Tens of thousands more potholes are set to be repaired each year following a record investment in new machines by road repair and maintenance specialists Velocity.
The expansion comes as more highway authorities adopt spray-injection patching to bring their networks up to standard and keep them there, demonstrating how increased funding is leading to visible improvements for road users.
Designed and manufactured by the company in Sunderland, the new additions strengthen Velocity’s fleet of spray-injection patching machines to 50.
As the largest operator of spray-injection patching machines in the world, the experience gained working on every part of the UK’s road network has determined the shape of the fleet: from compact machines made for congested urban streets and the narrowest rural lanes, to high-capacity workhorses built for maximum output.
While the machines may look familiar and include the same proven technology that delivers high-quality repairs, under the skin are several improvements that simplify maintenance and further improve uptime for customers. Those improvements are often driven by feedback from the people who know the machines best: operators and maintenance engineers.
Designed with maximum productivity in mind, the machines feature a revised layout that provides easier access to components for maintenance and repair. Upgraded electronics supply additional diagnostic data, giving engineers the information they need to help operators hundreds of miles from base. Comfort and safety has also been upgraded with the investment in low-entry cabs – a popular improvement with operators.
Dominic Gardner, Velocity’s managing director, said: “We know how difficult the task is for highways authorities to maintain the network we all depend on. They need repairs that last and dependable delivery models that help them use their resources responsibly.
“Our machines deliver a significant number of repairs quickly and permanently. Customers appreciate the quality of our operators and process, with many working in partnership with us to deploy multiple machines and crews.
“This investment in new machines is paired with further investment in people. As well as training new operators on how to use the machines, we spend a lot of time training on standards so that customers can remain confident of consistent quality on every repair.”
As well as the rear-mounted Velocity spray-injection patching machines, the company operates a fleet of front-mounted single-operator Archway Roadmaster machines following the acquisition of that business. Both types deliver significant cost and carbon savings for asset managers. Each repair costs around a third of the price of conventional repairs, helping to make budgets go further and keep networks up to standard.
The machines and operators are deployed on contracts throughout the length and breadth of the UK, carrying out hundreds of thousands of reactive and preventative repairs each year. Contracts are a mix of year-round multi-machine arrangements, as well as pre- and post-winter programmes to prevent or repair defects during adverse weather.
The first new machines were deployed in County Durham, making the short journey from Sunderland to begin work on the area’s rural road network. Further machines are scheduled to enter service during 2026, ahead of the next winter maintenance season.
(Image – Velocity)
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