The CESAR security scheme, owned by the CEA (Construction Equipment Association) and delivered in partnership with Datatag ID, launched in 2007, has now surpassed 650,000 installations. This milestone marks a significant achievement in anti-theft protection for construction and agricultural machinery, with the announcement at the recent CPA (Construction Plant Hire Association) conference. Steven Mulholland, the CPA’s new CEO, congratulated the scheme’s impact on improving equipment security and reducing theft risk across the industry.
Kevin Howells, Managing Director of Datatag, commented on this accomplishment:
“Reaching over 650,000 installations highlights the CESAR Scheme’s success in deterring theft and aiding in recovering stolen equipment. Manufacturers, SMEs, and other companies continue placing their trust in CESAR. Our latest addition, the Ultra Tag RFID Chip, adds another layer of security, offering advanced tamper resistance and improved scanning for swift ownership verification. The multi-layered security strategy CESAR employs ensures machinery is protected through visible, covert, and highly effective means.”
CESAR’s new RAPID (Registered Assets Police Information Database) tool also advances the scheme’s impact. RAPID is a web-based solution that enables officers to access the CESAR database directly from their smartphones, streamlining the identification process. Nearly 1,000 officers nationwide have already enrolled, further accelerating investigations across the UK by enabling immediate verification of CESAR-registered assets on the spot.
The CESAR Scheme, instantly recognisable by its distinctive triangle identification plate on each registered machine, leads the UK in security for construction and agricultural equipment. This highly visible marker aids law enforcement in identifying stolen equipment and linking it to its rightful owner. In addition to the identification plate, CESAR integrates several advanced security technologies, including a unique forensic DNA marker and microscopic data dots, ensuring that equipment can be traced even if dismantled.
With the recent addition of the Ultra Tag RFID Chip and RAPID, CESAR continues to advance its security framework. The new RFID chip, designed to be tamper-proof and equipped with a longer reading range, offers a quick, non-invasive method for authorities to identify equipment up to 18 metres away. This means an added layer of confidence in their equipment’s security for machine owners, even in challenging recovery situations. Alongside the Ultra Tag RFID Chip, the CESAR scheme’s RAPID asset protection system expands security options, combining covert marking with instant police response, further deterring theft and enhancing the likelihood of recovery. This multi-tiered security framework has positioned CESAR as the preferred choice for owners seeking dependable, industry-leading protection.
Viki Bell, Director of Operations at the CEA, emphasised the scheme’s impact:
“The CESAR Scheme is central to our commitment to equipment security across the construction and agricultural sectors. With over 650,000 installations, CESAR continues to prove its value in deterring theft and building trusted protection for machinery owners. This trust and potential insurance discounts make CESAR a solid choice for safeguarding equipment. With RAPID and the tamper-proof RFID chip, CESAR sends a clear message to would-be thieves that marked machinery is well protected and harder to target.”
The scheme’s effective security features, including thousands of microscopic data dots encoded with unique identifiers visible only under ultraviolet light, ensure that even dismantled components can be traced to their origin. Each machine also receives a forensic DNA marker, embedding an unalterable identity into the equipment, in line with CESAR’s motto, "It’s in our DNA."
For equipment owners, insurers recognise CESAR’s security benefits, often resulting in lower premiums for CESAR-registered machinery. With over 650,000 systems in place, CESAR has set a high standard in machinery security, providing advanced, reliable asset protection for the industry.
Picture Caption: Steven Mullholland CEO CPA (Construction Plant Hire Association) and Beth Abbott Marketing and Communications Manager CEA (Construction Equipment Association) celebrates CESAR's 650,000th registration landmark.