National equipment rental company Plantforce, has become one of the first in the country to invest in HD Hyundai’s 10.5-tonne HW100A wheeled excavator. The Weston Super Mare-based business, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in November 2024, has taken two of the machines so far, joining larger 14-22 tonne wheeled models in the operated and self-drive fleet.
“Traditionally the 14-tonner has been our smallest model,” said Sales Director Chris Bruce. “But through customer demand we’ve invested in these versatile 10.5-tonne HW100A wheeled excavators, as there’s a significant demand on highways and utilities work.”
With more than 2,000 items of plant on the fleet, operating from seven depots around the UK, Plantforce offers a wide range of equipment, to multiple industry sectors. The company offers excavators from 750kg through to 90-tonnes, with dumpers from 1-tonne to 40-tonnes. Wheel loaders including waste models, run from Hyundai’s HL960A to the HL970A.
Along with crawler and wheeled excavators, dozers, loading shovels, telehandlers and compaction machinery, the company has developed several specialist divisions. These include crushing and screening, attachments and a digital division that specialises in machine guidance and control.
“As early adopters of machine control, we’ve established a dedicated division within the business for our digital offerings. We’re continually exploring technology-driven innovations to bring to the market in support of our customers,” said Mr Bruce.
“Our fleet has always featured high-specification models, allowing us to offer customers valuable extras such as tilt-rotators and TAB booms,”
The two HW100A excavators are no exception to this rule. The 10.5-tonne machines have been delivered with two-piece articulating booms (TAB), an optional dozer blade and with a Geith hydraulic quickhitch. It’s a combination that provides maximum versatility and productivity for customers, particularly those working in tight site conditions or within a single carriageway on the road.
Powered by a 75kW (100hp) Stage V diesel engine, the machines are exceptionally manoeuvrable, thanks to two-wheel, four-wheel and crab steering. The compact 1,600mm reduced tail swing radius, also makes the excavators ideal for confined site access and urban operation. The machine retains a healthy lifting capacity, with the dozer blade adding stability when handling pipes and trench boxes.
Plantforce is no stranger to the HD Hyundai range of machines, with both crawler and wheeled excavators on the fleet. The company also operates HD Hyundai wheel loaders, with all of the machines having been supplied by local dealer Molson Group. Though making use of the dealer’s back-up when required, Plantforce has a full team of service engineers working throughout the country to support its customers.
“We’ve had Hyundai wheeled and tracked excavators, as well as loaders, in our fleet for many years,” said Mr Bruce. “Customer feedback has always been excellent.
“We are fully self-sufficient with our team of service engineers across the country. Recently, we completed night works on the M4 motorway, providing 24-hour support with our service engineers available around the clock.”
Formed in 1999, Plantforce has grown to become a premium supplier of plant and equipment to Tier 1 projects across England, Wales and Scotland. The company is committed to elevating standards in the plant hire industry and driving the sector forward, through the use of technology and the development of its workforce.
The business is constantly adding to its fleet of machinery, with both established and more specialised models. Demand for the HW100A will allow further expansion into a new sector.
“The market feels quite buoyant for this time of year, with continued high demand across most machine categories,” said Mr Bruce. “There will definitely be more 10-tonne wheeled excavators to come in the future.”