MARCELLIN COLLEGE

For Marcellin College, an all-boys Catholic school situated 15 kilometres east of Melbourne, maintaining pristine sports fields is a matter of school pride. With a sprawling campus featuring five cricket grounds, two AFL ovals, two soccer pitches, a rugby field, and an eight-lane athletics track, the task of line marking was historically a monumental undertaking. Kevin Davis, Head of Grounds and Gardens for Marcellin College via Danihers Facility Management, recalls the labour-intensive process of the past. "It used to take two people three to four days with our manual line markers for an initial set up," Davis explains. Between stringing out lines, measuring for accuracy, mixing paint, and washing out pumps, the manual method was a significant drain on both time and resources.

CLIENT QUOTE

“When I first saw the robot in use, I was really blown away by the accuracy of the lines and how straight they were. I couldn’t have gotten those lines any straighter with a string line, even if I tried. The accuracy was spot on."

The introduction of the TinyLineMarker has completely transformed the college’s maintenance workflow, turning a multi-day ordeal into a single day's work for just one person. The efficiency gains are staggering; in a recent trial, the team marked 11.5 kilometres of lines—including full-size AFL and rugby fields and the athletics track—in less than six hours. Beyond the speed, the surgical accuracy of the GPS-driven system has elevated the school's presentation. Davis, who admits he isn't the most "technological" person, found the interface remarkably intuitive. He notes that the crispness of the lines and the ability to easily add professional touches, like the school’s 75th-anniversary logo and writing on the wings, has garnered glowing feedback from the school community.

The transition to autonomous technology has also proven to be a masterclass in budget management and resource allocation. By switching to TinyMobileRobots' premixed paint, the team now covers three full-size soccer pitches with a single 10-litre drum—a significant improvement over manual mixing. More importantly, the robot has redefined the role of the grounds staff rather than replacing them. While the robot handles the precision marking, Davis’s team is free to focus on other campus improvements. They have even used the robot to mark "green lines" to teach a fresh apprentice how to mow perfectly straight patterns. With local support based in nearby Bayswater, Marcellin College has found a reliable partner that ensures their world-class sporting facilities always reflect the high standards of the institution.