17 Total Station Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for total stations as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 17 total station manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked total station companies as of November, 2024: 1.Seiler Instrument Company Mfg. Co., Inc., 2.SOKKIA, 3.Trimble Inc..
Table of Contents
Categories Related to Total Stations
What Is a Total Station?
A total station is an electronic device used for surveying and civil engineering that measures distances and angles simultaneously. Combining electronic distance measurement, angular measurement, and data processing in one tool, total stations are crucial for professionals like land surveyors and construction engineers. They automate the calculation and recording of a point's coordinates based on the device's location.
Uses of Total Stations
Total stations are versatile, used in:
- Land surveying for topographic mapping, boundary surveys, and land parceling.
- Construction for site layout, foundation placement, and ensuring adherence to blueprints.
- Mining for site mapping, volume measurements, and stability monitoring.
- Archaeology for recording excavation sites and creating detailed maps.
- Environmental monitoring to observe changes in landscapes or ecosystems.
Principle of Total Stations
Total stations measure points by emitting light pulses and calculating the time for the light to return, using trigonometric functions to determine distances and angles. They measure:
- Horizontal angles: The angle between the device and the point of interest.
- Vertical angles: The elevation angle from the device to the point, aiding in elevation calculations.
These measurements allow for precise calculation of a point's coordinates, which can be stored in the device's memory or transferred to external devices for further analysis.
Types of Total Stations
Total stations vary by functionality and control methods, including:
- Basic models for simple on/off control.
- PID control types for precise temperature adjustments.
- Programmable models for setting different temperatures for specific times.
- Wi-Fi/Smart models for remote monitoring and adjustments.
- Learning models that adapt to user patterns for optimal settings.
How to Choose a Total Station
Selecting a total station involves considering:
- The specific purpose and requirements of your project.
- The material and design that suit your operational environment.
- The nature of the material being surveyed, including size, type, and concentration.
- Environmental conditions, durability, and maintenance needs.
- The flow rate of the fluid or gas and the system's capacity.
- Maintenance requirements and cost efficiency for long-term operation.
- Relevant certification standards for safety and quality compliance.
Understanding these factors ensures the selection of a total station that meets the specific needs of your surveying or construction project.
List of 17 Total Station Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- Canada
- China
- Italy
- Japan
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Trimble Inc.
Total Stations
Manufacturer Overview
Trimble, a company founded in 1978 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, is an industrial technology manufacturer that provides solutions to enable professionals to improve their work processes. The company offers a wide range of products and services, including guidance and steering, agronomic solutions, displays, and more. It also offers satellite navigation systems, hardware, and software. Its software enables surveyors to transform field data from GNSS receivers, total stations, laser scanners, mobile mapping systems, and more. It has achieved ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 certification. It maintains a business in the US, Sweden, Germany, Finland, and more.
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Seiler Instrument Company Mfg. Co., Inc.
Robotic Total Stations
Manufacturer Overview
Seiler Instrument Company Mfg. Co., Inc., established in 1945 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is a manufacturer of precision machines and optical instruments. The company offers a wide range of products, such as surgical microscopes, colposcopes, and surveying equipment. It specializes in sophisticated precision machining and optical instrument assembly. Its products are certified ISO 13485, and provide strong optical clarity, precise measurements, and the integration of premium technology, resulting in the ideal conceivable medical operations, precise surveying, and scientific research. Its equipment supports improved healthcare, land surveying, and scientific breakthroughs in the medical, surveying, and research sectors.
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Allenbuild Instruments LLC
Robotic Total Station
Manufacturer Overview
Allenbuild Instruments LLC, founded in 1987 and located in Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA, is a manufacturer of powerful surveyor tools, equipment, and supplies. The company is ISO 9001 certified, and offers various products such as surveying instruments, GPS equipment, theodolites, laser measurement tools, and durable field supplies. These products find application across various industries, including construction, civil engineering, geospatial mapping, and environmental surveying, where precision and real-time data collection and measurement are essential for successful projects.
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SOKKIA
Reflectorless/Prism
Company Overview
Sokkia Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Topcon Corporation headquartered in Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan, has been a manufacturer of measurement instruments since 1920. The company notably developed its patented damped compensator for automatic levels in 1964. It specializes in surveying and mapping equipment and offers global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs). It also produces optical instruments for surveying, such as motorized/robotic total stations and reflectorless/prism total stations. Complementary products like field controllers and software are also part of its offerings. The company caters to the construction industry with solutions, including line lasers, rotating lasers, and theodolites.
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eSurvey GNSS
Total Station
Manufacturer Overview
eSurvey GNSS, part of the UniStrong Group (Beijing Unistrong Science & Technology Co. Ltd.), is a manufacturer offering mapping, positioning, and automation solutions, established in 2018 and based in Shanghai, China. The company's product range includes light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and land survey systems. It also offers rugged geographic information systems (GISs), intelligent control systems for agricultural machinery, and various antennas and radios. Serving customers in over 50 countries, the company supports geospatial, smart farming, and construction sectors.
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Shanghai Huace Navigation Technology Ltd.
TOTAL STATIONS
Manufacturer Overview
Shanghai Huace Navigation Technology Ltd. is a manufacturer of navigation and positioning technology products that was established in 2003 in Shanghai, China. The company produces various devices and systems for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) navigation and positioning. These include application-specific GNSS systems, mobile mapping systems, and industrial-grade positioning and heading sensors for unmanned vehicles or robots. The company maintains several internationally recognized certifications, including OHSAS 14001, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001. Its products are primarily used in the machine control, surveying, and agricultural industries.
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BAP Equipment Limited
Total Station
Manufacturer Overview
BAP Equipment Limited, established in 1987 and based in Frederickton, Canada, is a manufacturer of drafting instruments and field gear tailored for the natural resource-based industries. The company’s product range includes precision compasses, anemometers, clinometers, geological tools, and forestry equipment. It holds ISO 9001 certification, ensuring the products are robust, durable, and built to withstand challenging outdoor conditions. These instruments offer benefits such as accurate data collection, improved field efficiency, and enhanced resource management. Its products serve various industries, including forestry, mining, geological exploration, and environmental resource management.
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Stonex
Total Stations
Manufacturer Overview
Stonex, founded in 2010 and headquartered in Milan, Italy, is a manufacturer of precision measurement and survey equipment. The company’s product range encompasses advanced solutions, including GNSS receivers, total stations, 3D laser scanners, and field software. It holds ISO 9001 certification, ensuring its products meet optimal standards of accuracy and durability. These solutions provide benefits such as increased productivity, reduced project timelines, and enhanced surveying accuracy. Its equipment finds regular applications in industries such as construction, land surveying, geospatial mapping, and civil engineering.
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Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
Total Stations
Manufacturer Overview
Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc., established in 1994 in Livermore, California, USA, is a manufacturer of positioning systems. The company specializes in manufacturing precision positioning equipment, offering several products such as GPS receivers, robotic total stations, laser scanners, and mobile mapping solutions. It holds ISO 9001 certification for optimal accuracy and stability, and the benefits of the products include increased productivity, reduced downtime, and improved accuracy, making them essential tools for the construction, surveying, agriculture, and geospatial industries. Its advanced solutions help in more efficient and accurate field operations, allowing customers to complete the projects with precision and confidence.
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GeoMax AG
Total Stations
Manufacturer Overview
GeoMax AG, established in 2006 and headquartered in Europe, is a manufacturer of surveying and construction solutions. The company is a Hexagon division that offers total stations, GNSS instruments, and software. Its android-enabled software, x-pad, caters to specific application needs in construction, enhancing flexibility and productivity. Its x-pad suite, including x-pad 365, facilitates efficient data management, communication, and collaboration, ensuring project transparency and productivity. The company enables seamless teamwork and progress tracking through X-chat collaborative surveys and stakeout features.
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TI Asahi Co., Ltd.
TOTAL STATIONS
Manufacturer Overview
TI Asahi Co. Ltd., established in 2009 and headquartered in Japan, is a manufacturer of surveying and measuring instruments. The company's products include total stations, GNSS receivers, electronic theodolites, and various accessories such as data collection and post-processing software. Its Field Genius 10 software enhances workflow efficiency with its streamlined project initiation process and features such as automatic instrument reconnection and Bluetooth device management. This software also includes calculating tools, allowing users to access a built-in RPN calculator for convenient surveying calculations directly within the interface.
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Hi-Target
Optical
Manufacturer Overview
HiTarget, established in 1999 and headquartered in Guangzhou, China, is a manufacturer and distributor of precision surveying and mapping instruments. The company's products include real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning devices, scalable GNSS receivers for surveying systems, and ground-based InSAR automatic monitoring systems used for long-term observation and emergency monitoring in various terrains such as mountains, mines, and dam sites. It offers complete turnkey solutions that include hydrographic surveying, monitoring solutions, and precision agriculture.
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Leica Geosystems AG
Manual Total Stations
Manufacturer Overview
Leica Geosystems AG, founded in 1921 and based in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, is a manufacturer of systems and products in surveying and geographical measurement. The company is part of Hexagon. Its products include laser scanners, machine control systems, lasers, levels, and mobile mapping systems used in several fields, including mining, monitoring, agriculture, natural resources, and transportation. It is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, and in 1985, it launched the first GPS receiver, WILD WM101, for surveying applications. It acquired civilian businesses from Magnavox and introduced the first in-house GPS product in 1994.
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TOPCON CORPORATION
Total Stations
Company Overview
Topcon Corporation is a manufacturer and distributor of optical, sensor, and control products that was established in Tokyo, Japan, in 1932. The company’s products include ophthalmic instruments such as tonometers, refractometers and slit lamps. It also offers positioning sensors and control products, such as global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers, laser scanners, and total stations. The company operates internationally, with subsidiaries in the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. It chiefly serves clients in the engineering, aerospace, and agriculture sectors.
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southsurveying & mapping technology
Total Stations
Company Overview
Southsurveying & Mapping Technology, established in 1989 and situated in Guangzhou, China, is a manufacturer and distributor of GIS products. The company's product line encompasses data controllers, GIS handhelds, echo sounders, RTK systems, and acoustic Doppler current profilers. The products made by the company are used in different applications, including UAV aerial photogrammetry, terrestrial laser scanning, indoor mobile mapping, railway engineering, and field-to-office data engineering services. The company has over 3000 employees, 30 provincial branch offices, and 9 headquarters, exporting to over 100 countries worldwide.
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BuildingPoint Midwest & Gulf Coast
Robotic Total Stations
Distributor Overview
BuildingPoint Midwest & Gulf Coast, established in 2013 and headquartered in Plainfield, Illinois, USA, is a supplier of construction equipment for various industries. The company’s product offerings include state-of-the-art construction technology, layout solutions, machine control systems, and reality capture equipment. It is ISO 9001 certified, and its products offer numerous benefits, such as increased construction efficiency, improved accuracy in layout and measurement, reduced rework, and enhanced project management. These solutions are frequently used in the construction and building industries, benefiting contractors, engineers, and surveyors by streamlining construction processes and ensuring precise project execution.
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Total Station Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seiler Instrument Company Mfg. Co., Inc. |
19.7%
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| 2 | SOKKIA |
11.4%
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| 3 | Trimble Inc. |
9.1%
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| 4 | Leica Geosystems AG |
6.4%
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| 5 | Shanghai Huace Navigation Technology Ltd. |
6.0%
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| 6 | Stonex |
6.0%
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| 7 | BAP Equipment Limited |
5.4%
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| 8 | Allenbuild Instruments LLC |
5.4%
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| 9 | eSurvey GNSS |
5.2%
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| 10 | TOPCON CORPORATION |
4.8%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the total station page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
- Stonex: 2010 (14 years ago)
- Shanghai Huace Navigation Technology Ltd.: 2003 (21 years ago)
- Hi-Target: 1999 (25 years ago)
Company with a History
- TOPCON CORPORATION: 1932 (92 years ago)
- Seiler Instrument Company Mfg. Co., Inc.: 1945 (79 years ago)
- BAP Equipment Limited: 1987 (37 years ago)
Total Station Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
Global Distribution of Total Station Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
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4 | 36.4% |
China
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3 | 27.3% |
Japan
|
2 | 18.2% |
Canada
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1 | 9.1% |
Italy
|
1 | 9.1% |
