Sandwell Council has become the latest local authority to enhance its highway maintenance capabilities by introducing a Multihog machine, which has received praise from Lilian Greenwood MP, Minister for the Future of Roads at the Department for Transport.
Following a successful six-month trial period, the Council invested in its own multi-purpose machine to accelerate pothole repairs, improve operational efficiency across the borough, improve operator safety, and reduce disruption for residents.
The Council purchased the equipment from Multevo, the sole UK distributor since 2010. Multevo provides an all-encompassing in-house service for hire, purchase, maintenance, and operator training.
The machine has already made a strong impression. During a recent roadworks scheme on Deville Road in Wednesbury, the Multihog helped transform what would typically be a time-intensive process into a streamlined operation. The team completed a 120-foot stretch of pothole repairs in a fraction of the time it would take using manual methods. An operation that could usually stretch up to several days.
Lilian Greenwood MP, Minister for the Future of Roads at the Department for Transport, recently visited the Council to see the machine in action. She commented: ‘It is probably one of the reasons why Sandwell is doing so well and rated so highly as a highways authority for going and spotting the potholes and getting the repairs done quickly.’
Lee Preece, Highways Site Supervisor at Sandwell Council, praised the equipment’s efficiency. ‘The problem with manual digging is that our site workers can only dig for around 18 minutes before being required to have a break or switch out. It allows us to dig the road consistently without stopping, saving a day of work and our workers’ hands. It turns what would be a two-day job into only one.’
At the heart of this transformation is the Multihog MH, a versatile and robust machine renowned for tackling the toughest road maintenance challenges. Fitted with a front-mounted planer attachment, the machine can precisely remove defective road surfaces, preparing them quickly for crew reinstatement.
The MH range is known for its all-year-round adaptability. Councillor Keith Allcock, Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways at Sandwell Council, highlighted the machine’s multi-functionality.
‘It’s a bit like the Thunderbirds of machines. It can have hedge cutters, scrape and brush the roads, and be used as a gritter in colder weather. It’s a true multi-purpose machine.’
That flexibility is a cornerstone of the Multihog design. Thanks to a quick-change attachment system, the same machine can be used for road planing, sweeping, weed control, gritting, and vegetation management, making it an ideal investment for councils looking to get more from a single piece of equipment.
‘This machine will mean that disruptions to traffic will be lower, and it’s better for the operators and site workers,’ Councillor Keith Allcock added. ‘It’s genuinely a win-win machine that lessens the strain on workers and does the job faster, which means less disruption to residents and ultimately, fewer costs.’
The Multihog’s compact footprint and articulated steering make it particularly well suited to urban environments like Sandwell. It allows operators to manoeuvre easily – even on narrow or restricted roads.
With a £55 million investment pledged by the Council to highways over the coming financial year, the Multihog is set to play a key role in delivering faster, safer and more cost-effective road repairs across the region.
Ben Hughes, Growth & Collaboration Coordinator at Multevo, added: ‘Sandwell Council has been a joy to work with. It’s great to see the trial period route proving the concept of the machine, allowing the Council to understand the benefits the kit will have on their network.’
‘The Multihog is a multi-purpose piece of kit, which makes it encouraging to see Sandwell aiming to take advantage of its year-round capabilities. Whether that be gritting or one of its many other uses.’
