Plant tracking specialist AMI Group has appeared in a special edition of Demolition TV focused on the theft of construction and demolition equipment. AMI Group was invited to appear after being identified as one of the companies spearheading the fight against plant theft and at the forefront of the recovery process.
Demolition TV is the first TV show for demolition professionals and episode 4 highlights that the theft of construction plant still remains a huge problem in the UK, with an estimated £1 million of equipment stolen from construction and demolition sites each week.
AMI Group Operations Director Peter Stockton appears in the episode at length and talks about the plant tracking solutions that the company offers, including battery operated systems with battery life of up to 20 years, as well as hard wired systems. In recognition that thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated, AMI Group has developed the smallest, most covert plant tracking devices in the industry, making them far more difficult for thieves to locate. Over £245 million worth of customer assets are protected with AMI Group tracking systems, including several of the UK’s national plant hirers and construction companies.
“The theft of equipment is a growing and expensive problem within the UK demolition industry,” says Demolition News’ Mark Anthony. “With the focus switching from theft prevention to equipment recovery, companies like AMI Group will have a vital role to play.”
In the demolition TV episode which can be viewed on https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WkFuQA4ey18&t=16m56s&feature=youtu.be, Peter also talks about AMI’s introduction of a revolutionary tracking solution for the demolition market for the theft protection of hydraulic peckers, which utilises specialist compounds to embed the tracking devices as part of the machine. It is not the first time that AMI Group has appeared on TV. The company has also featured on the BBC documentary ‘Thief Trackers’ which tells the story of stolen goods and what becomes of them when they are stolen.
One of AMI’s latest innovations is the AMI Nexis AT5, a self-contained, battery operated tracking device which utilises state-of-the-art GPS (Global Positioning System), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and RF (Radio Frequency) technology. Reporting to and visible via the AMI Nexis Software Platform 24/7, the AT5 is lightweight, tiny in size (just 21 x 55 x 52mm) and it can be concealed almost anywhere on any asset. Via its advanced battery management software, the unit has the capacity to last up to 20 years and it is backed by IP68 waterproof rating, ensuring it is robust and heavily protected. The device has the ability to be traced both outdoors and indoors even in very remote locations. In situations where GPS is unavailable, the device relays GSM cell site positions and the internal RF beacon can be activated to assist in locating stolen assets.
AMI’s tracking devices are used in conjunction with AMI Nexis, a web-based platform whereby customers can logon to the system to not only use it as an anti-theft deterrent, but as a total fleet management solution. Customers can use the system to help reduce their fuel costs, reduce their carbon footprint or enhance productivity – and they can even remote immobilise equipment from their mobile phone. Following months of development work and consultation with customers, the AMI Nexis portal has recently been enhanced to empower AMI customers with more information than ever before to help locate and manage plant equipment and vehicle fleets more efficiently and safely.
The web portal can also be used to ensure legal compliance or to assist with Environmental, Health or Safety requirements. For example, speed reports highlight any violations and the severity of the violation and service reminders highlight any pieces of plant or vehicles that are due for a service, MOT or insurance renewal.
Such innovations have led to AMI Group recently being named ‘Best for After-Theft Recovery Technology and Recognised Leaders in Plant Security Systems – UK’ as part of the esteemed 2016 Technology Innovator Awards.
