Content With Media

Content With Media Content With Media creates compelling content for the construction industry both online in print and for social media.

05/26/2026

If Britain wants growth, it needs to unlock the barriers holding back construction.

Peter Haddock caught up with Steve Mulholland following the Construction Plant-hire Association conference at the Institution of Civil Engineers, where the theme was Half Built Britain – Unlocking the Nation’s Growth Plans.

Steve: “As a key part of the supply chain, our members are often overlooked when decisions are made at Government level. We need to be able to challenge those decisions, offer alternatives and make sure policymakers understand the impact on the businesses investing in Britain’s future.”

The event focused on some of the industry’s biggest challenges and opportunities, from skills and workforce development to decarbonisation, infrastructure delivery and investment certainty.

Steve: “Construction is the biggest employer in the UK when it comes to headcount, and we are an enabler of growth. If the economic environment is right, we can create opportunities for young people, support investment and help deliver the infrastructure the country needs.

“Construction plant is the most capital intensive sector in the UK. Our members are taking real risks with their investment and they need certainty around taxation, wages and, most importantly, a reliable pipeline of work that keeps equipment utilised and productive.”

The value of industry collaboration was another recurring theme.

Steve: “When you come into an environment like this, you leave the company badge at the door. Competitors sit together discussing the same challenges, sharing experiences and helping shape the messages we take back to Government and the wider industry.”

One of the strongest moments of the day came from CPA Stars of the Future winner Molly Gill of Flannery Plant Hire, who spoke passionately about discovering a career in construction.

Steve added: “Molly spoke from the heart. She showed what’s possible when young people are given an opportunity. The challenge is that too many still don’t know our industry exists as a career option. We need to do more to get that message into schools and communities.”

Peter added: "I really enjoyed hosting the event and catching up with industry colleagues face to face.

"There will be more opportunities to do this and say hello to myself and Lucas Haddock later in the year when I also host the events below"

- Stars of the Future awards at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre near Coventry on Thursday 9th July 2026, both of which I will be hosting.
- CPA Gala Dinner in Liverpool in November.

Flannery Plant Hire

05/19/2026

From tape measure frustration to 3D models and a new JCB 140X excavator, factory fitted with Leica Geosystems 3D machine control, all financed by JCB Finance

Peter Haddock visited SO Groundworks in Staffordshire to catch up with owner Shaun Oldham, who has transformed his business by teaching himself to be an engineer as well as being an experienced machine operator.

Shaun: “We’d get an engineer out to set foundations and put pegs in, and then it was left to me with a 50 metre tape measure, checking everything across the site. Something that should have taken ten minutes was taking all day.

“I thought instead of waiting on someone else, I’ll learn how to do it myself. Once I got introduced to Leica Geosystems iCON and the robotic total station setup, by Chris Woodhouse, it completely changed my thinking.

“At first, I thought it would just help with setting out kerbs and edges. Now I’m doing full engineering packages myself with 2D and 3D models.”

“This then led to a visit to Leica School in Shropshire for a 3D machine control demonstration with Steve Claybrook, and straight away we retrofitted our existing JCB excavators.

“I then found out that we could get a JCB 140X from our dealer Watling JCB fitted at the factory with the machine, attachments and machine control all bundled into one package through JCB Finance.

“We now use Leica ConX, to send updated drawings and models straight to the machines even if I’m not onsite. The lads can keep working, and the job keeps flowing.

“Were even looking at how to build in 3D avoidance zones around existing drainage and services using Xwatch Safety Solutions ”

Talking to operator Emmett about the new machine, he added:

“The machine control is really well integrated into the JCB 140X. The tablet placement, wiring and visibility have all clearly been thought through properly.

“With Shaun understanding both the engineering and the machine side, we’re all working from the same model and can see exactly what’s happening onsite.”


Watling JCB

05/15/2026

New JCB 420X and 520X excavator key features explained in this interview with Tom Whitaker and Peter Haddock at the product launch this week.

Tom: “These are all new excavators built to deliver real productivity for customers working in heavy duty applications like quarrying and bulk earthmoving.

“The 420X’s new undercarriage is wider and longer than the 370X, giving the machine a much stronger and more stable base. We’ve achieved 11% greater lift performance than the 370X and fitted 50-tonne class track motors to deliver exceptional tractive effort.”

The 420X key features:

* Six-cylinder diesel engine delivering 240kW (321hp) and 1,526Nm of torque
* New JCB UX user interface inside the CommandPlus cab
* Heavy-duty undercarriage, slew motor and dig-end structure
* Hydraulic performance focused on productivity and lifting capability
* Standard Earthmoving Pro Pack with optional Heavy Duty Pro Pack

Tom: “The 2.6 cubic metre bucket is 10% larger than the 370X, meaning a 30-tonne dump truck can be loaded in one pass less every cycle.”

On the larger 520X, the focus for JCB shifted even further, breaking into new attachments.

Tom: “The 520X has gone through a four-year testing programme to develop the most robust undercarriage and dig end structures we’ve ever built. And our JCB Attachment colleagues have designed a new HM450T breaker especially for it.”

Key features of the 520X include:

* Cummins X12 diesel engine delivering 298kW (400hp)
* JCB CommandPlus cab with intuitive JCB UX interface
* Choice of boom and arm configurations
* Optional variable gauge undercarriage
* Maximum digging reach of 11.8 metres
* Maximum digging depth of 7.8 metres

Tom: “The variable gauge undercarriage allows the machine to get below three metres transport width when required, while still delivering exceptional lifting capability.

The new models are already selling through the dealer network, with finance options also available from JCB Finance . And visitors to the Hillhead show will be able to see the new models in action.

Cummins Inc Greenshields JCB Scot JCB Ltd Holt JCB Ltd Watling JCB TC Harrison JCB Dennison JCB Gunn JCB Ltd

05/13/2026

JCB now has the full Hydrogen setup with its 3CX Hydrogen Backhoe now in factory production, its Hydrogen Generator that can also charge its battery pack.

And through a new partnership with , the mobile bowser that can bring Hydrogen to the machine or generator.

Here is a quick run through from the press event today.

05/12/2026

Drone surveying plays a key role in the Mamre Road Upgrade project in Sydney’s western suburbs.

The 3.8km upgrade from two to four lanes is benefiting from digital surveying and cloud collaboration using 12d Synergy software.

To find out more, Peter Haddock spoke with Lorcan Broderick, Survey Manager for contractor Seymour Whyte Construction.

Lorcan: “The ability the drones provide is phenomenal. The advances in photogrammetry over the last few years have been huge.”

Lorcan: “We fly photogrammetry twice a month and video once a month. The output is hugely advantageous for the project team.

“The drone data allows us to calculate material volumes, understand where material has moved from and to, and identify what additional material is required on site.

“Traditionally, surveyors would have been out across the site collecting that data manually. The drone can capture the entire site in a matter of hours.

“This reduces the exposure of people working around large machinery and gives us a very accurate snapshot of the site at that exact moment.

“All of the information is then shared through 12d Synergy, which is a common data environment that approved stakeholders can access. So everyone can have visibility across the project.

“The aerial imagery is particularly useful for programme planning and keeping everybody informed. People are visual learners, so they like to see progress.

“Our client also uses the imagery regularly, and the feedback has been very positive.”

05/11/2026

Matthew Lugg, founder of the MJL Group , talks about his journey from a CASE Construction Equipment backhoe loader to having a fleet of over 1400 pieces of equipment.

The groundworks specialist based in the South West is also running the largest Leica Geosystems 3D Machine Controlled mixed fleet in the region, supported by dealer One Point Survey Equipment .

This clip gives you a flavour of our BIG 29-minute interview with Matt, which can be found on the Content With Media YouTube Channel and on our Content For Industry website.

See the links in the comment below.

You can also catch up with me, Lucas Haddock and the One Point Survey Equipment team at this year's Royal Cornwall Show, and Matt will be making his own appearance.

05/11/2026

"$100 MILLION dollar investment into young people from Caterpillar”

When I heard this, I knew I had to take a deeper dive into what Caterpillar had up its sleeve and how it would help the industry with this $100 million investment.

So I spoke with Herwig Peschl from Caterpillar at CONEXPO-CON/AGG about how its Global Operator and now Technician challenges are helping to showcase potential career opportunities in the industry.

The main goal is to support younger people to get training through different pathways, including vocational training, to help them find their way in the industry.

Herwig - “We’re doing the Global Operator Challenge and the Global Technician Challenge, as we want to show people they can have fantastic careers.

"The world will never stop building or digging, so there’s always going to be a career for you anywhere in the world.

“When I talked last night to some of the technicians, they're thrilled to be here in Las Vegas, of course. But they're also thrilled because they have one of the best jobs in the industry, and they will say it.

"They love what they do, and they can travel the world if they want to and work anywhere.”

There’s now much more than just Iron, dirt, and diesel. With technology increasingly entering the industry, it’s also diagnosing machine technical issues, bringing a whole new element to the job compared to previous years.

As explained when I interviewed Tom March, the Finning UK and Ireland winner of the Global Dealer Technician Challenge.

05/08/2026

Bobcat Company introduces ‘Jobsite Companion’ an AI assistant, new safety systems, and smarter interfaces to reshape its compact equipment lineup in the USA.

I met with Joel Honeyman, VP of Innovation at CONEXPO-CON/AGG , to find out more.

Joel: “People think about autonomy first, but you have to start with the building blocks like object avoidance.

“We want to use technology to make things simpler for customers, not more complicated.”

Some of the standout innovations we discuss include:

- RogueX3 concept machine combining electrification, autonomy and connectivity

- New radar object avoidance
system for Bobcat loaders

- Jobsite Companion an AI-powered assistant integrated directly into the machine

- Voice-controlled machine settings and attachment optimisation

- The power of over the air technology software updates and two way telematics

Joel: “As we look to the future, young people in particular are used to gaming and intuitive interfaces. That’s why we are bringing those types of interactions into our machines.”

Bobcat EMEA

05/07/2026

“It’s a shame it’s not raining today, as seeing the TS20 Total Station with its IP66 rating in action would have been great,” said Ian Mulligan, National Key Accounts lead of Vp ESS

Peter Haddock joined Ian on a training awareness day in Glasgow with Gary Kelly of Leica Geosystems

Gary was demonstrating the range of features, including the AI Follow function, which allows the TS20 to follow the AP20 AutoPole prism even if the line of sight is interrupted

This was all to support a major investment by Vp ESS in the new fleet of TS20 Total Stations and AP20 AutoPoles, which included the rollout of training and specialist tools for calibration and maintenance.

Ian: “The TS20 is all about accuracy. And to maintain that, you need the right people behind it. That’s why we’ve invested locally in our capabilities.

"Before the TS20s arrived, our technical specialist, John Holmes, was taken to the Leica Geosystems facility to learn how to calibrate equipment through our accredited workshop.

“Everything that comes back in from hire gets tested and checked by our technicians before it goes out, and we have everything needed to support the ongoing maintenance of equipment.

“And getting out on site to see how the TS20 and AP20 work together helps us build our knowledge so we can pass that on to our customers.

“It’s about giving people the ability to do the job properly, efficiently, productively and making sure they can benefit from the latest features and capabilities of the equipment we supply.”

05/01/2026

“We did a job last year without 3D machine control, and we wished we’d had it on. That tells you everything, really.”

At the Develon Europe Demo Days, Peter Haddock caught up with Robin Maude, MD of Maude Construction, after he operated the Develon DD130 dozer equipped with Leica Geosystems 3D machine control.

Robin: “ It’s an amazing machine, particularly with the machine control, it probably would save a lot of money in the long run. Reducing time and getting things right the first time, that’s where it makes the difference.

“We already work with 3D models on projects, so using 3D machine control isn’t a big step for us. It just connects everything together on site.

“I’m not as into technology as my son, but they’re all into 3D modelling now, that’s the direction things are going, particularly for the larger projects we are working on.”

DEVELON North America DEVELON North America

04/30/2026

Caterpillar's next 100 years ‘reshaping what’s possible’ with equipment and AI built around people, skills and technology.

At CONEXPO-CON/AGG , Peter Haddock caught up with Herwig Peschl, Senior VP for Global Construction & Infrastructure, to take a deep dive into its future vision.

Herwig: “We’ve proven over the last 100 years that we can innovate with our customers to help them be more productive and profitable. Now it’s about continuing that and supporting people with the right equipment and technology will be at the heart of it.”

Key topics covered and timings for this interview are below:

- Introduction and customer pain points, safety, people, skills and productivity.�

- 1.55 - Increasing investment in digital and technology solutions.

- 2.50 - What VisionLink productivity is doing today to support customers.�

- 3.45 - AI voice activated assistant for operators to simplify machine operations like trenching and 2D operation. �

- 5.30 - Partnership with NVIDIA puts the computing power into the machine and the cloud.

- 7.00 - Linking on and off highway assets together with a collaboration with Geotab supporting equipment management.

- 8.00 - $100m investment in people with global challenges for operators and technicians, and making the industry more exciting to attract talent.

- 9.30 - AI in construction - ‘where is it now and where will it go with data available from over a million connected assets?’ - insights, recommendations and shortening challenges.

- 11.00 - New and exciting job opportunities driven by technology, tailoring information to the people that matter with AI driven role based insights from connected machine data.

Herwig concluded: “We’re investing heavily in people as well as technology and AI, because without the right skillsets like great operators and technicians, none of this works.

“At the end of the day, it’s about helping customers be safer, more productive and more efficient, making the industry more attractive for the next generation.”

Address

Las Vegas, NV

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Content With Media posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category