SHANGHAI, CHINA – FEBRUARY 2026
The CHC Navigation (CHCNAV) 2026 International Dealer Conference brought the company's global partner network together in Shanghai for a week of product launches, technical workshops, strategy sessions and hands-on time with the newest equipment in the CHCNAV range. For Tri-Site, the week ended with recognition we are extremely proud of the 'Rapid Growth Dealer 2026' award.
It is an honour to be recognised on a global stage, alongside partners operating in more than 140 countries — and it is recognition that belongs just as much to our customers as it does to our team.
INNOVATION AND STRATEGY AT THE FOREFRONT
In his keynote, CHCNAV CEO George Zhao made the case that the geospatial industry has moved into a new phase. Accuracy, he argued, is no longer the thing that separates one manufacturer from another — it is now simply expected. What buyers actually prioritise today is consistent data quality, workflows that join up without friction, and a predictable total cost of ownership over the life of the equipment.
Zhao also set out the company's growth position, pointing to significant international revenue growth through 2025 and continued expansion across EMEA, Asia and the Americas.
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
The strategic sessions expanded on three commitments for 2026: technology leadership, market expansion, and closer collaboration with the international dealer network.
That last point was emphasised repeatedly throughout the week. CHCNAV's model depends on global reach delivered through local execution — regional offices, certified service centres and application specialists positioned close to the end user. Zhao closed his keynote by reaffirming that owning core technologies, delivering integrated solutions and executing locally through partners is how the company intends to build a connected geospatial future.
SHOWCASING NEW EQUIPMENT
Suring the week, Tri-Site had the chance to witness the new and upcoming products before they reach the wider market.
A highlight of the week was the live presentation of the RS7 handheld SLAM scanner, which drew significant attention from partners across every region. Attendees were able to get hands on with the unit rather than simply watch a demonstration from a distance.
The week also gave us the opportunity to look in detail at the recent additions to the marine portfolio — including the APACHE 4 PRO multi-purpose USV and the APACHE 6 USV for high-resolution marine surveying, both introduced in January 2026. Given how much interest we are already seeing in unmanned survey vessels across UK ports, harbours and inland waterways, time with these platforms and the people behind them was extremely valuable.
Across the wider portfolio, sessions covered the full breadth of CHCNAV's offering: GNSS, 3D mobile mapping, laser scanning, UAV systems, marine surveying, machine control, deformation monitoring, and the software and cloud tools that tie the data together.
HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
The workshops covered application-level detail — how a system performs in specific conditions, where its practical limits sit, how it integrates with existing workflows, and the field techniques that get the best out of it. This provides us the knowledge we can apply to our demonstrations and technical support. Regional breakout sessions ran alongside the technical programme, giving partners direct access to CHCNAV's product, sales and application teams to discuss local market conditions, customer requirements and growth strategy.
Beyond the formal programme, the value of being in the room with partners from dozens of other countries is difficult to overstate.
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE: RAPID GROWTH DEALER 2026
The conference closed with the partner recognition ceremony, celebrating outstanding achievement across market development, customer support and innovative solution deployment over the past year.
We were delighted to be presented with the award for Rapid Growth Dealer 2026.
This one means a great deal to us. It reflects a period of sustained growth for Tri-Site — expanding the range we supply, growing our hire fleet, deepening our technical and support capability, and building our presence in newer areas of the business, particularly marine and hydrographic survey. We are now labelled as the number 1 CHCNAV marine dealer in the UK.
So while the trophy has our name on it, the credit is shared. Thank you to every customer who has bought, hired, demoed or simply picked up the phone to us over the last year — you are the reason this award exists. And thank you to the team at CHCNAV for the recognition and for the continued support that makes this partnership work.
WHAT THIS EVENT MEANS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS
- Earlier access to new technology. We see and handle new products before general release, which means we can advise on them properly from day one.
- Deeper technical knowledge. Our team returns having worked with the equipment and questioned the engineers who designed it. Adding to the knowledge during our demonstrations, on-site support and technical helpdesk.
- A stronger line back to the manufacturer. Direct relationships with CHCNAV's product, application and support teams mean faster answers when something unusual comes up.
- Better demonstrations. We can show you not just what a system does, but how it fits alongside everything else in your workflow.
Want to see the latest CHCNAV equipment for yourself? We offer free demonstrations — at your site, at ours, or via a live video call with our technical team.