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Flannery first to back Xwatch MK2 in Bauma deal

Flannery Plant Hire has become the first plant hire company to place an order for the newly launched Xwatch MK2, shaking hands on the deal at bauma Munich this week.

Patrick Flannery, Managing Director of Flannery Plant Hire, and Dan Leaney, Sales Director at Xwatch Safety Solutions part of Hexagon, finalised the agreement on the Hexagon stand.

This latest investment builds on an already strong relationship between the two businesses. Flannery was the first major plant hire company to support Xwatch when it launched in July 2019 and has since installed close to 400 XW4 and XW5 safety systems across its fleet.

As part of a wider £100 million machinery investment through Caterpillar, JCB and Komatsu, Flannery has placed an order for 200 new excavators and committed to installing the new MK2 XW5 systems across a range of them. Some units will also be fitted with the Leica 3D collision avoidance system, developed jointly by Leica Geosystems and Xwatch—both part of Hexagon.

The MK2 is Xwatch’s fastest, smartest system yet. It’s 30% quicker to install, making it ideal for high-volume rollout, with a simplified design that retains all the safety features of the original MK1 – including height and slew restriction, RCI, and full compatibility across the XW1 to XW5 range. The system is more compact and user-friendly, with precision proportional motion control (patent pending), a multilingual interface, and telematics readiness built in. MK2 is also the first system of its kind to be PLd-rated for the civils market, offering improved integration via the Xwatch Safety Gateway and fewer in-cab components. It integrates directly with leading OEM displays to reduce cab clutter and installation time – futureproofing machines for a more digital, sustainable site.

Dan Leaney said: “Flannery has been a key partner from day one – always pushing to raise the bar regarding safety and machine technology. It means a lot that they’re the first to commit to the MK2. This system is a leap forward, and Flannery shows real leadership by putting it to work straight out of the gate.”

Patrick Flannery added: “We’ve built our business on safety, innovation, and relationships that last. Investing in the MK2 is a natural step for us, and continuing to work with Dan and the team at Xwatch means we’re getting the very latest tech – backed by a team that knows our industry inside out.”

Flannery Plant Hire first adopted the Xwatch Leica 3D collision avoidance system following a successful trial, and it remains a key part of its fleet technology strategy. The system was developed in close collaboration between Xwatch Safety Solutions and Leica Geosystems, combining Leica’s MC1 3D machine control software with Xwatch’s safety expertise. It allows 3D avoidance zones – above and below ground – to be created or imported directly into the machine control interface, significantly enhancing safety in complex working environments.

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