AUTOMATION SYSTEMS
Highway Care ’ s automated cone laying solution aims to revolutionise UK roads
There are an estimated two million cones in use on the UK ’ s road networks , with each one typically weighing 8.5kg – 10kg . Traditionally , they are laid manually to mark out the work area for road maintenance and improvement projects , with operatives working from a moving vehicle . Each cone laying operation can involve longitudinal runs as long as 4km , with up to 300 cones laid for a typical 4km stretch of road closure .
The manual handling and repetitive strain from the extended reach and unergonomic rotational twisting of the body involved in manual deployment can cause longterm musculoskeletal damage , and the process puts operatives in close promimity to adjacent live lanes of traffic . But a pioneering new machine is revolutionising road cone laying , preventing the risk of injury and reducing the disruption caused by roadworks .
The Falcon Automated Cone Lane Machine ( ACLM ) was developed and supplied by traffic management safety specialist , Highway Care , in partnership with SENN Engineering in Switzerland . It was identified by Balfour Beatty , which carries out traffic management on the M25 through Connect Plus and Connect Plus Services , as an effective solution to the industry-wide safety risk of manual cone deployment .
Following a rigorous design , research and testing process , and formal approval from National Highways , the ACLM entered service on the M25 network in May 2022 – a UK and industry first . Entirely controlled from the vehicle ’ s cab , the ACLM can drop or collect cones in less than 10 seconds , ensuring efficient cone laying operations and removing the need for any operatives at the rear of the vehicle .
Its deployment on the M25 road network is predicted to prevent manual handling of up to 4,200 tonnes per year , avoiding risks to human health and reducing the disruption caused by roadworks through increased efficiency .
The Falcon ACLM can be deployed for any National Highways or local authority road maintenance or improvement project .
The Falcon ACLM can be deployed for any National Highways or local authority road maintenance or improvement project . Highway Care ’ s Business Development Director , Ben Duncker , said : “ I am proud to see the FALCON ACLM become operational on UK roads for the first time , and not only that , but on the busiest , most strategic road in Europe ; the M25 . I am looking forward to the day when these are adopted as best practice to lay traffic management , as the benefits , I am confident , will prove to be phenomenal .” �
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