HISTORY was marked at ScotPlant 2026 with Tracto UK handing over the 100th winch it has supplied to fellow exhibitor Atlas Winch & Hoist Services Ltd.
The Biggar-based firm’s landmark order was for a Grundowinch KW 5000, a five-tonne capacity, trailer-mounted constant-tension winch designed for pipe bursting, underground pipe installation, and cable pulling. Boasting a twin capstan system, 35 HP diesel engine, and 650m cable capacity, the innovation is well suited to high-force, precise pulling jobs.
The relationship between the two businesses began over 20 years ago, with Atlas technical sales manager Conor Lavery explaining the importance of maintaining long-term partnerships to ensure customers benefit from quick responses.
“The demand has increased dramatically in the last five years,” he said. “It’s good to get to 100!”
Joining Conor at the handover, which was marked by a celebratorycake, was Tracto MD Roger Wahl.
“We are lucky enough to be considered the industry standard,” he explained, when asked about the increasing demand for Grundowinchproducts. “So that sites know how to operate a Grundowinch, there’s training available, (which) sets us apart and makes it easy for our customer, Atlas, to place these with their rental companies.”
ScotPlant proved a success for both firms, with each having their own individual stands. “It’s a good stage and it’s a great opportunity for face-to-face conversations,” Conor added. “It’s not often that you get the chance to be all together at a show, so it’s great to showcase both Tracto and Atlas’ place in the market.”
“Scotland is a hugely important market,” Roger added. “One of our biggest customers, Atlas, is based here in Scotland and we have a lot of other customers in the country – and that’s why we like coming to ScotPlant.”
Praising the different dynamics of the Friday and Saturday of ScotPlant, Roger revealed that both days proved to be hugely successful for the company – day one for business, and day two for inspiring the future of the industry.
“It’s really good to see the operators bring their families and kids (on the Saturday),” he continued. “These are hopefully the operators of the future and hopefully we can get them excited about the equipment.”
Another product – the Grundodrill 28NPlus – attracted the most attention on the stand. The innovation offers a less disruptive alternative to open-trenching methods, utilising horizontal directional drilling technology to install pipes underground.
The model is controlled via a slanted steering plate, with operators given real-time data – on depth and location – from an internal transmitter. Once the drill head reaches its intended point, the rig pulls the expanding head back towards itself whilst rotating – enlarging the hole to the required size.
Already being utilised on housing, road, and river projects in Scotland, demand is high as those leading infrastructure projects increasingly look for solutions with lessen the amount of disruption that comes alongside projects.
“The machine has been a good talking point,” Roger concluded. “The winches as well, because they are well known throughout the industry.”
