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Gordy Construction Company Inc.
Gordy Construction Company Inc. balances tradition and technology in century-long legacy
For over a century, one construction company has provided consistent services for Columbus, Ga., and the surrounding area. Gordy Construction Company Inc., founded in 1923 by Schley Gordy’s great-grandfather and namesake, has been a cornerstone in the community, specializing in pipeline, water and sewer projects. This fourth-generation family business has thrived by providing consistent, reliable services for its customers.
Schley Gordy, the current president, started working at the company after graduating college.
“At first, I wasn’t sure about my path, but once I joined, I dove headfirst into the work,” Gordy recalled. “Starting as a laborer in 1998, I quickly found my passion in this field and worked my way up to where I am today.”
Over the years, Gordy Construction Company has kept a consistent workforce size of approximately 30 employees, focusing on quality over quantity.
“The company hasn’t grown much in size, but we’ve maintained a steady pace, focusing on our capacity to manage multiple projects efficiently,” Gordy commented.
Gordy Construction Company’s operational scope covers a 150-mile radius around Columbus. Annually, the firm manages between 15 to 20 projects split between three to four crews. This strategic limitation allows for a concentrated focus on each project, ensuring high-quality results and maintaining strong community ties.
“We handle a mixture of municipal and private sector projects,” Gordy elaborated. “Recently, we’ve been involved in a lot of road projects, relocating utilities for road widenings, running sewer outfall lines through forests, and installing sewer and water systems for new subdivisions.”
Essential equipment
Gordy Construction Company’s choice of equipment plays a pivotal role, with the firm relying heavily on a fleet of specialized machinery tailored to its typical job site needs.
“We operate seven or eight excavators, from owning larger excavators like the Komatsu PC490 down to owning more compact machines like the PC45 tight tail swing excavator,” explained Gordy. “They are crucial for our trenching work, which involves laying down water lines, sewer lines and storm sewers.”
In addition to the PC45MR, Gordy Construction Company utilizes several other Komatsu tight tail swing excavators, including PC138USLC, PC238USLC and PC308USLC models.
“The tight tail swing excavators are essential for our work, especially when we’re operating next to utility poles, fences or traffic lanes,” declared Gordy. “These excavators allow us to maneuver in limited spaces without the risk of damaging surrounding structures.”
To further enhance its operational efficiency, Gordy Construction Company has embraced advanced technology and recently acquired a Komatsu PC390LCi Intelligent Machine Control (IMC) 2.0 excavator.
“The machine displays construction plans over real-time location and depth data directly on the machine’s monitor,” stated Gordy. “This has been instrumental in improving precision, reducing over-digging, and minimizing the need for laborers in the trench.”
Gordy Construction Company’s fleet also includes five Komatsu wheel loaders, ranging in size from the WA270 to the WA320, which are essential for material transportation on-site.
“Our wheel loaders are primarily used for hauling gravel and pipes,” noted Gordy. “Their versatility, reliability and minimal maintenance issues have significantly contributed to maintaining our project schedules.”
This integration of traditional business operations with IMC technology reflects Gordy Construction Company’s commitment to maintaining a balance between proven methods and innovative solutions, ensuring that the firm remains at the forefront of the construction industry for another 100 years.
Support from TEC
Gordy Construction Company’s strategic integration of innovative solutions is due in large part to the relationship with its equipment distributor, Tractor & Equipment Company (TEC). This partnership, which has helped Gordy Construction Company find the right equipment for its projects over the years, has grown beyond the traditional support from a dealership.
“Our decision to consistently choose Komatsu is largely due to our sales rep at TEC, Jon Lake,” stated Gordy. “He ensures top-notch service, whether it’s routine maintenance or urgent needs, and I know I can rely on him and the team at TEC’s shop to promptly answer the call and any questions.”
Gordy Construction Company also utilizes Komtrax and My Komatsu, which are digital tools provided by TEC and Komatsu that offer crucial real-time data on machinery.
“These systems are invaluable to us,” Gordy declared. “They allow us to track machine hours, idle time and locations efficiently and in real time. We’ve even managed to recover stolen equipment using this technology, which shows just how critical it is to our day-to-day operations.”
Future
As Gordy Construction Company looks to the future, it is setting its sights on maintaining a balance between embracing technological advancements and preserving its operational scale. Gordy Construction Company has articulated a clear vision of weaving emerging technologies into the fabric of its business operations without expanding the company size beyond its current efficient structure.
“We want to keep up with emerging technology, whatever that may be in the future,” commented Gordy. “Maintaining our current size while integrating new tech is key to staying efficient. This strategy will allow us to continue tackling our projects head-on, ensuring we not only meet but exceed our goals. We’re here to help anyone who needs us.” ■
*The opinions expressed here are from the end user as quoted. The results described herein are those of these end users under certain conditions. Individual results may vary.
