Dan Smith, our Technology Products Manager speaks with the latest edition of Awesome Earthmovers magazine. Read the article below and find the full magazine here: Awesome Earthmovers Issue 11
Specialising in helping contractors transition from traditional engineering methods and giving them the tools and knowledge to drive their business forward into the digital age, Machine Control & GNSS rental supplier, retailer and site services provider MDiG, since its launch in 2020, has been building an extensive customer base across the UK from its Redditch based headquarters.
It is doing so against a backdrop of a digital revolution in the construction industry which, says Highways England, could dramatically increase productivity and save billions of pounds, while radically reducing disruption to the public and slashing the number of fatal building site accidents.
The organisation is spearheading a 15-year plan to accelerate the use of technology in infrastructure and says the CAP (Connected and Autonomous Plant) roadmap, developed through collaboration with more than 100 industry stakeholders, could see annual savings of £53 billion across new construction work, in addition to improving productivity by up to £400 billion by 2040.
Getting to that point, however, will be a challenge for many in the industry, which is where MDiG aims to make a difference. MDiG’s Technology Products Manager Dan Smith says adopting new technology on the jobsite can be a daunting task for some, and costly, too.
“There’s no doubt, technology can be a big investment and we understand that, which is why we offer rental options to make digital construction available to everyone,” he says. “As dealers for Leica and Topcon machine control systems, Smart Construction and Xwatch site safety and protection solutions, we believe our construction technology will help contractors achieve goals they simply cannot reach manually. With the correct technology in place, it’s possible to project business into a new era of construction.”
As one of the founding members of MDiG, Dan comes from a civil engineering background and has worked as a site engineer, with more than 15 years experience with machine control. From small beginnings, MDiG now boasts an 18-strong team that includes two Account Managers driving business forward, installers and trainers who have a combined knowledge of 50 years in machine control. With business continuing to grow and expand, the company has increased its rental fleet of Topcon and Leica products accordingly to meet that demand from the industry.
“While some are already well on the road to connected and autonomous plant, others have yet to dip their toes, as it were, into the world of GPS and machine control, put off by what could be a massive outlay for them; renting is by far the easiest route to ease themselves into that environment, especially if they operate machines that are plug and play ready, as most already are today.”
“When you weight up the rental costs against the on-site benefits,it makes sense to employ machine control and site safety solutions”
Of course, before any machine control project starts the appropriate GNSS base equipment must be sourced and then precisely set-up. Mistakes are easy to make, hard to detect, and can compromise efficiencies throughout the entire project.
“Choosing the right equipment for a digital job site is essential,” says Dan. “Our team of specialists advises customers on which kit to choose – from Base Stations and GPS Rovers to Machine Control Kits and Total Stations – and provide installation and ongoing support from start to finish. When you weight up the rental costs against the on-site benefits, it is not difficult to see that it makes sense to employ machine control and site safety solutions.”
As we mentioned, though, adopting digital technology can be challenging and difficult for some. “We understand and appreciate that, which is why we have developed a suite of training courses on all of the products we rent and install,” comments Dan. “We show them how machine control works, how they can get the best out of job sites and how it can increase efficiency and productivity. These bespoke courses are ideal for those who are new to digital construction and machine control and for those simply looking to brush up on their knowledge.”
There are course on Leica and Topcon machine control systems for site engineers, taking them through everything they need to know when it comes to job site setup, data synchronisation, troubleshooting and the daily use of machine control. The training involves classroom-based training and site exercises to maximise learning.
Other courses for dozer and excavator operators will take them through the hardware components and the benefits of machine control, followed by an indepth look at the main run screen components and all the tools on board to help in day-to-day tasks and to get the most from the system. From logging survey points to creating bespoke surfaces for the jobsite, these courses will make sure operators are fully up to speed.
Employing cutting edge aerial equipment, its CAA Pilotscan save time and money on any project
Another growing side of the MDiG business is in the use of drones which are increasingly popular on jobsites. Currently, they have four fully trained drone operators on the team offering a range of services. Aerial insights improve progress tracking and help catch problems early before they become costly or add weeks to a project’s timeline.
Employing cutting edge aerial equipment, coupled with up to date processing software, its CAA Pilots can save time and money on any project. With multiple deliverables, they can deliver quick volumetric reports to aid in any part of the construction process, with the ability of patching into any original workflow, utilising industry standard file formats. Packages range from quick stockpile volume calculations to expansive cut/fill reports.
Clearly, the construction industry is ever-evolving. Looking forward, no site, big or small, will be complete without the latest digital technology. “We want to help our customers to get ahead of the curve and believe our products are essential for future success. Our products will enable all to embrace the change.“
To see which products would suit your project, jobsite and budget please contact one of our Account Managers:
South – Katie Clarke, 07831 499209, katie.clarke@mdig.co.uk
North – Simon Ralph, 07918 287318, simon.ralph@mdig.co.uk
MDiG partner with Xwatch
Xwatch Safety Solutions have recently announced a new partnership with technology solutions specialists, MDiG, who will become official distributors of the Xwatch suite of safety systems.
Xwatch Safety Solutions is currently revolutionising the global safety market, with its XW series of products which include, height control, slew control, and rated capacity indicator (RCI) systems. Xwatch, established in 2019, has already successfully launched a number of game-changing products in both machine safety and telematics.
MDiG provides businesses nationwide with technology solutions that optimise their construction sites enabling them to complete projects more efficiently, safely, and accurately.
Although MDiG was launched was just two-years ago, it has captured the market in a big way providing customers with solutions from leading manufacturers including Topcon and Leica.
It was the connection with Leica that led MDiG to explore a partnership with Xwatch Safety Solutions. MDiG supply and install Leica Geosystems MC1 machine control solutions. In the latter part of 2021, the Leica iCON PA80, VA80 and CAS safety awareness solutions were integrated with Xwatch creating the perfect synergy.
Users of the popular Leica MC1 machine control platform can leverage their investments to run the new safety awareness solution. The Leica iCON PA80 integration will automatically alert the operator on the screen of the same device that they already use for their ongoing machine operations.
The collaboration between Leica Geosystems, Xwatch and MDiG will offer a system that streamlines job site safety offerings by interconnecting height control, slew control and 2D and 3D safety machine control solutions.
Commenting on the new partnership, Xwatch Sales and Operations Director Dan Leaney said, “MDiG has quickly established itself as a market leader offering customers a comprehensive range of digital construction solutions. Technology delivers productivity and a crucial part of productivity is to keep the operator and co-workers safe in the field. We are delighted to partner with MDiG and provide key safety solutions, the Leica connection sealed our alliance. Operators are at the coalface of every jobsite and their safety is our priority.”
Ash Mills, Head of Rental and Sales at MDiG said, “We are also very pleased to announce our partnership with Xwatch. Technology has moved on rapidly in recent years and advancements in enabling machines to detect their surroundings has reached a whole new level of safety in heavy equipment applications. Xwatch is ahead of the game in the field of safety systems and we are excited to embark on this new relationship. The Leica corelation means that safety and awareness for the operator and provide immediate response whether the operator is in a dozer, excavator or any other heavy equipment using the MC1 machine control system.”
Xwatch and MDiG to join forces at the Futureworx technology event
Xwatch and MDiG will both be exhibiting at Futureworx 2022 – 30 & 31 March.
Xwatch Safety Solutions is launching a brand new safety system at the event and showing the latest machines from Sany fitted with Xwatch technology. The company has also teamed up with Plantforce Rentals who are revealing their ‘Cancer Research’ pink Charity machine, an SK85 Kobelco fitted with an Xwatch XW4 system.
The XWatch XW4 Excavator safety system (height & slew control) can be configured to work on a variety of articulated hydraulic plant. Height and slew limitation is controlled using proportional soft-stop hydraulic valves providing accurate and repeatable performance without detriment to the machine.
Plantforce Rentals is also bringing the latest hybrid and semi-autonomous machines from Kobelco, also kitted out with Xwatch and Leica technology.
MDiG will be showcasing the Leica MC1 machine control system which is a revolutionising software platform for all machine control solutions and applications. The Leica MC1 is the one-for-all software solution platform to guide and automate all heavy construction machines. The Xwatch and Leica MC1 systems have recently been integrated to provide safety for the operator.
The Leica ICG60 Base Station will also feature on the stand. Leica’s latest GNSS hardware and IMU (Inertial measurement unit) releases the need to use the poles bubble, unlocking faster data capture! Icon’s field software integrates with all modern construction workflows to minimise downtime with data transfers. Other products from Leica include the Leica iCON windows field tablet.
MDiG will also showcase products from Topcon and Smart Construction. The Topcon X53x is said to deliver the most advanced and precise GPS positioning technology, coupled with advanced sensors, controllers, and simple on-board software. Productivity improvements of 30% or more are common – even for experienced operators. The Topcon Hyper VR Base Station will also feature.
A DJI M300 RTK drone will be also be on display – the DJI MATRICE 300 RTK is reported to be the most powerful and versatile commercial drone platform by DJI.
Registration is now open for day two of Futureworx (31st March) for the conference and exhibition Showcase please visit www.futureworx.uk/rsvp and enter the code FWXG22. Places are limited and space is filling up fast.
