PANIU report Kubota recovered with ID markings removed. - Do u own this machine & Would a CESAR sticker have made any difference? (NO)

From Hire Association Europe at www.hae.org.uk, December 2009

Missing a Kubota KX Series Mini Digger?

We have had information from a Detective Sergeant in the Met Police Stolen Vehicle Unit (who also has responsibility for the Plant & Agricultural National Intelligence Unit, PANIU) and have been asked to distribute it amongst our member companies. 

Last week, the Metropolitan Police assisted their colleagues in Sussex in a police operation whereby they recovered a Kubota (KX series) mini digger, orange in colour. This machine is undoubtedly stolen as it has had the engine number (stamped in and sticker) removed and the VIN number (again stamped in and VIN plate) also removed in a clear effort to disguise its true identity.

The only possible means to identify the true owner of this machine seems to be that it has one of our HAE 'Do Not Use This Excavator As A Crane' stickers still on it.  It also has a black stencilled number, which they believe to be a fleet number, painted on the lower part of the boom arm, near the King Pin. The lettering is black capital letters 'KRE 91'.

Are you missing a Kubota mini digger fitting this description?

Kosran ad broke rules says ASA

By Colin Sowman of ContractJournal.com, 30 July 2009
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint by Kubota about a Kosran advert in which the immobiliser manufacturer claimed Kubota’s immobilisation system could be overcome in 90 seconds.

In its defence Kosran submitted a DVD showing a Kubota machine apparently being ‘hot wired’ in 74 seconds but the ASA dismissed this saying: “…there was no independent verification to show whether the immobiliser had been operating correctly or that the process shown was accurate of real-life conditions.”

The ASA also partly upheld a complaint about a phrase in the advert …Electronic immobilisers on plant - unbelievable price - unbelievable if it stops your plant being stolen! Kubota said its immobiliser was a standard fitment, came at no additional cost and it was unaware of any protected items being stolen.


For its part Kosran said no-cost was an ‘unbelievable price’ and its aim was to draw attention to the effectiveness of electronic immobilisers. It also highlighted police records that showed between October and December 2008 there were 926 items reported stolen in the UK, of which 62 were Kubotas.

While the ASA agreed the wording did not imply a high price for immobilisers, it said there was no evidence about how the 62 machines were stolen, adding: “…Kubota’s electronic immobiliser was certified by Thatcham as a Category P2, which we understood was the generally accepted industry standard that meant that it could resist attack for 15 minutes.”

The ASA said the advert must not appear again in its current form. It also told Kosran not to denigrate competitors in future and not to make claims without robust substantiation.
Richard Harrison, sales and marketing manager for Kubota UK said: “We’re absolutely delighted we won our two major points. We were not happy to have our products unfairly denigrated in the press.”

Kosran’s chief executive officer Patrick Sheeran said: “We are not impressed by the ASA’s diligence and technical expertise and are considering a judicial review.”

Plant theft: bogus firms can be outsmarted

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Intermat 2009 News

Launch of Kosran ECV (Europe) at INTERMAT 2009

Kosran announced the launch of our European bussiness which will be based in France. This is an opportunity for European Companies who service construction machines to participate in a profitable growing business in their country.