CESAR marking has now been fitted to hundreds of thousands of machines across the UK
The CESAR security scheme has reached a major milestone, confirming the delivery of its 700,000th system at the LAMMA show in Birmingham.
The announcement was made on Wednesday 14 January at the NEC, with Kawasaki named as the manufacturer linked to the landmark system.
Since its launch in 2007, CESAR has become the UK’s official security and registration system for construction and agricultural machinery.
It is now fitted to hundreds of thousands of machines across construction, agriculture and plant hire, with widespread uptake among leading original equipment manufacturers.
Kawasaki already fits CESAR as standard on its machines, and its association with the 700,000th system highlights the growing trend among manufacturers to make security a core part of machine specification rather than an optional extra.
Each CESAR-marked machine is powered by Datatag ID Ltd’s multi-layered forensic marking technology and is given a permanent, unique identity.
This information is held on a secure database accessible around the clock by police and law enforcement, allowing rapid ownership checks and supporting the recovery of stolen equipment.
The system combines visible ID plates, RFID transponders, Datadots® and forensic DNA to provide multiple layers of protection.
Machinery theft continues to cost the UK economy millions of pounds each year, driving demand for proven security measures.
According to police and insurance data, CESAR-marked machines are four times less likely to be stolen and six times more likely to be recovered than unmarked equipment.
As a result, manufacturers including JCB, Kubota, Manitou, John Deere, New Holland and Kawasaki now fit CESAR as standard before machines leave the factory.
“Reaching 700,000 systems delivered shows how far CESAR is now embedded across construction and agriculture,” says Viki Bell, chief executive of the Construction Equipment Association, which owns the CESAR Scheme.
“Manufacturers are choosing to make security standard, and that is having a real effect on theft and recovery,” she adds. “This milestone reflects the collective effort of the industry, the police and our delivery partner, Datatag.”
Kevin Howells, managing director of Datatag ID Ltd, says the achievement reflects long-term commitment across the sector.
“Delivering 700,000 systems is the result of long-term commitment from manufacturers and the wider industry,” he says. “CESAR reduces theft, improves recovery rates and gives police a practical way to identify stolen machinery.”
The CESAR Scheme is owned by the Construction Equipment Association and supported by the Agricultural Engineers Association and AMPS.
It is backed by police forces across the UK, with officers trained to identify CESAR-marked machinery both on the roadside and at ports, helping to prevent stolen equipment being exported.
Craig Watson, Kawasaki’s sales and marketing manager, says security is central to the brand’s approach.
“At Kawasaki we know how important our machines are to the people who rely on them every day,” he says. “Security is not an optional extra – it is part of the product.”
He adds that the company’s involvement in the milestone reflects its focus on protecting customers and their businesses.
“Our continued commitment to CESAR, and our association with the 700,000th system announced at LAMMA, reflects the value we place on protecting our customers’ equipment and their businesses,” he says.
Kawasaki has already expanded its use of CESAR across its product range.
In 2024, the manufacturer confirmed the adoption of the system across its utility range, integrating CESAR as standard on all ATV models ahead of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023.
The move brought Datatag-powered technology to every new Kawasaki ATV, providing built-in protection from day one.