Topcon Corporation’s machine control, GPS, laser and survey operations in Australia and New Zealand are to be substantially boosted, with the announcement that Topcon’s sales, marketing and support activities in Australia will become part of Topcon Positioning Systems, headquartered in Livermore, California.

The new operation will become effective on July 1, 2006. TPS currently has a primary software development operation in Brisbane, and will maintain an office in Sydney.

TPS directs global product development and production for Topcon’s entire range of machine control and GPS systems, as well as sales and support for all Topcon positioning products in North and South America. TPS is a subsidiary of Topcon Corporation, which has its headquarters in Tokyo.

The move to integrate Australian operations with TPS follows the highly successful business model introduced last year with the restructuring of the Topcon Europe sales organisation – which has seen a doubling in Topcon’s turnover in Europe in less than 12 months.

Ray O’Connor, TPS president and chief executive officer, directs European business development as chairman of the board of Topcon Europe Positioning.

“The new structure in Europe has seen significant growth in sales and market share in just one year, and we see an even brighter future ahead,” O’Connor says. “Our goal is to achieve the same type of growth in Australia and New Zealand.”

TPS Australia will immediately begin to expand the positioning systems business throughout Australia and NZ, O’Connor says. “This exciting business model will greatly streamline sales and support activities by providing direct lines of communication to both TPS and Topcon headquarters in Japan.”

Jamie Williamson, senior vice president of TPS sales and marketing, says Australian and NZ dealers and customers would see an immediate benefit through integration of sales and support staffs, and “…will receive timely product and application information, plus direct access to new technological software, products, and applications.

“Australian and NZ contractors and surveyors are very knowledgeable about the changing professional landscape; they are progressive and extremely accepting of new technologies,” Williamson says. “That’s another reason we believe there is great potential for growth in this market.”

The transition to the new sales and support structure is expected to be completed in July.