Kubota takes on the plant thieves

The annual cost of plant theft is estimated to be worth around œ500 million. Mini excavator manufacturer Kubota intends to reduce this figure. In an effort to combat plant theft the company has introduced Datatag, an electronic tag device, as standard equipment on its 1994 range of mini-excavators.

To date Kubota is the first construction equipment manufacturer to offer this transponder based anti-theft device as a standard factory fitted item. Commenting on the company's decision to introduce the device company spokesman John Woodward said: 'We hope that the addition of the Datatag security system as standard equipment on our 1994 range of mini-excavators will help combat the growing crime wave that is effecting the UK construction industry.'Kubota claims to have sold more than 30% of the 17,000 mini excavators sold in the UK to date.

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