Flannery Plant Hire creates a safety and productivity focused JCB excavator

The JCB 245X from Flannery was put to work on the Costain Group PLC M6 motorway project.

To find out more, Peter Haddock spoke to Arnie Prescott onsite: "When it comes to putting together solutions for our customers, it's not just about the equipment anymore. 

"In this case, we have integrated three different technologies onto a JCB 245X to support Costain with enhanced safety that supports the delivery of high levels of productivity. 

"The project had already been using 3D Machine Control solution from Leica Geosystems part of Hexagon, so when it announced the integration of the Xwatch Safety Solutions part of Hexagon 3D Collision avoidance, we added this into the machine. 

"It complements the AI human form recognition solution from Spillard Safety Systems Ltd we were also using, enabling all three technologies to come together in a UK first. 

"Having tested it with Costain we were able to prove the benefits, and they then took the machine on to the site, where it has been working successfully." 

As part of introducing the new technology, Flannery trained its operator team to use the new machine setup. To learn more, Peter met operator Dan, who had been working on the project for over two years. 

Talking about his experience, he said: "I think at first it is quite daunting when you are faced with a new setup, but once you have the training, it just works, and it's so self-explanatory anyone can understand it." 

Adding, Arnie said: "You know anyone can buy a machine, but when you introduce new technology, it's about people like Dan and the Costain team. Everyone has embraced it from the start, and it's been a big success."