First UK construction company to use cone laying tech

Balfour Beatty will be the first in the UK to roll out new automated machine technology that will lay cones on highway projects - the new technology is said to reduce the risks associated with cone laying activities.

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The new Falcon ACLM Automated Cone Laying Machines is built on Scania’s low entry L-series chassis and will aim to reduce incidents by minimising the time that traffic management operatives spend physically on the road network says Balfour Beatty.

The vehicle is said to deploy or collect a cone in under ten seconds, removing the need for operatives to manually lift up to five tonnes of equipment per shift.

The new automated cone laying machines have received investment from the National Highways’ Innovation Designated Funds programme, as well as being developed and supplied by Highway Care and Switzerland-based technology partner SENN Engineering.

Phil Clifton, Balfour Beatty managing director of highways, says, “We’re delighted to become the first construction company in the UK to successfully roll out these revolutionary new Automated Cone Laying Machines. We hope the machines will radically improve the lives of Highways workers by reducing their direct exposure to a live road environment - demonstrating our commitment to achieving Zero Harm and to sending our people home safe and well every day.”