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ABAX identifies the five construction machines UK sites can’t afford to lose sight of
LONDON, UK — 1 October 2025 — ABAX, a leading European telematics provider, today highlighted the five most critical machines that construction firms should track to protect productivity and reduce losses: excavators, JCBs (and their attachments), dumpers & articulated trucks, cranes, and compact track loaders. Drawing on sector data and customer recoveries, the guidance shows how connected tracking reduces theft, downtime and unnecessary maintenance across multi-site operations.
Construction teams face heightened risk during autumn and winter as daylight shortens, with October seeing spikes in machinery theft and overall UK recovery rates below 15%. Real-time location, geofencing, and usage-based service alerts are proven mitigation tools, according to ABAX.
“Downtime on core plant can cost thousands per day — real-time data keeps machines productive while geofencing adds security,” said Craig Allan, Director of Specialised Sales at ABAX.
The top five — and why they matter
Excavators – Backbone of groundwork from day one; tracking prevents misplacement across sites and helps schedule maintenance. Typical replacement runs £25k–£40k and may take 10–12 weeks.
JCBs & attachments – Daily workhorses whose value depends on buckets, augers and forks; Bluetooth tagging curbs loss and speeds handovers.
Dumpers & artics – Central to materials flow; site entry/exit visibility and fleet-wide activity views reduce idle time.
Cranes – Safety-critical and highly regulated; usage logs support LOLER compliance and avoid unauthorised operation. Hire can exceed £1,000/day.
Compact track loaders – Easy to overlook yet vital for tight-space finish work; tracking reduces idle time and attachment loss.
Real recoveries
MKC Groundworks: Stolen 3-tonne excavator located and recovered within five hours after contacting ABAX (case study).
J McCann & Co: £25,000 JCB recovered within hours via trackers and geofence alerts (case study).
“Attachments are as valuable as the machines — tagging every item means you always know where it is,” added Pål Kamfjord, Director of Product Management at ABAX.
Call to action
ABAX recommends starting with the machines that set the pace of the job—then expanding tracking across the fleet for a single source of truth on usage, location and maintenance. Solutions include ABAX Worksite for machine management and ABAX Locator for tools and attachments.
About ABAX
ABAX enables businesses to turn mobility data into actionable insight. Its telematics platform helps organisations reduce costs, optimise operations and improve sustainability, efficiency and safety across vehicles, machines and assets. Headquartered in Larvik, Norway, ABAX operates across Europe.
Sources
Anna Edwards
Marketing Manager, ABAX UK
anna.edwards@abax.com
About ABAX
ABAX Group is a leading European telematics and Internet of Things (IoT) company headquartered in Larvik, Norway. It operates a connected mobility data analytics platform that collects and analyses data from mobile assets such as vehicles, equipment, and tools to deliver fleet and asset management, equipment control, and Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) services across sectors as transportation, construction, utilities, and services.
The Group supports businesses with field-based operations by providing data analytics and automated reporting that improve operational efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and reduce costs.
With more than 500,000 tracked mobile assets and close to 40,000 customers, ABAX Group has a proven track record of translating customer needs into innovative, profitable solutions.