefited applications requiring precision measurements, and began to be used in the land surveying and hydrological surveying industries. 1984 saw the introduction of the world's first commercially viable GPS product. In 1984, Trimble introduced the world's first commercially available GPS-based products for scientific research and marine geological mapping, primarily for use by oil drilling crews on offshore platforms.
Seafarers soon began using GPS position information to pinpoint the location of target points, calculate ship speed in real time, and enhance ship navigation between target points.
Between 1984 and 1988, Trimble not only greatly expanded its product line for scientific applications, but also made significant inroads into the marine navigation market. The next two years were years of explosive growth and expansion for Trimble, as Trimble received over 700 U.S. and foreign patents for its pioneering technology and relied on GPS and other technological advances to make GPS indispensable to the rapidly growing commercial market. During this period, Trimble also successfully entered other commercial markets through acquisitions of other companies.
In 1989, Trimble acquired the Navigation Systems Division of TAU Corporation and began to develop Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) technology to provide greater positional accuracy for the fleet management market. 1990 also saw the acquisition of Datacom Software Research in New Zealand, which was a new step in expanding the market. In 1990, Trimble also acquired Datacom Software Research in New Zealand, which not only expanded the market, but also enabled Trimble to offer new mapping software products.
The early 1990s were an exciting time for this new and growing company, and in 1990, Trimble became the first publicly traded GPS company with a stock offering under the NASDAQ (TRMB) symbol. That same year the Trimble product line became a dedicated GPS product line. During this time, Trimble continued its relentless efforts in technological innovation. For example, Trimble pioneered the convergence of GPS and communications technologies, allowing users to not only pinpoint any location on the Earth's surface, but also to enjoy the information simultaneously.Trimble's Inmarsat-C GPS system enables trucks and ships traveling long distances to stay in touch with their home bases at all times, enjoying forecasts of arrival times and precise information about their arrival times. Trimble's Inmarsat-C GPS system enables long-haul trucks and ships to stay in touch with their home bases to receive time-of-arrival forecasts and precisely coordinate cargo transfers over the same period.
In 1992, Trimble developed Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) technology, which enables instantaneous updating of GPS data while on the move. RTK technology was a revolutionary innovation for surveyors. GPS units can now not only perform topographic mapping and surveillance, but also acquire GIS data for real-time as-built surveys.
Over the next few years, Trimble's GPS technology advanced dramatically, and in 1994, Trimble was the first to develop a GPS receiver that could be integrated into a PC card. Just a year later, Trimble was the first to introduce plug-and-play GPS sensors for laptops and PDAs, and GPS was evolving into an increasingly indispensable new utility. As technology continues to advance, chipsets are becoming more integrated, and manufacturing costs and power consumption are being significantly reduced.
In 1998, Trimble was the first company to integrate GPS and cellular communications technology onto a single circuit board, and in 1999, Trimble GPS was incorporated into Seiko Epson's location-based communications device, the world's first combo communications device combining the functions of a PDA, cell phone, personal navigator, and digital camera.
Under the leadership of Mr. Steve Berglund, Trimble continued to grow and innovate as it moved triumphantly into a new millennium, and in 2000, Trimble pioneered the development of a GPS architecture known as FirstGPS technology, which took advantage of the tremendous advances in host product CPUs to integrate GPS technology into a broader range of products.
2000
In 2000, Trimble also acquired Spectra Precision Group, an industry-leading provider of positioning solutions for the construction, surveying, and agricultural markets. Through this acquisition, Trimble gained significant positioning technology resources that complement GPS, including laser and other optical positioning devices.
In the same year, Trimble also acquired Tripod Data Systems (TDS), an industry-leading developer of data acquisition software and hardware for the land surveying, construction and GIS markets. Both acquisitions are an important part of Trimble's strategic growth objectives to define and transform the application model centered on location-based information.
In April 2001, Trimble formed the Mobile Solutions Business Unit with the goal of delivering Internet-based location services to the mobile workplace. This new capability allows Trimble to leverage its existing wireless business capabilities to provide a complete end-to-end fleet management solution while focusing on expanding into the emerging market of location-enabled mobile devices.
In April 2002, Trimble, along with Caterpillar Corporation, formed a joint venture, Caterpillar Trimble Controls Technologies LLC, to develop the next generation of advanced electronically guided controls for earthmoving and transportation machinery, primarily in the construction, mining and waste industries. transportation machinery. The joint venture develops machine control products that automatically control dozer blades and other mechanical tools using field design information that is seamlessly integrated with precise positioning technology. This industry-leading machine control technology combines the historic Trimble positioning technology with the advanced capabilities gained through the acquisition of Spectra Precision. The joint venture is a Trimble and Caterpillar proprietary provider that sells, distributes, supports and services the companies' products using the independent distribution channels of both companies. Caterpillar offers products with factory-installed options, while Trimble continues to emphasize after-sales service for its products for earth-moving machinery from Caterpillar and other equipment manufacturers. Caterpillar offers products with factory-installed options, while Trimble continues to emphasize aftermarket service for earthmoving equipment from Caterpillar and other equipment manufacturers.
In March 2003, Trimble and Nikon Corporation formed a 50/50 joint venture in Japan, Nikon-Trimble Limited, to focus on the mapping instrument market. As part of the joint venture, Trimble acquired a 50 percent stake in Nikon-Trimble Limited, which also assumed the operations of Nikon Geotecs Limited in Japan. The new corporate entity is engaged in the design and manufacture of surveying and mapping instruments, including mechanical total stations and related products. The joint venture distributes not only Nikon surveying and mapping products but also Trimble surveying and mapping products in Japan, including GPS and automatic total stations. Outside of Japan, Trimble became the exclusive distributor of Nikon mapping and architectural products in international markets. Through geographic expansion and market penetration, the joint venture further expands Trimble's market share in the surveying and mapping instrumentation sector. Nikon instruments not only broaden Trimble's surveying and architectural product portfolio, but also give the company better access to the emerging markets of Russia, Eastern Europe, India and China. It enables Trimble to sell its GPS and total station technology to existing Nikon users around the world. In addition, the new company increases Trimble's market share in Japan, which remains a major market for surveying and mapping instruments.
In June 2003, Trimble successfully acquired Applanix Corporation of Ontario, Canada, an industry-leading developer of systems integration for inertial navigation systems (INS) and GPS technology. This acquisition not only expands Trimble's technical resources, but also enhances the functionality and robustness of its future positioning products. Focusing on its mapping and construction product lines, the acquisition's Inertial Navigation System (INS) technology-enhanced GPS products have the potential to not only improve satellite tracking capabilities, but also accelerate recapture speeds for accurate RTK positioning. These advantages are particularly important in situations where GPS satellite signals are blocked, especially in high-rise urban areas and heavily wooded areas.
In December 2003, Trimble acquired MENSI Ltd. of France, an industry-leading developer of terrestrial 3D scanning technology. Adding 3D scanning technology to Trimble's other positioning technologies accelerates new product development and allows Trimble to further increase efficiency and productivity in existing mapping, engineering and construction markets. The 3D scanning technology allows users to capture and utilize a greater volume of 3D data than with other tools.
In July 2004, Trimble successfully acquired GeoNav of Wunstorf, Germany, a provider of customized field data acquisition solutions for the European cadastral market. The addition of GeoNav's software resources, technical expertise and products will enable Trimble to not only better meet local application requirements, but also provide customized surveying solutions to the European market. Optical Total Stations. They also provide the ability to acquire, process and display accurate real-time measurements.
In January 2005, in an effort to further expand its wireless communications capabilities, Trimble acquired Pacific Crest, Inc. of Santa Clara, California, an industry-leading provider of wireless data communications systems for positioning and environmental monitoring applications. Pacific Crest's high quality radio modems provide the data link necessary to improve GPS accuracy. Applications that leverage the benefits of wireless communications for improved accuracy performance include RTK surveying and construction machine control for earth moving operations.
In April 2005, Trimble successfully acquired Apache Technologies, Inc. of Dayton, Ohio, USA, which designs, manufactures, and distributes specialized laser products for construction leveling and alignment applications. The acquisition of Apache further expands Trimble's laser product portfolio with handheld laser detectors, entry-level mechanical display control systems, and Apache products that set new benchmarks for performance, accuracy, ruggedness, reliability, and repeatability for their respective markets and price ranges.
In October 2005, Trimble acquired MobileTech Solutions (MTS) of Dallas, Texas, in order to enhance its field workforce management capabilities, as well as its market-leading position in the direct store delivery (DSD) industry. With approximately 200,000 vehicles in the DSD industry at the time, the MTS solution automates the sale and delivery of high-volume consumer products, such as baked goods, beverages, dairy products, and frozen foods, to retail stores. Handheld mobile computing devices provide real-time information to mobile field employees, improving customer service levels, on-time delivery and accurate pricing. This turnkey solution, which includes a wide range of mobile hardware and software, integrates seamlessly with the supplier's existing enterprise resource planning software system. With this acquisition, Trimble can present a highly integrated fleet management and mobile computing solution to the DSD industry.
In January 2006, Trimble successfully acquired Advanced Public Safety (APS) of Deerfield Beach, Florida, an industry-leading software development company that develops mobile and handheld software products used by law enforcement, fire and rescue, and public ****security departments. APS software provides real-time information to police officers through in-vehicle computers and handheld mobile computing devices to increase accuracy, improve safety, and increase efficiency, and seamlessly integrates with the public safety department's Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), criminal database, and records management systems. In addition, APS provides fire and rescue personnel with a variety of software solutions for survey and emergency medical reports, as well as surveying and automatic vehicle location (AVL) applications. By acquiring APS, Trimble intends to leverage Tripod Data Systems' ruggedized mobile computing devices and Trimble Mobile Solutions' fleet management systems to provide a complete mobile resource solution to the public ****security industry.
In February 2006, Trimble successfully acquired the intellectual property assets of The XYZs of GPS, a Maryland, U.S.A.-based company that develops real-time Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Reference Station Integrity Monitoring and Dynamic Positioning software for metric, decimeter, and centimeter accuracy applications. The acquisition of the intellectual property of The XYZs of GPS further expands Trimble's portfolio of infrastructure solutions by providing software that enhances differential GNSS correction systems to aid in marine applications such as navigation, mapping, civil engineering, hydrography, mapping and GIS, and scientific research.
In April 2006, Trimble successfully acquired Quantm International of Australia and its subsidiary Quantm Pty Ltd, a leading provider of transportation routing optimization software for road, rail, pipeline, and canal planning. This innovative software system enables infrastructure planners to examine and select routing corridors that simultaneously optimize construction costs, environmental constraints, avoidance of existing terrain and compliance with legal obligations. Improved solutions to proposed routes can significantly reduce project planning time and costs, and the transportation routing adjustments generated by Quantm software add to Trimble's Connected Construction Site strategy, creating a tighter link between the planning and design phases of a transportation project. The ultimate goal of Connected Construction Site is to create a tighter connection between the planning and design phases of a transportation project. The ultimate goal of Connected Site is to improve efficiency by increasing the integration of construction process information.
In May 2006, Trimble acquired Eleven Technology of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Eleven Technology is a mobile application software company with a leading market position and technology advantage in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. The Eleven Technology solution automates the sale and distribution of high-volume consumer products, such as food, beverages, and dairy products, to retail stores. It improves customer service, on-time delivery, and accurate pricing by providing real-time information to mobile field workers through handheld mobile computing devices. eleven Technology has a complete suite of solutions for the CPG industry, including a wide range of software applications for sales reps, transportation drivers, merchandisers, field service technicians, and managers. Applications for sales representatives, transportation drivers, merchants, field service technicians and managers. The solutions include a wide range of mobile hardware and software that integrate seamlessly with the vendor's existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) software systems. With the acquisitions of Mobile Tech Solutions and Eleven Technology, Trimble not only further establishes its leadership position in this vertical market, but also combines its mobile workforce and fleet management applications into a fully integrated mobile resource management solution.
In May 2006, Trimble successfully acquired the assets of BitWyse Solutions of Salem, Massachusetts, USA, an industry-leading data management company specializing in 2D and 3D applications for engineering and construction plant design. The acquisition of BitWyse's assets further expands Trimble's portfolio of 3D scanning solutions, providing application-specific software capabilities in vertical markets such as energy, processing, and manufacturing plants. These markets are increasingly using 3D scanning data to create as-built drawings, validate building design specifications, and improve efficiency.
In October 2006, Trimble successfully acquired Visual Statement of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. Visual Statement focuses on providing the most modern software tools for crime and collision investigation, analysis, and reconstruction, as well as providing nationwide enterprise solutions. It also offers a nationwide enterprise solution for reporting and analysis by the public***safety sector. The company's increased investment in the Mobility Solutions business strongly supports Trimble's business development strategy of providing efficient solutions to the mobile workforce. The acquisition of Visual Statement complements Trimble's subsidiary, Advanced Public Safety (APS), which is well positioned to offer a broad suite of solutions to public safety departments throughout the Americas.
In October 2006, Trimble acquired XYZ Solutions of Alpharetta, Georgia, USA, a leading provider of real-time, interactive, three-dimensional intelligence software for managing spatial location relationships on construction projects. XYZ Solutions software transforms data from disparate sources into actionable information that can be utilized in the decision-making process, enabling engineers and construction professionals to reduce rework and increase productivity. xyz solutions' unique 3D software package allows users to model spatial information, combine it with a variety of positioning technologies, and intuitively "see" construction projects anytime, anywhere, and in a collaborative, Internet-based environment. "View" a construction site or asset anytime, anywhere in a collaborative, Internet-based environment. In an interactive environment, decision support guidelines or business rules can be integrated into the solution set, virtually modeling the "what-if" context of a project in real time, increasing not only the customer's right to know, but also profitability. The acquisition of XYZ Solutions adds a 3D visualization element to Trimble's Connected Construction Site strategy.
In November 2006, Trimble successfully acquired Meridian Systems of Folsom, California, a recognized market leader in construction project management technology for the building owner and structural engineering construction (AEC) markets. Meridian Systems provides enterprise project management and lifecycle software for real estate, construction and other physical infrastructure projects. Building owners, construction contractors, engineering and construction firms, and government agencies use Meridian's technology not only to reduce construction capital costs, but also to increase the efficiency of their projects. The acquisition of Meridian Systems adds an enterprise lifecycle management software element to Trimble's Connected Construction Site strategy.
In February 2007, Trimble acquired @Road, a publicly traded company based in Fremont, California, adding to its investment in Trimble's mobility solutions (TMS) and strengthening its strategy for growth in this area. The acquisition of @Road establishes Trimble as the market leader in providing Mobile Resource Management (MRM) solutions. In addition to its industry-leading technology, @Road's deep industry expertise and strong field service management capabilities within MRM solutions make it easy to meet the challenges faced by a wide range of industries, including transportation, logistics and distribution, telematics, cable, field service, utilities, facility management and public **** engineering. The acquisition complements Trimble's existing expertise to better serve the building supply, direct store delivery, public **** safety and utility industries.
In February 2007, Trimble also successfully acquired INPHO of Stuttgart, Germany, an industry leader in photogrammetry and digital surface modeling for aerial surveying, mapping and remote sensing applications. INPHO products are used primarily by service companies that collect geospatial data through photogrammetry and LiDAR to provide geospatial information to government agencies. The photogrammetry capability allows Trimble to add a new business area and better enter the geospatial information industry, whereas Trimble's original focus was on ground-based or earth-based positioning solutions.
In September 2007, Trimble successfully acquired Ingenieurburo Breining of Kirchheim, Germany, a provider of customized field data acquisition and in-house software solutions for the German surveying and cadastral market. The addition of Breining's software resources, know-how and products allows Trimble to better meet local application requirements and provide customized surveying solutions for the German market.
In November 2007, in an effort to enhance Trimble's field and mobile workforce solutions in the utility market, Trimble acquired the UtilityCenter assets from privately held UAI of Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.A. The UtilityCenter software provides a broad suite of workflow solutions that enable utilities to improve the quality of their work. UtilityCenter software provides a broad suite of workflow solutions that can fully automate a utility's day-to-day business operations, from operations management, asset inventory, outage management, and job order tracking, to compliance management reporting and site map updates. The acquisition of UtilityCenter Software enables Trimble to offer industry-specific field solutions to electric and gas utility customers. With a suite of ruggedized data collection and mobile computing devices, TerraSync field asset software and UtilityCenter software, Trimble customers can make many complex day-to-day operations very simple. UtilityCenter software for the electric and natural gas utility markets complements Trimble's Fieldport software designed and developed for the water/wastewater utility market.
Acquisitions have played a very important role in Trimble's growth strategy over the past several years, primarily as a development mechanism to establish bridgeheads in new market spaces, fill gaps in product lines, or add new technologies to solutions. More importantly, continued technological innovation and industry expertise have been key drivers of the company's growth, allowing Trimble to remain committed to organic growth as its primary growth strategy, with core market segments including engineering, construction, agriculture, mobility and field workforce management, and advanced equipment.
With rapid advances in communications standards, computer technology, and application software, Trimble has kept the pace of technology moving forward, integrating GPS information and other location-based technologies with other sources and types of data, making Trimble not only a leader in GPS technology, but a true leader in information technology, combining other technologies, such as wireless and information technology, with GPS. Trimble is not only a GPS technology leader, but a true information technology leader, integrating and integrating technologies such as wireless communications and information technology with GPS and other location-based technologies to maintain a market-leading position at the forefront of the information revolution.
Today, Trimble engineers around the world are promoting the development of state-of-the-art positioning technologies for applications that were virtually unimaginable just a few years ago. With more than 500 products, Trimble continues to lead the way in developing location-centric solutions to the world's most complex challenges. Trimble technology can be found in consumer products, residential vehicles, construction equipment, agricultural machinery, computers, PDAs and more. Innovative applications abound, including fleet scheduling and management, road surveying and construction, earthquake damage monitoring and measurement, recording and synchronizing international financial transactions, and improving the efficiency of wireless communication networks. Trimble is changing the way people work by combining location-based technology with improved efficiency.
Trimble's revenues, which were approximately $270 million in 1999, have grown to more than $940 million in 2006, and Trimble's growing portfolio of businesses has moved away from the concept of the "product in a box" to a combined suite of products and solutions that have led to significant improvements in productivity and efficiency. Trimble's growing portfolio has moved away from the "boxed product" concept to a combined suite of products and solutions, resulting in significant productivity gains. It is this steady growth strategy, significant investment in research and development, and solid financial performance that will propel Trimble into a bright future.