Digger’s day out at the Executive Hire Show 2018

Mon 12 Feb 2018

Digger’s day out at the Executive Hire Show 2018

One has to say that this show does attract a lot of people, most of which are genuine buyers of plant and small tools and not so many tyre kickers, which is often the case at the larger outdoor events. Touring around the venue its often like a who’s who of the plant hire world and that was definitely the case when I visited on the opening day last week when I was lucky enough to catch up with a significant number of friendly plant hire contacts. The EHS is often described as a show where business is done and according to those I met on the stands that was the case again this year. The small tools and the like don’t really float my boat, but there is always something worthwhile to see from a compact plant perspective.

Having had a very enjoyable chat with the guys and girls outside on the Mecalac stand it was time to venture indoors on what was a very chilly February morning. There was no better place to start than the JCB stand where the Staffordshire based manufacturer was displaying some of the latest examples from their mini excavator product range, with operating weights of 1.6-1.9 tonnes. Making its debut at the Executive Hire Show was the conventional tailswing model the 16C-1 which was attracting the attention of Digger Man Blog member and die hard red & grey man Owen Mays, seen below checking out the cab.

Also making a show debut was an example from JCB’s new in-house built site dumper range. The 3T-1 Swivel Skip model was exhibited and was attracting a lot of attention during the times I visited the stand. I’m looking forward to trying the new dumper range out in due course.

A warm welcome awaited us on the A&Y Equipment Ltd stand where some familiar plant sales faces were assembled, keen and willing to show us the latest products in their portfolio from Ammann, Yanmar and the recently added DIECI telehandlers. Introducing the Italian DIECI machines at the EHS was an Apollo 25.6 R model, a compact telehandler for industry and construction which is less than 2 metres wide and similar in cab height. The machine has a lift reach of 5.75m and a lift capacity of 2,500kgs.

Representing the Yanmar excavator range was a Vio17 model, this 1.7 tonne, zero tail swing mini excavator was displayed with an AMMANN AMB125 hydraulic breaker. The smaller micro SV08 mini excavator was also displayed.

The guys over at Kubota UK put on an impressive display featuring a number of examples from the Japanese manufacturers mini excavator range and compact tracked dumpers.

Kubota UK also chose the Executive Hire Show as the launch platform for its new 3 tonne mini excavator offering the KX030-4. The KX030-4 features two hydraulic variable pumps, along with a gear pump, which allows smooth, synchronised digging and dozing operations for improved output and productivity. A large flat floor space, full suspension seat and Kubota’s intuitive ergonomic control panel come as standard within the largest in class cabin, offering quiet comfort with high visibility for reduced operator fatigue. We are hoping to get “hands on” with this machine for a full first drive report for Earthmovers Magazine soon.

As site dumper manufacturers go they don’t come much more respected than Thwaites, the Leamington Spa based manufacturer is always a regular at the EHS and there was plenty to see on stand including the 1 tonne Hi-Tip model.

At the other end of the scale, the company recently passed an 80 year’s of manufacturing milestone and to mark this event the company brought along a restored 3 wheeler dumper which was first introduced by Thwaites as far back as 1951, ten years before this blogger was born! This machine was powered by a single cylinder Petter AVA1 air cooled diesel engine which drove the two rear wheels, it looks rather primitive by today’s standards, but one can imagine this was a game changer back in the day.

Bobcat/Doosan displayed yet another 1.7 tonne class mini excavator in the form of the E17z. Launched last year the E17z has a standard operating weight of 1749kg and a maximum digging depth of 2249mm. Retractable undercarriage, upper-structure tie-down points, advanced diagnostics and many other features bring this machine into line with other current products in the Bobcat line up. Doosan are launching new mini excavators at Intermat and we will be getting up close and personal with them in due course.

Finning UK & Ireland came to the party with their Ready2Go retail proposition. The Caterpillar dealer is currently offering three machines in the deal the 300.9D 1-tonne micro excavator, 305E2 CR 5-tonne mini excavator and the CB2.7 tandem vibratory roller.

According to Finning Ready2Go helps to simplify the purchasing process by having machines that are fully prepped and ready for delivery, supported by Cat Financial with a range of flexible finance options. Each machine will also be supplied with a 2-year service maintenance pack, 2-year unlimited hour warranty and machine telemetry and tracking provided by a PL240B device.

Attachment manufacturer Pladdet, via its UK dealer, displayed a variety of kit including its own Dutch built selector grapples, which looked to be built to a very high standard.

Also on display were Pladdet branded Swedish built SMP tiltrotators which as we know from a previous visit to the factory in Sweden are excellent, strong and well-constructed pieces of kit.

East of England based attachment, bucket and quick coupler manufacturer Harford Attachments chose the EHS to debut their new tilting quick coupler which incorporates their manual Safelock system. The tilt mechanism is provided by German manufacturer Kinshofer.

Rounding off my visit was a stop by the Bomag GB stand where I spotted this fine example of the BMP8500 trench compactor. Regarded by many as the crème de la crème of compaction equipment, Bomag recently celebrated 60 years in the industry.

The first day was rounded off with an evening party for exhibitors and guests and the awards were handed out as the hire industry came together to celebrate, in 12 months, they will be doing it all again.

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