Trimble Navigation - Joint Ventures

Joint Ventures

Trimble has embarked on a number of joint ventures with companies that include Caterpillar, Nikon Corporation, and Hilti. In April 2002, Trimble and Caterpillar Inc. began a joint venture, Caterpillar Trimble Controls Technologies LLC, to develop the next generation of advanced electronic guidance and control products for earthmoving machines in the construction, mining and waste industries. The joint venture is the exclusive supplier to Trimble and Caterpillar, who each market, distribute, service and support the products using both companies' independent distribution channels.

Trimble and Caterpillar announced a second joint venture in October 2008. The new company, VirtualSite Solutions, integrates the expertise of both companies in the areas of product design and software development to transform the way contractors manage their businesses. A new distribution channel, SITECH, was established to bring these technologies to customers and other users. Trimble has primary responsibility for managing the SITECH dealer relationship.

In March 2003, Trimble and Nikon Corporation formed a 50-50 joint venture in Japan, Nikon-Trimble Co., Ltd., to address Japan’s survey instruments market in March 2003. As part of the joint venture, Trimble acquired a 50 percent ownership stake in Nikon-Trimble Co., Ltd., which assumed the operations of Nikon Geotecs Co., Ltd. in Japan. The new entity focuses on the design and manufacture of surveying instruments including mechanical total stations and related products. In Japan, the joint venture distributes Nikon's survey products as well as Trimble's survey products including GPS and robotic total stations. Outside of Japan, Trimble became the exclusive distributor of Nikon survey and construction products.

In May 2009, Trimble and the China Aerospace Science & Industry Academy of Information Technology (CASIC-IT) signed a definitive agreement to form a 50/50 joint venture in China. Based in Beijing, the joint venture combines the commercial expertise, knowledge and technologies of both CASIC-IT and Trimble to develop, manufacture and distribute in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers and systems in China, based on the Chinese Compass satellite system, for civil applications in the commercial positioning, navigation and timing markets.

In November 2009, Trimble and the China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co. Ltd. (CREEC) signed a definitive agreement to form a 50/50 joint venture in China. Based in Chengdu, the joint venture leverages Trimble's commercial positioning, communications and software technologies and CREEC's expertise in rail design and construction to develop and provide digital railway solutions that address the design, construction and maintenance for the Chinese railway industry. Trimble and Russian Space Systems formed a 50/50 joint venture in Russia in 2010. The joint venture, Rusnavgeoset, was officially launched at the GLONASS Forum in Moscow on June 1, 2010. Based in Moscow, Rusnavgeoset is responsible for selling commercial Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) geodetic network infrastructure systems localized for Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

To address the building construction industry, Trimble and the Hilti Group reached a definitive agreement to form Intelligent Construction Tools, LLC in September 2010. The joint venture, 50 percent owned by Trimble and 50 percent owned by Hilti, focuses on leveraging technologies from both companies to develop measuring solutions for the building construction trades. The joint venture will supply products to Trimble and Hilti. Each will market, distribute, service and support the products using its independent distribution or direct sales channels.