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JCB’s New PotholePro Can Repair a Pothole in Under 8 Minutes

England-based manufacturer of construction, agriculture, demolition, and waste handling equipment JCB has lifted the veil off a new machine. The PotholePro is a pothole-repairing machine that boasts of being able to get the complete job done in under eight minutes, with minimal human intervention.
The PotholePro from JCB does all the work prior to pouring tar to fix a pothole 6 photos
Photo: JCB
The PotholePro from JCB does all the work prior to pouring tar to fix a potholeThe PotholePro from JCB does all the work prior to pouring tar to fix a potholeThe PotholePro from JCB does all the work prior to pouring tar to fix a potholeThe PotholePro from JCB does all the work prior to pouring tar to fix a potholeThe PotholePro from JCB does all the work prior to pouring tar to fix a pothole
The PotholePro was officially unveiled at the end of last week via virtual press conference, Business Live reports. Its development was directly overseen by JCB Chairman Lord Bamford, who explained it was a necessary product at a time when the UK was – and has been – dealing with a severe pothole issue.

However, this machine does a bit more than just fix the country’s many potholes. Because it’s so technologically advanced and comprehensive, it’s also able to cut down costs by substituting for an entire team of human workers and reduce time needed for repairs.

The all-in-one machine has a cutter, sweeper/bucket and hydraulic cropping tool, which means it’s able to cut out defects, crop the edges of a pothole, and then clean the hole. And the operator doesn’t even have to leave the cabin to get it done. These tasks would have otherwise been carried out manually by an entire team. JCB says the machine cuts down daily operational costs by half.

Moreover, the PotholePro has a 600mm-wide planar and dust-suppression system that allow it to plane a full carriageway from the curb without having to reposition. With a top speed of 25 mph (40 kph), the machine cuts down transport costs because it can travel between repair sites under its own power.

“Potholes really are the scourge of our nation. Our country is quite rightly fixated on this dreadful problem and, as a British manufacturer, I'm fixated on finding a solution,”
Lord Bamford said at the official presentation. “JCB’s solution is simple and cost-effective and fixes potholes permanently, first time. Once the machine has done its job, all the contractor then needs to do is just add tar.”

The machine was trialed throughout 2020 in Stoke-on-Trent, with a registered repair rate of 700 potholes per month. The price for the machine is £145,000, which is roughly $197,000 at today’s exchange rate.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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