UK quarry and recycling show displays some much needed optimism.
For the average punter, the Hillhead 2012 exhibition in Buxton, Derbyshire was an opportunity to see some big kit in action, to catch up with friends old and new, and to enjoy some long overdue British sunshine.
But for the world-weary journalist, this show (and others like it) serve as a useful and highly accurate barometer of market sentiment. And judging by the new equipment on display, the sales achieved on many of the attachments stands, and the general feeling among exhibitors and visitors alike, Hillhead 2012 may just signal the return of optimism to a market that has been in the doldrums for some four years now.
The show was equally notable for the way in which it highlighted demolition’s increasing presence in the recycling and even quarry business. Contractor AR Demolition – a company with a proud history of undertaking demolition work within the confines of a quarry – took the bold step of taking a stand with a Volvo high reach as the centrepiece. The National Federation of Demolition Contractors held an executive meeting at the show and demolition men were out in force in the aisles.
In addition, there were exciting new products on display from the likes of Rammer – with its new range of grapples – and Volvo which took the opportunity to unveil an all-new EC300DL developed in the UK in conjunction with high reach specialist Kocurek.
We are currentlyw orking through the montain of press releases, photos and videos and will bring you the best of the best over the next few days. But if you didn’t make it to the show, we hope that this photo slideshow gives you an idea of what you missed.
