Reducing emissions from NRMM with alternative fuels
It is an uncomfortable truth that there is no single fuel solution to the air quality problem for the construction sector.
New SPOA President wants to “better the intake” into Scottish plant industry
Fraser Dykes is the new President of the Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA). His day job is running Dumfries-based heavy equipment contractors AMD Contract...
Where Eagle dares
When many plant hire firms decided to scale back on investment during the recession, Eagle Plant adopted a different approach by seizing the opportunity...
As good as gold: Taylor & Braithwaite mark 50 years in business
TODAY, Cumbria-based Taylor & Braithwaite services the north of England and Scotland, with a Hyundai excavator dealership for the north of England and crushing...
A suit that’s tailored for construction sites
An exoskeleton suit could revolutionise the construction industry in America when it is released next year, and its developers ‘absolutely’ expect the technology to reach Europe.
Demolishing challenges for five decades
777 Group, one of the UK’s largest and most successful demolition companies will be celebrating its 50-year anniversary throughout the course of 2014.
From humble...
Getting to know…Greg Paterson
KIRKCALDY-headquartered Astrak UK has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the leading suppliers of undercarriage and wear parts in the industry.
Recent developments...
Hydrogen-powered future moves a step closer
Dan Gilkes reports on the progress of JCB’s research into the use of hydrogen to power construction machinery as the industry continues to seek...
In the Black: hard work pays off for Stewarton hire firm
WHEN Tom Blackwood bought out his retiring father, Tom Senior, in 2001, Blackwood Plant Hire consisted of a few machines.
Today, the Stewarton-based firm has...
Getting to know… Steven Mulholland
STEVEN Mulholland was recently elected to the role of chairman of the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA). The founder of West Calder-based Mulholland Plant Services succeeded...
Getting to know…Richard Denholm
RICHARD Denholm is sales and service director for Morris Site Machinery, a fifth generation family-run business which is continuing to see sales grow north...
The components that make the wheels turn
Graham Bow, committee member of the Scottish Plant Owners Association, takes a look at some of the changes within the plant industry in recent...
Getting to know…Heath Davies
HEATH Davies is general manager of Mecalac Construction Equipment UK. The firm has added a number of new products to its portfolio over the...
Getting to know… Russell Conn
RUSSELL Conn was appointed Scottish sales manager at Bell Equipment UK earlier this year, having worked for the manufacturer in South Africa for almost...
Getting to know…
THERE'S not much Peter Yarwood hasn’t seen in over four decades in the plant industry.
From his early days in the family business to taking...
The director’s cut
THEY say a picture is worth a thousand words. In the challenging field of construction photography, when a perfectly timed shot of a standout...
Empteezy does it
Livingston-based spillage containment firm Empteezy recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. Project Plant’s Fraser Rummens met with founder Bruce Wishart to discuss the history of...
Anatomy of a quality steel
One breaker steel looks much like another, so it can be difficult to make sensible judgements about quality. Linlithgow-based Rock Force shared some of...
Getting to know…Stephen Grieve
NINE years ago Stephen Grieve sold his car for £5000 and invested the money in spare parts for the construction industry. The rest, as...
Converted ADTs propel groundworks specialist forward
A duo of Hydrema articulated dump trucks have been converted for use as binder spreaders by a Whitburn-based ground engineering contractor, which has proved a...
Getting to know… Geoff Smith
KUBOTA is this year celebrating its 25th anniversary as the UK and Ireland’s ‘number one supplier’ of mini-excavators. A whole year of activities to...
Hyundai demonstrates European commitment
ONE year on from the inauguration of its new European headquarters in Tessenderlo, Belgium, Hyundai Construction Equipment Europe (HCEE) recently played host to a...
Dumfries firm banks on new slow speed shredder
ESTABLISHED in 1983, Oakbank Waste Management has built its reputation throughout the Dumfries, Galloway and Cumbria regions, proudly achieving 100% diversion from landfill.
The...
A sense of CAM in Castle Douglas
IT’S fair to say Castle Douglas-based CAM Engineering has come a long way since founder Clive Montgomery borrowed his dad’s van, put a toolbox...
Getting to know…Jason Periam
Jason Periam was appointed head of sales at Takeuchi UK late last year. The experienced plant sector stalwart has been tasked with helping to...
Good energy: Scottish market embraces solar solutions
Rail and social housing projects are helping to drive growth for Garic in Scotland.
Hitachi ’empowers’ customers with new medium excavators
HITACHI has announced that owners and operators have been put 'at the heart' of the design for its latest Zaxis-7 medium excavators: the ZX210-7,...
A whole new level
Dan Gilkes gives his verdict on the latest additions to the JCB X Series excavator line-up
JCB has taken a major step forward with the launch...
Getting to know…Will Redman
Will Redman is distributor manager (north) for dumper specialist Thwaites. He is responsible for managing the manufacturer’s supply of products to dealers in the...
Plant operators rise to Scotland’s peatland challenge
SCOTLAND’S plant operators have been praised for their role in the ongoing initiative to restore the nation’s degraded peatlands – with calls going out...



































