Alliance 2025

April 2026 Issue 264


FIRST IMPRESSIONS: WACKER NEUSON EW100-2: A versatile high-spec wheeled excavator working in a road recycling operation.

NEW PRODUCTS: SUMITOMO: A well-regarded Japanese excavator manufacturer has entered the UK market.

COMPANY HISTORY: BLACKWELL EARTHMOVING: This major muck-shifting contractor is celebrating 70 years in business.

EXTREME MACHINE: MAMMOET SK CRANE: A challenging project undertaken by one of the world’s largest capacity cranes.

DEMOLITION: STEELWRIST HITCH: A 15-tonne Kobelco has been configured for tight urban demolition projects.

SHOW REPORT: EXECUTIVE HIRE: A wide range of plant and equipment aimed at the plant hire industry.

LEADER INTERVIEW: ARDENT PLANT HIRE: Chief executive officer Jeremy Fish talks about staff development and charity work.

SITE VISIT: TORNESS ENERGY HUB: A Komatsu PC700-11 excavator works on a large-scale soil stabilisation project.

SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS: LIEBHERR LH35: A custom designed wheeled materials handler developed for excavating shafts.

SITE VISIT: WARD PLANE: A road repair project undertaken in the West Yorkshire village of Thorner. 

FLEET FOCUS: B-LINE: This Warwickshire-based firm runs an extensive mixed fleet of equipment.

OPERATOR INTERVIEW: TERRY SCOTT: An operator with over 40 years experience on a wide variety of excavators.

SITE VISIT: DITCH WITCH JT60: Installing ducting under a motorway to link-up the final section of a huge solar farm.

RECYCLING NEWBOURNE COMPOSTING: An EvoQuip compact screener has made an impact at a local composting operation. 

WORKING METHOD: CABLE PLOUGHING: GT Jones Contracting has recently invested in a cable plough and winch combination.

EURO FOCUS: CASE CX180EM: A forestry-spec excavator hosts a Risutec PM160 tree planter attachment.

ATTACHMENTS: EURO-FAB BUCKET: The attachment manufacturer supplies its largest bucket to date to a UK user.

EXTREME MACHINES: CAPTAIN MINE: The massive kit that once worked at one of America’s largest surface coal mines.

EURO OPERATOR: AMANDA JOHANSSON: Swedish influencer provides a chance for his girlfriend to operate an excavator.

PLANTMOBILIA: WIRTGEN GROUP: Latest scale models of Kleemann, Wirtgen, Voegele and Hamm products.

APPRENTICE INTERVIEW: GEORGE LOWE: This apprentice works within JCB’s secretive experimental products team