Xwatch Safety Solutions

23/07/2026

A strong feature in the August issue of following Brian Coogan’s visit to ’s new European headquarters in Lelystad.

The article looks at Kobelco’s decade of rebuilding in Europe and the development of its K-DIVE remote-operation platform, including its collaboration with and Xwatch Safety Solutions part of Hexagon.

As the feature explains, remote operation is only one part of the picture. The machine must also understand its position, working boundaries and where movement needs to stop. Leica provides the positioning and machine-control technology, while Xwatch adds the safety layer through height, slew and depth limits and protected zones around services, structures and people.

It is a good example of a manufacturer, machine-control specialist and safety provider working together to create a more integrated system that is easier for dealers to support and simpler for the end user to operate.

Thank you to Brian and Machinery Movers Magazine for the coverage.

15/07/2026

Mechanised arb, with safety built in.🌳👇

Urgent tree work does not wait for the ideal season, and last Friday afternoon's call-out to brought just about every challenge possible.

A large Category 7 sycamore was posing a threat to critical infrastructure in the West Country, with poor access, a steep slope and side camber, BT cables and overhead power lines all adding to the complexity.

Within just one hour and 15 minutes of the call, COOMBES Group’s 718E had been loaded by and was on its way to site.

Once a full line block was in place, carried out the removal using full Xwatch Safety Solutions part of Hexagon RCI, slew and height control, helping him work within the machine’s defined limits where there was very little room for error.

Just one hour and 23 minutes later, the line was handed back.

Mechanised tree work relies on careful planning, the right equipment and highly skilled people. This was a seriously impressive response from Ben, COOMBES Group, Felled Wood Timber and everyone involved.

Mechanised arb. Serious pressure. Xwatch control where it matters.



Need an Xwatch? Get in touch [email protected]

09/07/2026

At Hillhead, Peter Haddock caught up with Chris Matthew, Commercial Director at Plantforce Rentals, on the Leica Geosystems and Xwatch stand to talk about how safety technology is reshaping plant hire.
Plantforce's customer base has shifted from transactional to strategic infrastructure clients — and with that shift comes higher expectations of every machine on site.
Safety was a big part of the conversation. Chris highlighted how Plantforce uses human form recognition and 3D collision avoidance from Xwatch Safety Solutions (part of Hexagon) to protect people on site:
"We're generating so much safety information from machines now. The key is creating an environment where we can actually use that data to improve what we do on site and make it safer."
It's a great reminder that safety technology is only as valuable as the action it drives — turning data into safer sites, every day.

01/07/2026

Xwatch strengthens support capability at Hinkley Point C 👇

Over recent weeks, Adam Guilfoyle has been delivering specialist maintenance training through the Hexagon Geosystems network, helping make sure the machines installed with Xwatch systems can be properly looked after on-site.

It is the kind of work that sits behind the scenes, but on a project like Hinkley Point C it matters. Machines need to be available, safety systems need to be maintained correctly and the people supporting them need to know exactly what they are dealing with.

Xwatch has now also received approval to deliver training at Sizewell C, marking another important step for the business as it continues to support machinery working on major UK infrastructure projects.

Jemma Dycer - Hopkins (IOSH), Sales and Operations Manager at Xwatch Safety Solutions, said: “We are proud that Xwatch is already trusted on Hinkley Point C, where a sizeable fleet of hire machines fitted with our systems is at work on site.

“Adam’s training helps put the right knowledge around those machines, so that the people responsible for maintaining them understand the systems and can support them properly.

“Approval to deliver training at Sizewell C is another big step. These are nationally important projects, and it is great to see Xwatch increasingly trusted by hire companies, contractors and the wider industry.”

Hinkley Point C is one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure projects. The site is building two new nuclear reactors, the first in a new generation of British nuclear power stations, which will provide reliable zero-carbon electricity for around six million homes.

19/06/2026

A good one to finish the week on.👇
Last week, Xwatch engineer Tom Dacosta was at McHale Komatsu Chester-le-Street fitting Xwatch Safety Solutions part of Hexagon XW5 systems to two JN Bentley Komatsu Europe PC138 excavators.

The 13–14 tonne class is a mainstay of hire fleets. These are the machines that end up on a bit of everything: housing, civils, utilities, roadworks and general groundworks. The PC138’s short-tail design also makes it a sensible choice where room is tight.

But tight sites tend to mean more to watch: buildings, boundaries, overhead services, other plant, lifting work and people moving around the job.

That is where XW5 comes in. The system provides height and slew restriction, along with rated capacity indication for lifting duties, helping the operator work within the limits set for that particular job. It uses proportional hydraulic control, so the machine is managed smoothly as it reaches those limits.

XW5 can also work alongside Leica Geosystems part of Hexagon MC1 machine control where 3D avoidance, virtual boundaries and depth control are needed.

Two tidy installs from Tom, with both PC138s now ready to leave McHale with the right safety kit already on board.

Not a bad way to round off the working week.

17/06/2026

Flannery Plant Hire ’s latest rubber duck gets the Xwatch Safety Solutions part of Hexagon treatment 👇

Another tidy install completed for Flannery Plant Hire, with Xwatch engineer Tom Dacosta fitting an Xwatch XW5 system to this Komatsu UK Ltd PW98MR rubber duck. McHale Komatsu

The XW5 is Xwatch’s full safety system, designed to help operators manage height, slew and rated capacity. It allows safe working limits to be set around the machine, helping to reduce the risk of contact with overhead services, nearby structures, people and other site hazards. It can also be integrated with 3D machine control and avoidance technology, making it a strong choice for machines working in tighter, busier and more controlled environments.

Flannery and Xwatch share a long-standing relationship built over many years of close collaboration. With hundreds of systems installed across Flannery’s fleet, this partnership is firmly rooted in experience, trust, and a shared commitment to improving site safety.

Flannery is not only a valued user of Xwatch technology but has consistently led the way in its support and adoption, championing the latest innovations in the market. Flannery was among the first to adopt the new Xwatch Mk2 system, with Patrick Flannery sealing the deal with Xwatch at bauma 2025.

Dan Leaney Global Sales Director at Xwatch Safety Solutions, said: “Flannery has been with Xwatch for a long time and has always taken a very forward-thinking approach to safety technology. Seeing another machine leave the yard with Xwatch fitted is always a proud moment, especially when the relationship goes back years and covers hundreds of systems. Tom has done a great job on this install, and the Komatsu PW98MR is a brilliant example of where the XW5 really comes into its own.”

12/06/2026

Xwatch Safety Solutions part of Hexagon to exhibit at UK Plant Expo 2027

Xwatch Safety Solutions, part of Hexagon, has confirmed it will exhibit at UK Plant Expo 2027, a new two-day B2B plant event taking place on 11 and 12 June 2027 at the Heart of England Showground in Warwickshire.

The event will bring together manufacturers, dealers, plant hirers, contractors, operators and technology providers for two days of live digging, working demonstrations and active displays.

Built around the UK Plant Operator of the Year competition, UK Plant Expo 2027 will have a strong operator-led focus, with the event designed to support the industry in becoming safer, smarter and more sustainable.

For Xwatch Safety Solutions, the new show provides another opportunity to meet the people who own, operate, hire and manage construction machinery every day.

Dan Leaney, Head of Global Sales at Xwatch Safety Solutions, said: “UK Plant Expo 2027 gives us another opportunity to meet plant hirers, contractors, dealers and operators in a live working environment.

“Xwatch systems are designed for real site conditions, so events with live machinery and practical demonstrations are a good fit for us. Safety technology is always easier to understand when people can see how it works around the machine.”

The company’s attendance at UK Plant Expo 2027 will give visitors the chance to learn more about the latest Xwatch technology, including its next-generation systems and the growing role of telematics, data and machine control integration in improving site safety.

Want to know more? Click here👇

Xwatch Safety Solutions to exhibit at UK Plant Expo 2027

10/06/2026

Number seven is in the bag for Blackwood Plant Hire Limited👇

Another Kobelco Construction Machinery Europe SK210-11 has had the Xwatch treatment, with Blackwood Plant Hire’s seventh machine in this latest series now fitted with an Xwatch system at Molson Equipment Darlington.

Blackwood has fitted many Xwatch systems over the years, so this latest install continues a long-standing approach to practical machine safety across its fleet.

The machine was supplied through Will Morris at Molson Darlington, with the system installed by Xwatch engineer Derek Mitchell.

Jemma Dycer - Hopkins (IOSH), Sales and Operations Manager at Xwatch Safety Solutions part of Hexagon, said: “Blackwood Plant Hire has been a long-standing supporter of Xwatch, with hundreds of systems fitted across its fleet over the years. This latest Kobelco is the seventh in this particular series of machines, and it is great to see that commitment to practical, operator-focused safety continuing. Thanks to Blackwood and the team at Molson Darlington for their continued support.”

A great bit of teamwork between Blackwood Plant Hire, Molson and Xwatch Safety Solutions.

02/06/2026

WR57 srl partners with Xwatch! Great video - there is something so wonderful in the sound of the Italian language!

27/05/2026

Buckhurst Plant Hire backs practical fleet safety👇

When a machine is working across a busy hire fleet, safety has to be practical, consistent and easy for operators to work with.

That was the thinking behind this Xwatch Safety Solutions part of Hexagon XW5 installation, carried out by Xwatch engineer Billy Hughes on a JCB 220X for Buckhurst Plant Hire.

Founded in 1993 by the Walsh family, Buckhurst has grown from a small yard with just a few machines into a nationwide hire business with five depots and more than 3,000 pieces of equipment. It is a business built on investment in quality kit, customer service and keeping machines ready for the demands of modern sites.

The JCB 220X is a serious 20-tonne class excavator, built for productivity, operator comfort and heavy-duty work. With the XW5 fitted, the machine gains an extra layer of control around height and slew movement, helping operators work safely around overhead hazards, tight spaces and restricted working zones. The machine is also fitted with Safety Shield Global for an extra layer of safety.

For hire fleets, that consistency matters. Machines can move from site to site and operator to operator, so the safety system needs to be reliable, clear and practical on the ground.

The message on the machine is a powerful reminder that site safety starts with people.✊

A tidy install by Billy and a great-looking machine heading out ready for work. Thank you to Buckhurst Plant for your trust in Xwatch.