In just seven years, CEA member company, Xwatch Safety Solutions has grown from a small British start-up into one of the most recognised names in construction and rail safety – now operating under the Hexagon banner.
Founded in late 2018 and launching its first products in 2019, Xwatch brought together a team with more than 140 years of combined experience in safety, engineering, and machine control. The company’s goal was clear – to create intuitive, reliable systems that make safety straightforward for operators and accessible across every job site.
Sales Director Dan Leaney said:
“Right from the start, we knew the industry needed something different — something built around the operator. We set out to make safety systems that were simple to fit, easy to use, and that genuinely made people’s working lives safer.”
Within two years, Xwatch overtook long-established competitors in the UK and began exporting to Europe, Australasia, North America, and Canada. Its success was built on the XW Series – a family of height, slew, and rated-capacity indicator (RCI) systems known for fast installation, smooth proportional control, and operator-friendly setup. Using CANbus technology and PLC architecture, the systems feature a hydraulic soft-stop that reduces stress on both operator and machine.
Designed and built in the UK, every system carries a five-year warranty. Xwatch solutions are now specified by leading hire companies including Flannery Plant Hire, Lynch Plant Hire, Plantforce, Explore Plant, M O’Brien, and Synergy Hire, while OEM partners such as Hitachi Construction Machinery UK and Molson Group fit systems pre-delivery.
“We’ve achieved this by working closely with our customers,” said Dan Leaney. “Our systems are developed from real site feedback — from operators, plant managers, and contractors. That’s where our R&D team excels, because they listen first and then engineer a solution that actually works in the field.”
Behind every development is a close-knit team based at the company’s headquarters and training facility in Wimborne, Dorset. Jemma Dycer Hopkins, Sales and Operations Manager, plays a pivotal role in coordinating engineers, managing dealer relationships, and overseeing system rollouts. The wider Xwatch R&D team works collaboratively across software, hardware, and product development, ensuring every new system meets the company’s exacting standards.
“It’s very much a team effort,” said Dan Leaney. “Everyone plays a key role, from design to installation to customer support. That mix of practical experience and technical skill is what keeps us ahead.”
“We’ve built a culture where engineering and operations work hand in hand,” added Dan Leaney. “That’s one of the reasons we can move from concept to delivery so quickly. Our team of engineers are among the best in the industry – innovative, practical, and absolutely focused on getting it right for the customer.”
In 2024, Xwatch became part of Hexagon, strengthening its global reach and accelerating research and development across construction, rail, and digital integration.
Among its latest advances is EVC (Electronic Valve Control), the next evolution of Xwatch’s pioneering EHOC (Electric over Hydraulic Control) technology. EHOC paved the way for seamless, proportional control between electronic and hydraulic systems — and EVC takes that innovation further.
Launched at PlantWorx 2025 on the new Mk2 platform, EVC is the first system to deliver full safety control for machines with electronic hydraulics. Compatible with models such as the JCB Hydradig and Caterpillar 320 and 323, EVC provides complete height, slew, and RCI management for electrohydraulic architectures previously unsupported by conventional systems. The PL d-rated Mk2 also offers faster installation, integrated telematics, and OEM display capability — marking a major step forward for electronically managed machinery.
The company also launched the XW5R, a rail-specific version of its proven XW5 system. Designed for road-rail vehicles and track-side work, the XW5R meets RIS-1530-PLT Issue 7 and EN 15746 standards, supporting Any Line Open (ALO) and Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) working. Compact and easy to install, the system integrates height, slew, and RCI functions and includes configurable lifting modes for different rail environments.
Supporting these systems is XW-Insite, the company’s most advanced telematics and safety platform to date. Developed in partnership with PVS Data, XW-Insite unites live machine information with Xwatch safety data across mixed-brand fleets. Accessible through a secure cloud-based dashboard, the system delivers real-time visibility of machine performance, operator behaviour, and critical safety limits such as height, slew, and RCI.
XW-Insite is in use with Hitachi Construction Machinery UK, where it integrates with the CTFleet Link® platform to deliver live safety and machine insights for mixed fleets.
“Telematics has become integral to how we think about safety,” explained Dan Leaney. “It’s not just about what happens in the cab — it’s about understanding how machines are being used across a site or a fleet, so we can prevent issues before they happen.”
Further collaboration with Leica Geosystems, also part of Hexagon, has introduced the 3D Avoidance Zone solution – linking Leica’s MC1 machine control with Xwatch’s safety system so that equipment automatically intervenes when approaching a defined zone.
At PlantWorx 2025, Xwatch’s Mk2 platform received the Safety Innovation Award, recognising the company’s continued focus on engineering excellence and practical safety.
“Seven years on, we’re still driven by the same purpose,” concluded Dan Leaney. “To build safety systems that people actually want to use. It’s been a real team effort from day one – and we’re only just getting started.”
From its base in Wimborne, Dorset, Xwatch continues to design and manufacture in the UK, combining engineering skill with forward-looking technology. Seven years in, the company remains dedicated to one purpose – keeping people and machines safe, every day.