One of JCB’s DualDrive backhoe loaders is slashing the time spent on tasks for a Barnsley-based groundworks company.

The JCB 4CX Pro DualDrive model is making short work of a range of tasks including ditching and repositioning on large groundworks projects for Jack Elliott Groundworks Ltd.

Supplied by JCB dealer TC Harrison, the new machine was chosen for its flexibility, versatility and cost effectiveness on site and has already boosted productivity.

Jack Elliott Groundworks Ltd Director, Jack Elliott said: “JCB DualDrive adds value on site in a number of ways. Certainly less fatigue for the operator and a reduction in the amount of time required to do a set task. Repositioning now can be done in a matter of seconds, whereas before you’d be lifting your bucket, spinning your seat around, lifting your stabilisers, driving forward. Now all this operation can be done simultaneously, with 2 or 3 actions happening at the same.

“DualDrive certainly makes the job easier and faster. It has made a great machine even better, bringing time savings, greater comfort and efficiencies across our business. We won’t get another backhoe loader without it.”

Established in 2007, Jack Elliott Groundworks Ltd began with one JCB mini excavator and now operates 12 JCB machines. It offers manned plant hire across South Yorkshire from its company headquarters in Barnsley.

For more information on JCB visit www.jcb.com

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Ford Pro has introduced Telematics with Dashcam – an innovative new solution for commercial vehicle fleets that seamlessly integrates video evidence from an OEM-grade dashcam with the secure and intelligent Ford Pro Telematics platform. 

The new offering has been developed to help businesses protect themselves against unfair insurance claims and fulfil their duty of care obligations to drivers, all while building driver trust and addressing privacy concerns.

New research commissioned by Ford Pro highlights the critical need for such a solution – painting a stark picture of the challenges facing commercial fleets particularly as a result of the insurance “blame game”.

Across the UK, more than four in five fleet managers (81 per cent) report that they believe their drivers have been wrongly blamed in accidents, leading to operational disruptions.

Knock-on impacts were suffered by approximately one quarter of fleet manager respondents, ranging from reputational damage (26 per cent) to increased vehicle repair costs (25 per cent) and significant management time spent resolving liability issues (25 per cent).

“Our research highlights a frustrating reality for UK van drivers: without clear evidence, they are often the first to be blamed following an incident on the road. Ford Pro Telematics with Dashcam is designed to end this ‘blame game.’ By integrating high-definition video directly into our existing software platform, we are providing a ‘silent witness’ that can exonerate drivers, protect their professional reputations, and save businesses from the significant financial hit of unfair insurance claims,” said Jeremy Gould, Ford Pro Solutions, Europe.

Combating unfair blame and financial exposure

Ford Pro’s survey of 750 van drivers, 250 fleet managers, and 250 insurance brokers suggests an anti-van bias when it comes to deciding who is at fault following accidents, with van drivers and operators often left with little choice but to settle for 50/50 outcomes even when they believe they were not at fault.

Responses from insurance brokers corroborated this. More than two thirds (71 per cent) of insurance brokers reported that a lack of clear evidence resulted in unfair 50/50 outcomes in more than one quarter (26 to 100 per cent) of cases for their van-driving clients, with almost a third (32 per cent) specifically identifying vans as one of the vehicle types most at risk of being held liable in incidents lacking clear evidence.

Insurance brokers also reported that a lack of clear evidence resulted in a 50/50 outcome for van-driving clients who they believed were not at fault in an average 43 per cent of cases – making van drivers more likely than heavy goods vehicles, taxis, private passenger vehicles, buses, motorbikes and cyclists to shoulder some responsibility for accidents they likely did not cause.

In addition, 84 per cent of fleet managers reported being concerned about the financial impact of vans in their fleets being held liable in accidents which aren’t their fault.

Ford Pro Telematics with Dashcam is designed to redress the balance through:

• Irrefutable evidence: Providing the objective, reliable video evidence that more than half of brokers (52 per cent) say insurers increasingly rely on for liability decisions. This can help overturn unjust blame, expedite claims resolution, and protect drivers from unfair 50/50 outcomes
• Tangible financial savings: Insurance brokers estimate that fitting a dashcam could lead to an average insurance premium reduction of 11.5 per cent for driver-facing systems, a belief shared by more than half (51 per cent) of insurance brokers

Building trust through privacy, security and safety

Dashcams have fast become essential tools for commercial vehicle operators. Ford Pro’s research found 84 per cent of van drivers are already driving a vehicle with one installed. However, for those drivers and fleets yet to adopt the technology, privacy concerns remain a significant barrier.

Almost half (49 per cent) of fleet managers cited driver privacy concerns or driver acceptance and union considerations as key concerns. In addition, more than one third (36 per cent) of van drivers without a dashcam cited not wanting to be watched as a primary reservation.

However, the research also showed three quarters (75 per cent) of van drivers would either be okay with being recorded if the footage is secure or would welcome it if it helps them drive more safely.

Ford Pro’s OEM-level solution is designed to prioritise privacy and help build trust. Developed in partnership with Lytx, a global leader in video telematics, the new system stores footage on a 128 GB microSD card protected by security screws. Using connectivity from the built-in modem in Ford commercial vehicles, the system supports live video streaming directly to the Ford Pro Telematics platform for authorised access.

In addition, the new system can use AI and machine vision technology to identify high-risk behaviours such as distracted driving, mobile phone usage, smoking, eating and drinking, not wearing seatbelts, and even signs of driver fatigue. This allows for proactive coaching – aligning with the beliefs of the 32 per cent of fleet managers who view dashcams primarily as a tool for duty of care to drivers.

All angles covered

Ford Pro’s dashcam offers high definition 1080p recording from 96-degree road-facing and 144-degree in-cab wide-angle lenses, with integrated infrared for low-light conditions.

The system triggers video capture based on Ford Pro Telematics events like harsh braking or speeding, and drivers can also manually activate recording to document specific incidents.

Ford’s research showed complexity of installation is considered a barrier to dashcam adoption by more than one quarter (26 per cent) of fleet managers. Ford Pro Dashcam with Telematics has been developed to address this concern.

The mounting bracket is designed to fits all windshields, and customers can choose to install the units themselves or Ford’s professional installation partner, with both plug-and-play and hardwired installation options available for fleet vehicles regardless of make or model.

Ford Pro Dashcam with Telematics is available for customers in the UK now.

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The new larger DX360LC-9 and DX400HD-9 models follow the path of innovation set by the DX230LC-9 and DX260LC-9

Develon has expanded the company’s Series 9 Smart Crawler Excavator range with the launch of the new larger DX360LC-9 37 tonne and DX400HD-9 42 tonne models, adding to a new unique and innovative excavator platform built on full electronic hydraulic (FEH) technology and integrated artificial intelligence. The new models join the 23 tonne DX230LC-9 and 26 tonne DX260LC-9 models revealed for the first time at the Bauma 2025 Exhibition and launched across Europe during last year.

Powered by the Develon DX08V engine providing an output of 227 kW (304 HP) @ 1800 rpm (SAE J1995) and a maximum torque of 1230 kgf/m @ 1300 rpm, the DX360LC-9 has a maximum digging depth (std front) of 7512 mm and a maximum digging reach (std front) of 11,113 mm.

The Develon DX08V engine is a new feature, replacing the previous Scania engine, at the heart of the DX400HD-9, providing an output of 254 kW (341 HP) @ 1800 rpm (SAE J1995) and a maximum torque of 1460 kgf/m @ 1300 rpm. The DX400HD-9 has a maximum digging depth (std front) of 7512 mm and a maximum digging reach (std front) of 11,113 mm.

New groundbreaking design

Develon Series 9 excavators represent a fundamental shift in how operators interact with heavy machines. For example, by moving from hydraulic pilot controls to a sophisticated FEH system, Develon has unlocked a suite of smart features designed to increase job site safety and precision while lowering the barrier to entry for newer operators.

Like all Series 9 machines, the new DX360LC-9 and DX400HD-9 models achieve this goal by combining 10 (ten) ground-breaking technologies and will redefine and set new industry levels of Productivity, Safety, Operator Convenience and Sustainability.

“This represents much more than just adding our next generation of excavators – it’s about setting a new standard for the whole industry,” says Stephane Dieu, Product Manager for Develon Excavators in Europe. “With our new Series 9 range, the machine is no longer just a tool — it’s an intelligent partner. By combining FEH controls with AI-powered safety and a tablet-style interface, we are giving our customers a level of control and site awareness that was previously impossible.”

The intelligence behind the power

Develon Series 9 excavators feature several industry-leading innovations:

• AI-powered safety and intelligent E-Stop: The new smart around view monitor (SAVM) camera system uses artificial intelligence to identify humans in the work zone. With the addition of a new radar system that detects objects up to 6 m away, the machine can automatically trigger an intelligent E-Stop to halt the excavator’s swing or travel if a person is detected in the danger zone set at 4 m distance.
• Operators can set Virtual Wall digital boundaries to prevent the excavator boom or bucket from striking overhead power lines or underground obstacles.
• Full electronic hydraulic (FEH) precision: The shift to FEH allows for stick steer travel via joystick thumbwheels. FEH controls also allow for greater customization, including joystick sensitivity, response time and joystick button layout, for operators to maximize precision.
• Smart-ready grading: Every Series 9 excavator is factory pre-equipped for 2D and ready to be upgraded to 3D systems, featuring built-in IMU sensors for ‘plug and play’ compatibility with providers like Trimble and Leica.
• 12-inch touch screen: A vertical tablet-style touch screen replaces the traditional monitor. It offers a customizable, split-screen interface where operators can monitor 2D grade systems, AI camera feeds and machine vitals simultaneously.

Introducing a new era of earthmoving

Develon is taking job site productivity to the next level with the Series 9 range. These next-generation crawler excavators provide smart technologies and performance and versatility features to help operators work smarter and more efficiently. Together these provide up to 10% greater fuel efficiency and up to 7% increased engine output to allow operators to move more material with less overheads.

“We’ve built on the success of our existing excavator platform with the new Series 9 machines, which are engineered with a full electric over hydraulic control system, replacing traditional mechanical pilot controls to deliver up to 10% greater fuel efficiency,” says Stephane Dieu. “A new smart around view monitor camera system, Advanced Lift Assist, remote smartphone starting and factory 2D grading system help keep operators safer and more productive.”

Increased operator productivity

With greater lifting power, the Series 9 boosts excavator operators’ productivity throughout the workday. Advanced Lift Assist, a new optional feature in the Series 9 machines, displays the excavator’s current lifting capacity and alerts operators to potential tipping hazards. Advanced Lift Assist is an industry-first technology that uses a lifting force table to highlight risk zones during manoeuvres and on slopes or uneven ground.

“Our new Advanced Lift Assist uses a colour-coded arrow system on the monitor to show operators how to work safely in various terrains,” says Stephane Dieu. “This factors in the machine’s tilt to verify safety even when operators are working on slopes, allowing operators to work confidently without the risk of rollover.”

The excavator breaker assist feature prevents blank firing, protecting internal components from unnecessary wear while reducing the physical strain on the operator. With auto breaker, constant button pressing is eliminated for smoother operation in demolition applications.

The excavator’s new optional weighing system helps operators easily monitor production levels and manage volumes to make sure dump trucks are loaded to the proper and safe capacities. Plus, the new stick steer feature lets operators steer the tracks using the joystick, which simplifies movement in tight spaces.

The newly designed joystick gives operators the ability to personalize controls for maximum comfort and ease. It enhances movement with options like stick steer and thumbwheel steer, in addition to traditional levers and pedals. This flexibility ensures smoother, more precise operation that is tailored to the operator’s preferred style, making every task easier to manage.

Advanced Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) technology is used to continuously monitor critical components like hydraulic oil, engine oil and main pumps. This smart system predicts maintenance needs to help minimize downtime and lower service costs. The premium option includes the controller, pressure sensors, vibration sensors to provide diagnosis, and abnormality detection functions for the main pump, swing motor and swing reduction gear.

Available through the My Develon fleet management app, a Bluetooth^®-enabled digital key lets operators unlock the cab and start the engine without a physical key.

For more on DEVELON, please visit the website: https://eu.develon-ce.com/en/

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