solution to support our growth plans, for which the right finance was critical. “What we ended up with was a fleet of new GPS connected Caterpillar equipment, including 3D Trimble enabled dozers, all with extended warranties, supported by Finning and its Finsight engineering team and wrapped into a finance package from Cat Financial.


“In really basic terms, what this allowed us to do was to take total control of our cost base for the W.I.E.A.R job. We knew the monthly payments we would have to make and having done the work on fuel burn, in particular using the 3D enabled equipment, we had a clear understanding of our cost per tonne per litre. This ultimately gave us the confidence that we could make it profitable.


“When it came to the practical delivery of the actual job, this was where the technology played a critical role. We monitored the performance of each machine onsite through the Caterpillar GPS Product Link™ system, with support from the Finning Finsight and engineering teams to maintain uptime, whilst spotting key performance trends.


“This process also allowed us to identify where improvements could be made, with more experienced operators helping to train others, a process that continues to this day.


“Following on from the success of the project, as a business we have spent the last 4 years using the right finance models to put technology at the heart of the services we offer, maintaining a key focus on productivity and fuel burn, right the way through our fleet.


“This has led to us recently retrofitting the Product Link™ system to all of our fleet, including mini excavators. We have also made further


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investments in 3D machine control, through the Trimble dealer SITECH.


“Looking back on our journey, it has never been and never will be about investing in technology for the sake of ticking a box.


I believe that if you are going to invest in something that is ultimately not a piece of equipment but a system or solution, you have to be prepared to invest in your own knowledge and the skills of your team.


“By developing our own weekly reports and reacting faster, we are now better at maintaining uptime, better at training, better at spotting trends, better at reducing theft and much more. But better is a continuous process and for me so is the technology that can help.


“You also have to change your business and put in the right procedures to make technology a day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute part of everyone’s working life.


HOUR TAKEDOWN


If the whole industry could embrace technology better, or even start asking the right questions, the financial and environmental benefits to be gained, could see the plant sector play a much bigger role in delivering the Government 2025 construction strategy.”


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