EXECUTIVE HIRE SHOW REVIEW:

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID CHUCK

The 16th annual Executive Hire Show made its return on the 8th and 9th February 2023, at its established home, the Coventry Building Society Arena, newly dubbed as the ‘Home of Hire’.

Launched in 2007, the Executive Hire Show has quickly become the unmissable national exhibition for the tools, equipment, and plant hire industry, where ‘Passionate Hirers Meet Innovative Suppliers’. The event attracted 150 exhibitors to the Coventry Building Society Arena with over 2045 unique visitors attending the show over the twodays – smashing last year’s record!

The Executive Hire Show 2023 addressed issues at the forefront of the industry, as the journey to achieve net zero by 2050 gains traction.

The ‘Innovation Trail Eco–Live’ made a return for the 2023 event. However, with a slight twist to its usual format. Peter Haddock (Content with Media) returned to interview candidates on their stands, discussing the latest eco innovations with GGR, Wirtgen, Kerridge, Post Pullers and more. Interviews were broadcast live across various social media platforms. This year’s Innovation Trail proved very popular with manufacturers and suppliers proving the Innovation Trail concept is as viable and vital as ever. It explored new technologies, sustainable energy sources as well as showcasing equipment that helps to push the net-zero agenda. →

This year’s Executive Hire Show also saw 32 new exhibitors make their ‘exhibiting debut’. There was a record amount of new product launches at the show, many with a strong focus on environmental solutions.

Doosan Bobcat debuted their new E19e two-tonne electric miniexcavator for the first time in the UK at the Executive Hire Show alongside the E19e, and the company’s popular 7/45 portable compressor from sister company, Doosan Portable Power.

Prolectric Services displayed the new Three-Phase ProPower generator on their stand. The three-phase ProPower mobile unit is part of Prolectric’s range of environmentally friendly equipment. It utilizes the latest solar and battery storage technology designed to deliver clean, quiet, sustainable temporary power to construction, infrastructure, and rail projects as well as being a simple direct replacement for diesel systems.

The Thwaites 3-tonne Electric Dumper made its UK debut at this year’s Executive Hire Show. Thwaites displayed an advanced concept machine, with the go-to-market version becoming available in 2023, the first of its class in the industry and will be made in the UK! The new dumper boasts of four maintenance-free, long-life, lithium-ion (dry-cell) batteries, two highly efficient electric motors (one for traction, one for hydraulic services) which give the operator control and maneuverability with eight hours of operation capacity with the bonus of being able to be used indoors.

Wirtgen showcased the world’s first e-combination roller! One of Hamm’s first fully electric battery-driven tandem rollers – the HD12eVO with vibration and oscillation, which forms part of the HD CompactLine series. Wirtgen’s electric Hamm E-Power roller range was also among the line-up in this year’s Innovation Trail. The fully electric HD 12e VV model features a 23.4 kWh battery with a 120-size roller, with three points of articulation.

Altrad Belle extended their record of attending each show since its inception back in 2007 and had exceptionally good interest at this year’s event. Altrad Belle invited visitors to witness the launch of their new emission-free, battery-powered Minimix 150E+ Cement Mixer. Bradfords Building Supplies, the first hire company in the South West of England, placed an order for 24 units of the brand new Minimix 150E+ Battery-Powered Cement Mixers at the Executive Hire Show. →

Trime displayed their ‘green’ credentials at this year’s Executive Hire Show, as visitors were greeted by a host of live green plants. The stand design was thanks to Trime’s marketing manager, Emma Cohen. After the show, the plants were carefully packed away and delivered to a local primary school, Godmanchester Community Academy, to be cared for by the students.

On display at Trime’s stand was the X-ECO LITHIUM HYBRID tower light, powered by the latest development in lithium battery technology. Also on display was a sample of the hydraulic equipment that their sister organization, DOA, has available. The new member of the Trime team, Jim Weaver, was on hand to explain the products that DOA supplies. →

GGR Group showcased their ecofriendly lifting equipment as well as their range of zero-emission construction machinery - the ECO UNIC URW-095 mini spider crane, the lithium-powered Electric Telehandler, the zero-emissions GF30 pick and carry crane, and the popular battery-powered tracked carrier. The Faresin 6.25 was also awarded a place on this year’s Innovation Trail with GGR Group already having received significant orders for the 6.25 from some big names such as Flannery, Explore and Lynch.

SANY UK & Ireland debuted a range of new machinery on their stand. Making its UK debut at the show was the SY19E new electric excavator. With zero-emissions, the SY19E, also features an LFP battery pack designed without cobalt, making it particularly environmentally friendly and safe to operate with significantly lower noise levels (66 dB(A)) for improved operator comfort and reduced noise pollution. Also, on display at the SANY stand was the SY26U with a Stage V Yanmar engine and load sensing hydraulics to maximize on fuel economy. Plus, there was the popular 8.8-tonne SY80U compact excavator which comes with rotate lines and proportional controls and good service access. SANY also sold the first of its fully electric drive mini excavators – the SY19E - to Gary Plant, managing director of G Plant (Midlands) Ltd at the show.

The Executive Hire Show also featured the Passionate Hirer Awards, sponsored by the Hire Exchange, which took place on the first evening of the event. Marley Hire & Sales were announced as winners of the ‘Outstanding Single Depot’ category and Drogheda Hire achieved the ‘Outstanding Multi Depot’ award. n