Sunbelt Rentals Partners With Xwatch Safety Solutions
Now available: XWatch Safety Solutions including movement restriction and roll over monitoring for plant machinery.
Sunbelt Rentals Survey Blog
Keep up to date with news from the Survey division of Sunbelt. Here you can follow what our people have been up to, as well as get the inside scoop on new products, software releases and project news.
TS16 gets a new lease of life
In a year like this one, an announcement that there have been some improvements to a total station is probably not going to have a huge impact, but it’s worth noting. Anyone who buys a new TS16, TS13 or TM30 from now on will be getting a few extra bonus features.
Understanding your reference data – Using a DXF/DWG file
Our support team gives advice on using a DXF/DWG file as a source of reference data.
Used equipment gets a new lease of life
An engineer from ETM Recycling collected their purchase of a used Leica Smartpole System from our Bristol depot last week.
Machine Control Solution Installed in a Day
Sunbelt Rentals Survey got a text from an engineer for a machine control solution at 8.30am, and by 11.30am the next day, their Trimble Cab Kit had been installed and was ready to go.
Meet the new boss…Leica Geosystem’s new MS60
Find out all about the new MS60
Our Depots Get New Sunbelt Signage
Our depots are being rebranded.
Reference data: What is ASCII?
Our support team helps you to understand reference data in this blog, relating to ASCII.
Leica Captivate Reference Line: Measure to Line
Is the reference line program working, but the levels are wrong? Our support team can help.
We've Changed To Sunbelt Rentals Survey
We've officially rebranded as Sunbelt Rentals Survey from today!
Caring for your Total Station
Take care of your Total Station and it will take care of you. Find out how.
Why don’t we just scan it? Adopting laser scanners in your workflow.
Our support team give you advice on what to consider when using Laser Scanning technology.
Keeping You Updated - BLK2GO
To keep your spirits up in these hard times let's talk about exciting tech and updates
We’re Rebranding as Sunbelt Rentals Survey
A-Plant rebrand - how does it affect Opti-cal?
Coalville Service Centre Spotlight
Find out more about how our Coalville service centre can help you.
Milton Keynes Spotlight
Find out a little bit more about our very own Milton Keynes Service Centre in this week's blog,
Environmental Monitoring for Construction
Find out how we can help you with your environmental and safety needs.
Cardiff Service Centre Moves to New Premises
New year, new pastures - our Cardiff Service Centre has moved!
Goodbye 2019
It's time to reflect... and look forward to 2020!
Christmas and New Year 2019 Opening Hours
Find our opening times for Christmas and New Year here.
Spotlight on Reading Service Centre
There's not much our HQ in Reading can't deal with - find out all about it.
Ground Penetrating Radar - Product Spotlight
Find out all about Ground Penetrating Radar and how it's utilised in this blog.
Commercial UAV Show Recap
Here's what happened when we went to the Commercial UAV Show 2019
Heritage Survey Day - Event Case Study
The Heritage Survey Day was an event on behalf of one of our customers - read about it here.
Spotlight On Wakefield Service Centre
Everything you need to know about what goes on at our Wakefield Service Centre
Honing our skills with the Leica Pegasus: Backpack
Our support team took a quick trip to get aquainted with the Leica Pegasus:Backpack.
Introducing GeoMax, our new distribution partner
GeoMax are the newest addition to our portfolio of geomatics equipment, read all about them.
Visit us at the Commercial UAV Show 2019
See us on stand 40 and talk to our product specialists.
Heritage Survey Day Recap
Behind the scenes – what happened at our Heritage Survey Day?
Aligning with Autodesk... Captivate v4.5 is released
Laser Calibration Day - Livingston
On the 4th October, you'll be able to drop into our Livingston Service Centre and get your Lasers calibrated!
Case Study: Laser Scanning for Renovation with nmcn
We’re always lending a helping hand, especially when it involves a laser scanner!
Join Us At The Contamination Expo: 11-12th September
See our range of detection and safety equipment at the Contamination Expo in Birmingham
Introducing SA Equip
Opti-cal now supply SA Equip, portable ATEX and IECEx certified safety equipment for use in extreme environments
Training Day at Birmingham University
Read our case study on one of our recent training days.
You're Invited: Heritage Survey Day
Opti-cal are very pleased to invite you to our event especially for the heritage sector.
Opti-cal Staff To Take on the Three Peaks Challenge
Five Opti-cal team members from across the UK are completing the Three Peaks Challenge in aid of The Prince’s Trust
Opti-cal Now a UK Distributor for Wingtra
Opti-cal are pleased to announce that we are now a UK dealer for Wingtra, the Swiss drone company that develops the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone, the WingtraOne.
Case Study: Balfour Beatty Technical Support Training
Find out how we work with our valued accounts to increase efficiency in the field in this case study.
Theft Prevention Advice for Surveying Equipment
Use the steps in this blog to help protect your survey equipment and therefore your business from thieves.
Spotlight: Machine Control Solutions
Machine Control solutions from Opti-cal ensure that excavation and earthworks activities on your site are right first time, every time.
Training, Constuctionarium and Opti-cal’s Role
Training in a live site environment is a great way to learn - find out why, and how Constructionarium Scotland is helping.
Advanced Technology Day
We will be showcasing the newest additions to our Sunderland Service Centres portfolio.
Tracking Emission Levels On a Development - Case Study
Tracking the levels of dust, noise and vibration is important on any worksite, and fitting an environment meter to monitor these readings in the long-term is a good way of ensuring emissions stay at a reasonable level throughout work taking place.
GEO Business Show Recap
The GEO Business show last week was a hive of activity.
Livingston Training Centre Now Fully Operational
See what our brand new training centre in Livingston, Scotland has to offer.
The First Step In The Reconstruction of Notre-Dame
Art Graphique & Patrimoine uses FARO’s Focus S Laser Scanner series to perform emergency 3D digital mapping of the Notre-Dame cathedral on 20th April 2019
Surveying an Archaeological Site
How do the Leica GS16 GNSS antenna and CS20 fare when surveying an archaeological site? Read on to find out...
Precision Geomatics Limited is now trading as Opti-cal Survey Equipment
Following A-Plant’s acquisition of Precision Geomatics Ltd in November, both PGL service centres have now been fully integrated into Opti-cal Survey Equipment.
A UK First for Machine Control
Opti-cal’s Machine Control Division have been busy installing the FIRST dual GNSS Leica iCON Compaction system in the UK, for L.Lynch.
Why aren’t you considering Mobile Mapping?
What’s the next technology that’s on the cusp of becoming the norm? Well now it’s Mobile Mapping and it’s something we can help you get involved in.
World’s tallest modular building
Supplying Surveying Equipment to Vision Modular Systems has aided in the completion of the World’s tallest modular building.
Always nice to hear that we are doing a good job.
Head and shoulders above
Accurate terrestrial laser scanner for high-quality projects
We have proven this to be the most accurate terrestrial laser scanner for our worldwide high-quality 3D Laser scanning projects.
Manchester on the Move
Our Manchester based Service Centre has relocated to new offices.
Spot Light on Cardiff
Nestled in the heart of Cardiff our service centre staffed by 3 dedicated team members has been busier than ever over the last few months.
Surveying Equipment – Theft Prevention Advice
Theft of surveying equipment is a major problem for those in the industry, costing millions of pounds each year and causing delays for companies. There are a number of steps you can take to reduce the chances of this theft occurring.
Upgrade and Save £10,000
Trade-up any SLAM DEVICE and save £10,000 when you purchase a new ZEB-Horizon or ZEB-REVO RT.
4 Casella Guardian 2 systems
Not 1, but 4 Casella Guardian 2 systems delivered and installed, to a London based demolition company, demolishing an old DIY superstore in West London.
Performing for Performance Standards
Our Performance Standards Team carries out a vitally important task in administering audits at our service centres to ensure each location...
Apprentice of the Year Awards
A-Plant, Britain's leading plant, tool and equipment hire company, recognised some of the industry’s brightest rising stars at its annual Apprentice Awards.
A-Plant Showcase Industry-leading Equipment to Help Improve Safety for HS2
HS2 is currently one of the largest infrastructure opportunities in the UK. Phase One is valued at £55.7bn and will link London Euston to Birmingham by 2026.
Flextastic
The international Geomatics trade show InterGeo was on again a few weeks ago and Leica Geosystems have used the platform to announce their new range of manual total stations.
Taking it to Four
Our Livingston Service Centre is the 4th Service Centre to have passed the Leica Workshop Audit with a 100% pass.
Branching out West
Our 12th Service Centre located in Exeter is now fully open.
Mobile Mapping
After taking delivery of the latest surveying equipment and enjoying a nice bit of cake, thanks Leica! We are now all set to provide you with the latest in Mobile Mapping.
Familiar Faces – even we need a demo!
Demonstrations are taking place up and down the country, but this time round it’s the Opti-cal team who are learning and getting hands-on with the latest equipment from Leica Geosystems.
RTC360 Workflow Days
Surveyors from across the North stopped by their local Opti-cal Service Centre last week, to check out the new RTC360 scanner from Leica.
Nine New NetRovers
Nine brand new Leica GS07 NetRovers are now in the hands of the team at Wessex Archaeology.
New Service Centre Opening
Our team based in Park Royal, London have exceptional knowledge in the Survey Industry, and will be able to provide the whole of London.
My haven’t they grown!
Here at Opti-cal towers we are always investing in what we can offer our customers, and this doesn’t stop at the brand new shiny equipment you will find turning up on your site.
Technical Support – doing what they do best
Rather than work coming to a stand still at the RH Irving Industrial site in Luton, our Technical Support Team went above and beyond to help.
Ancient and Modern
I was invited to undertake a very rapid 3D survey of the large Schneller orphanage in Jerusalem using a handheld ZEB-REVO laser scanner manufactured by GeoSLAM, which I had hired from Opti-cal Survey Equipment.
Safety Equipment
As well as supplying Survey Equipment, Opti-cal also supplies Safety Equipment.
Archaeologists join forces with military veterans to dig for the secrets of Waterloo
A team of leading archaeologists, veterans and serving personnel from the armed forces will be returning to the battlefield of Waterloo in Belgium to excavate for evidence of the fierce fighting that took place there in the battle of 1815
All About Innovation
Thanks to some sterling work from Becky Thorne, Account Manager for Opti-cal and National Account Manager Tim Leitch, we have had the opportunity to showcase our products and expertise to Costain.
Machine Control Training
We will be holding monthly based Machine Control training courses at our Coalville Service Centre on the 3rd Saturday of every month.
Helping Students to Survey
Mark Hannaford from Opti-cal’s Technical Support and Training Team was called upon recently to help course lecturer, Jag Sihre at South and City College Birmingham.
Service Technicians Score a Hat-trick for Opti-cal
Our Bristol Service Centre is now third in a-row to have passed a Leica Workshop Audit with a 100% pass.
2 x 100% Leica Approved
March saw the first of Opti-cal’s service centres receive a 100% pass in an audit carried out by Leica Geosystems. Two months later and we are now 2 x 100% Leica Approved!
Are you ready for a Laser that adapts to your environment?
The brand NEW and FIRST upgradeable Rugby Lasers from Leica can match your appliaction needs effortlessly.
100% Leica Approved
Our Gatwick Service Centre has received a full glowing report, having recently been through the Workshop Auditing process by Leica Geosystems, achieving a pass of 100%.
We’re growing. Careers available nationwide.
We are currently recruiting for a wide range of jobs across the UK. Think you have what it takes, then apply now.
Warner Surveys Lands a Mountain Of New Equipment
UK Land and Engineering Survey company, Warner Surveys, has received delivery of a huge stock of brand new equipment worth more than £500,000.
Digging in the dirt – taking the knowledge to you
Opti-cal Survey Equipment, in partnership with UK Plant Operators, have developed a unique simulator based training course designed to give practical skills and knowledge to both experienced operators and absolute beginners.
Midland Survey Limited invests in Leica utility detection radars to improve in-field productivity
Midland Survey Limited, one of the UK’s largest independent surveyors, has invested in utility detection radars (DS2000) from Leica Geosystems.
ZEB-REVO Handles Hazardous Surveys
Britannia Bridge is the sole rail link for passengers travelling between Anglesey and mainland UK across the Menai Strait. Stuart Cadge from GeoSLAM recounts a unique survey of the bridge structure.
University Challenge - Not for the ZEB-REVO
To Deliver Rapid 3D Results in Half the Time
The world’s Fastest GNSS RTK Rover
Introducing the world’s fastest and easiest-to-use GNSS RTK Rover, the Leica GS18 T, immune to magnetic disturbances and is totally calibration-free
Evolution of the REVO
The fast-paced development at GeoSLAM has led to the second revision of the highly popular ZEB-REVO.
Minimising Disruption
Omega Geomatics took on the task of producing 2D floor plans of a nursing home.
Award-Winning Gas Detector
MSA the Safety Company, developers and award winners of the most rugged multi-gas diffusion detector in the industry.
Hands-on Training
Henry Boot’s team of engineers and CAD technicians recently met up with Ben Carruthers our Support and Training Manager at the Wakefield Service Centre to get hands-on with the TS16.
Updating for the Future
Ellam Land Surveys established over 30 years ago, based in Dewsbury, invest a lot of time and capital on keeping up with the ever-changing world of survey.
48 Hours to Scan Three Historic Sites in Israel – Ambitious or Impossible?
Jamie Quartermaine from Oxford Archaeology was determined to find out.
Sky High Surveying
Opti-cal have been providing Airborne Surveying for just over a year and this surveying method has really taken off.
Recon for RJ Howard
Investing in Reconditioned Equipment
A Feature-rich UAV System
Opti-cal received their first shipment of the much anticipated DJI M210 UAV’s this week.
Major Solar Storm
A major solar storm is due to hit the Earth today and will continue to intensify across the next few days.
Continuing the Partnership with Churngold
Opti-cal are to exclusively supply all Churgold’s construction survey requirements for the foreseeable future after signing a new contract.
Make the Most of your Equipment - With our Training Courses
Our goal is to increase your productivity and give your company the competitive edge.
Waterloo Uncovered - Back on Site
Veterans and Archaeologist come together for a third year, as part of the great work Waterloo Uncovered are doing on the battle field of Waterloo.
Henry Boot Focus on BIM
Opti-cal was approached by Henry Boot to present on BIM Information and Workflow to boost their engineers and CAD technician’s knowledge.
Machine Control Training Just Got Real
Simulator-based learning for Plant Operators
The Bristol Team are on the Move
Still located in Bristol the team can be found just off junction 16 of the M5.
Growing the Support Team
As Opti-cal grows as a company we are aware that our customers need the highest of care and support.
A brand new offer for 2017
Educational Discount
Logging some CPD hours
In such a vibrant and fast changing industry keeping your knowledge and skills up to date is something you can’t neglect.
GPS Demo for Rogers Geo Technical
Rogers Geotechnical Services GPS open day.
Laser Scanning our Heritage
Historic England are amongst the first in the UK to order the new FARO S150.
Investing in the Capture of Asset Data
Recent requirements to enhance gas asset management data at National Grid meant it was necessary to obtain Laser Scanning equipment.
Rapid Mobile Scanning for As Built Building Surveys
To replace an existing out-dated 3-storey building with a new 5-storey commercial office intended for multi occupancy.
Geoterra 'GeoSLAM' Underground
Geoterra Surveys become the first company in the UK to opt for the new GeoSLAM ZEB-CAM.
Communications for Charity Day
Communication equipment for Working Steam Weekend event in the form of two-way radios.
RJE Scan Humberside
Richard James Engineering, investing in the FARO X Series
Busy in Wakefield
Day two in the new Wakefield office and Stephen Hall is busy yet again making more sales.
Off to a Great Start
Amongst the chaos that occurs when moving offices, Stephen Hall found the time to assist his customer.
Exciting Changes for our Huddersfield Office
We are pleased to announce that we have relocated our Huddersfield branch to Wakefield
DEC Eng, Going Renewable with the Leica TS16
David Clinch a Lead Engineer for Dong Energy recently purchased a Leica Geosystems TS16i 1” Total Station and CS20 Field Controller.
Surveying Accessories
When it comes to ensuring the success of your projects
Hassle Free Finance - FARO 3D Laser Scanners
The FARO Focus 3D X330 can scan large and distant objects up to 330 meters away in direct sunlight.
Stepping back in time
One of the very first blog pieces I composed when joining Opti-cal was, about the great work that Waterloo Uncovered are doing on exploring the battlefields of Waterloo.
Hassle Free Finance - GeoSLAM ZEB-REVO
The ZEB-REVO is an incredibly versatile hand-held laser scanner.
Hassle Free Finance - Leica Viva GS16 SmartRover
The Leica Viva GS16 is the most compact and powerful, self-learning GNSS Smart Antenna.
Recon Kit for M IGOE
M IGOE Ltd undertakes Civil Engineering Works, incorporating roads and sewers, groundworks and reclamation works.
Hassle Free Finance - Leica Viva TS16
The Leica Viva TS16 automatically adjusts to any environmental condition such as rain, fog and bright lights.
Flexible Finance Solutions from Opti-cal
At Opti-cal, we believe that finance shouldn't get in the way of making the right choices about your precision instruments.
Visit to Loughborough University
It is always a pleasure when I get to work with one of the country’s leading universities. This week found me at Loughborough University. The Civil Engineering department hired brand new TS06 Plus total stations from Opti-cal for their field course.
Capturing the Rubicon Trail in 360 degrees
1 iSTAR Camera, 3 days, 22 miles, 6,000 360˚ images
Successful integration of Bartington Geophysics Cart and Leica Geosystems
At the end of 2015, Wessex Archaeology decided to upgrade their geophysics capabilities by acquiring some really interesting new devices.
The First UK Sale of Leica's LS15 Digital Level
The most recent introduction of the LS Digital Levels from Leica Geosystems sees both the LS10 and LS15 being added to our extensive range of surveying levels.
Eyes to the Skies
Airlander 10 Airship: World’s biggest aircraft took to the skies in March.
New Homes for Stafford
Ash Deighton, a 'freelance' builder and surveyor, has been hard at work for several months on the M.Lambe, Doxey Road Construction Site.
Show Stopping Surveying
Splinter Scenery is a production workshop based on the outskirts of Manchester, specialising in the manufacture of high standard touring theatre scenery. Founded 20 years ago they have the expertise to get your show on budget, on time and on stage.
Delivery made to Professional Construction Services
Professional Construction Services purchases new Leica equipment.
Scanning a Cotton Mill with ZEB1
The primary survey of the five-storey building was undertaken in two days by means of the GeoSLAM Zeb1 hand-held laser scanner.
Delivery to Alfa Site Services
Alfa Site Services, a Groundworks and Civil Engineering Company based in Doncaster, which have seen rapid growth over the last 3 years have taken delivery from Opti-cal Survey Equipment of a brand new Leica TS16 and CS20 Field Controller.
Mobile Mapping at the University of East London
Opti-cal gave a practical demonstration on mobile mapping to undergraduates at the University of East London as part of their Surveying and Mapping Sciences (SAMS) Course.
Survey Systems Limited takes delivery of new Leica Equipment
Survey Systems Limited, nestled in the heart of Cheshire, established over thirty years ago and best known for supplying multidisciplinary surveying services, has taken delivery from Opti-cal their brand-new top-of-the-range Leica Kit.
Supplying Wessex Archaeology with New Leica Equipment
Wessex Archaeology was founded over thirty-five years ago and is now the UK’s leading supplier of heritage and archaeological services. The Wessex team works from offices across England, Scotland and Wales and works to help their clients with heritage related problems whether they are under the ground, in and around historic buildings or even under water.
Livingston Workshop receives full Leica accreditation
To further our commitment in supplying only the best to our Scottish customers, we have been busy insuring that our Workshop is up to Leica’s high standard.
Opti-cal opens the door to new Livingston Office
Our latest UK office is an important move to continue to help grow not only as a business but to provide a greater quality of service to our customers in Scotland.