“When you can use technology to make a project viable and successful, it’s a game-changer for the industry and the economy. And it all starts with leveraging the right tools and expertise at every step."
'Using AGTEK to tender our earthworks projects has doubled the size of the business in the last seven years to £36m' That's the message from Nick Hughes, Director of Dorset-based Ford Civil Engineering, when Peter Haddock spoke to him recently at the UK's first AGTEK community user group held at the Leica Geosystems' The School'.
"I'm 58 years old, and I've been operating machines for about 25 years. I now use 3D machine Control, which has made my job much quicker."
Peter Haddock caught up with Robin at the Molson Group open day for this in-depth interview where Robin shares insights into lots of different topics.
Peter meets with Jake Walley of Hitachi Construction Machinery (UK) to discuss the factory fitting of Leica Geosystems 3D machine control, Xwatch Safety Solutions and tiltrotators from Rototilt UK Ltd, Steelwrist and Engcon UK Ltd
'Our equipment residual values have already gone up, and maintenance has reduced thanks to a dramatic decrease in idle time.' That’s the message from Heiðar Jón Heiðarsson, fleet manager for Icelandic contractor Íslenskir aðalverktakar - ÍAV hf, when Peter Haddock spoke to him following the recent introduction of the MachineMax telemetry system to the fleet.
Peter Haddock walks around the latest Liebherr electric offerings at its recent press conference, talking to the experts about the new electric products they have developed.
Talking sustainability, alternative fuel infrastructure, tethered drones, safety and more with Ian Billington of Costain Group at Highways UK in my Leica Geosystems stand studio.
Using Leica Geosystems ConX Cloud Solution and Web Interface, that is exactly what Chris Hooper of Hooper Surveying was doing when the heavens opened on a Kirk Hough Hough site Peter Haddock was visiting in Cornwall.
"We wouldn't have won what is our biggest ever project without Leica Geosystems 3D machine control and the support we get from One Point Survey." says MD of Courtney King Plant Hire
#PPEthatfits - "I had to alter my trousers and even roll up the sleeves of PPE to operate a crane safety, which in turn restricted my overall movement!"
Peter Haddock talks to Sam Mercer about how the business has created a digital first workflow for customers and is using the latest in simulator technology to train plant operators.
Peter Haddock goes onsite at its Whitchurch Training School in Shropshire to learn more from expert Steve Claybrook as he operates the latest Cat 302.7 fitted with the iCON Site Excavator solution in the sandpit.
Technology can be a real enabler for businesses of all sizes, increasing productivity, efficiency and ultimately helping to enhance safety, whilst controlling cost, increasing profits. The challenges of rolling out new systems and solutions can also take time and resource. You need to get the process right and manage the changes required if you are going to be successful.
To learn more about the DD130 Dozer, available in the UK in September 2023, Peter Haddock caught up with product specialist Stephane Dieu on the stand at Conexpo 2023
Winning work always comes first, but how to make it profitable happens next, as Tom O’Brien of O’Brien Contractors explains to Peter Haddock following its recent rollout of AGTEK's dirt simple earthworks solution.
Contractor Gnant explains the benefits of a Connected Worksite using Leica Geosystems 3D solutions
Shelby Thomas, Regional Operator Manager at L Lynch Plant Hire, talks to Peter Haddock for IWD 2023
Peter Haddock talks to Roland Maurer, its 3D machine control and digitalisation specialist at Bauma 2022.
Connected assets, autonomy, digital plant managers, integrated mobilisation, designing models for machines, and AI human recognition are all part of how you deliver modern, safe, and efficient earthworks projects. It's a complex process that starts with adding in the infrastructure a site needs before a piece of earthmoving equipment even arrives.
For Solihull based Shannonside Civil Engineering, the last 12 months have seen another major transition since it was first founded in 2004 by Managing Director Brendan Carty as a single site operation with six staff.
Winning work, reducing carbon emissions and delivering projects on time and on budget are all challenges faced particularly by small to medium-sized earthworks contractors across the globe.
With a growing population and demand for housing around Helsinki, Finland, the country is preparing the ground for its biggest ever bridge project. Known as the Kruunuvuori Bridge, it will be Finland's longest and tallest bridge constructed in a steel and concrete composite design.
Collaboration is one of those words that is often overused and misunderstood. It's defined in numerous ways, but essentially, it's about businesses working together to create or achieve the same thing.
Where the excitement of the new, improved model has long been the 'big news' for the industry, as I recently discovered at the Futureworx event put on by the Construction Equipment Association, the smart talk has turned to the tech.
Peter Haddock talks to MachineMax customer success manager, Juliet Ransom at LP Training, where the business is working with leading plant hirer, Plantforce Rentals to set up a Connected Worksite demonstration.
Introducing the Plantforce 'Connected Worksite' beaming LIVE into the Futureworx 2022 event, with MachineMax providing 'Real-Time' equipment operating data from Kobelco Construction Machinery Europe B.V. excavators, a Caterpillar Inc. dozer and a Rokbak ADT.
Electric machines continue to grow in popularity as more brands launch more models, but for one business, Kovaco Electric disrupting the market with electric skid steers began in late 2019. This was when it started production in its Czech Republic facility, with the first demonstration units entering the UK market in 2020 as Kovaco Electric's Finlay Bassett started establishing a dealer network.
Peter Haddock talks to Plant Director, Shaun Bean who is responsible for Erith Group's earthworks and demolition equipment about the new all-electric fleet deal and how his team intends to use the 'remote control enabled' product to replace its diesel fleet.
At the Highways UK event in 2021, Peter Haddock talked to supply chain manager Faye Hodgkinson of Tier 1 contractor Morgan Sindall and strategic manager Chris Matthew of Flannery Plant Hire about social value and carbon reduction.