JCB has struck a deal with commercial van, bus and truck supplier Dawsongroup for six of its revolutionary pothole fixing machines to help tackle Britain’s backlog of road repairs.
JCB, which has operations in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wales, has developed machinery which can repair a pothole in less than eight minutes and at half the cost of current solutions. Each machine can repair up to 250 sqm a day - equivalent to 700 potholes a month.
Dawsongroup’s municipal machinery division emc is investing in the Pothole Pro machines, which, JCB says, “fix potholes permanently, first time, without the need for labour intensive repair methods or additional expensive machinery”.
The six machines, bought from dealer TC Harrison JCB, are now being rolled out for rent or contract hire by councils and contractors across the country who urgently need to tackle potholes as winter approaches.
Demand for the machines, manufactured at JCB Heavy Products in Uttoxeter, is expected to be high. JCB said the Asphalt Industry Alliance estimates there are £12.64 billion worth of outstanding road repairs in England and Wales – equating to a nine-year backlog.
Dawsongroup/emc managing director Glen Carruthers said: “This is really exciting for us. The Pothole Pro is an innovative machine which is both time and cost-effective.
“Our investment gives local authorities and contractors access to the best machines for the job without the need for major financial outlay.
“Not only is this a highly innovative addition to our product range, but it also means that we are helping to solve a problem that provokes many road users’ frustrations.
“It is also a significant milestone for Dawsongroup as the company further expands its extensive product range and sector diversification.”
JCB Pothole Pro sales manager Ben Rawding said: “Dawsongroup’s order for six JCB Pothole Pro machines will have a big impact on the nine-year road repair backlog in the UK.
“It is our biggest order to date for this revolutionary machine and means thousands of miles more road will be repaired quickly and cost effectively as we go into winter.
“JCB’s solution is simple and cost effective and fixes potholes permanently, first time and we are excited that such a major hirer has recognised the machine’s benefits.
“City councils, large rural county councils and Tier 1 highways contractors across the UK have invested in the Pothole Pro, and all are seeing significantly more defects being fixed, economically, permanently and safely.
“In fact, Stoke-on-Trent City Council – the first authority to invest in the Pothole Pro – has repaired seven years’ worth of defects in just 12 months.”
The Pothole Pro allows contractors or local authorities to cut the defect, crop the edges and clean the hole with one machine – mechanising jobs traditionally done by pothole gangs and delivering up to a 50 per cent cut in daily costs.
Safety is also improved as the gang does not have to complete the hand held cutting and breaking, eliminating the risk of hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).
