- 22 Oct 2026
M Group supply chain partners showcase the future of highways
More than 140 highways professionals from local authorities, contractors and supply chain partners gathered at M Group's Supply Chain Innovation Showcase in Newbury on 23 September, highlighting the growing importance of innovation in addressing the challenges facing the UK's highways and infrastructure sector.
With increasing pressure to improve network performance, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance safety, the event brought together 35 supply chain partners to demonstrate the emerging technologies transforming highway service delivery.
Highlights included:
- Econ’s electric gritter, a multipurpose vehicle which can be customised to be used for non-gritting work. This will be joining the Oxfordshire network on a trial basis later this year.
- Elastomac repair material from Roadmender made from recycled tyres, which is currently being used for defect repairs on our contracts in Oxfordshire and Hampshire.
- Electra Commercial Vehicle’s 19T fully electric hotbox, capable of delivering up to six hours of regulated heat in one charge.
- HyTANKa mobile hydrogen supply from ULEMco, capable of refuelling hydrogen powered plant in a matter of minutes.
- Oxford Plastics’ Oxford LowPro Road Plates – lightweight alternatives to traditional steel plates with an impressive 44t capacity.
- Robitiz3d’s Arres Eye asset-scanning technology for rapidly identifying repair needs.
- Sunbelt environmental monitoring stations, featuring sensors for noise, dust, vibration and wind and able to send email and text alerts to warn of risks in real time.
- Thermal Road Repairs’ enhanced paving techniques (leaving no joints in repairs).
- Traffic Group Signals’ Command Centre, a custom-built, mobile worksite vehicle for monitoring and managing complex temporary traffic signals on-site.
Throughout the day, delegates also attended a series of presentations from M Group’s industry partners including Core Highways, Telent, MK Surveys, ProDroneWorx, Ulemco, Rhino, Nuneaton Signs, Wilson & Scott, SPL and Breedon.
The sessions covered emerging materials, drones and robotics, hydrogen-powered plant, the use of defect forecasting to improve network management and how social value and innovation can work hand in hand.
The highways sector faces significant challenges, from ageing assets and rising demand to decarbonisation and resource constraints. Meeting those challenges requires innovation at scale.
We hosted this event to bring together clients, suppliers and operational teams to showcase the technologies and approaches that can improve productivity, enhance safety, reduce carbon and deliver greater value across the asset lifecycle."
Jim Daughton, Operations Director at M Group
The showcase attracted representatives from local authorities including Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Devon County Councils, alongside highways professionals from across the sector.
Innovation is central to Oxfordshire's approach to managing and improving our highway network. This showcase provided an invaluable opportunity to see the latest innovations first-hand and work with M Group and its supply chain partners to identify solutions that can deliver tangible benefits for residents and road users across Oxfordshire."
Stephen Fitzgerald, Operational Manager - Asset Management and Programmes at Oxfordshire County Council
The event reinforced the role of collaboration across the supply chain in bringing innovation from concept to deployment, helping the sector respond to evolving operational, environmental and financial challenges.
