PLANTWORX!

PLANTWORX 2023, ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED SHOWS, RETURNS TO THE HEAVY MACHINERY AND PLANT EXHIBITION CALENDAR. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST PLANTWORX SINCE 2019 AFTER THE EXHIBITION PAUSED AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Organised by the Construction Equipment Association (CEA), the three-day event promises an action-packed show with this year’s event seeing the return of many of the major construction industry players, including; ABAX, Arden Equipment, AVANT, Blue Group, Bobcat, BOMAG, Brigade Electronics, Caterpillar, CESAR Scheme, Conquip, Develon, Engcon, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Hydrema, IPAF, John Deere, Kubota, Liugong, Magni, Prolectric, MachineMax, Magni, Manitou, Mecalac, Merlo, Prolec, Rototilt, SANY, SITECH, SMT, Sunward, Takeuchi, Thomas Group, TVH, Tyre Boss, Worsley Plant, Yanmar, ZONR and many more.

Plant Planet magazine will also be exhibiting for the first time at this year’s Plantworx Exhibition.

The exhibition also promises a packed programme with a variety of live demonstrations by exhibiting companies, innovative stands along with an array of working machinery demonstrations where exhibitors can put their machinery to the test in ‘real-site’ conditions. The CEA’s vision is to ‘create a sustainable biennial event for the construction equipment industry, shaped by the industry’.

Naturally, many exhibitors are seizing the opportunity to launch and debut their new machinery at this year’s Plantworx Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, has announced that its game-changing innovative 3D collision safety solution integration with Xwatch Safety Solutions will make its UK debut at Plantworx. This solution is made possible by combining the state-of-the-art Leica MC1 machine control software and the top-of-the-line XW5 Series from Xwatch Safety Solutions. It creates one of the world’s first solutions for safety and productivity in a 3D world! This new solution not only improves safety for construction workers and pedestrians around busy work sites, but also protects existing and newly built infrastructure. Be sure to check it out on the Xwatch stand (Stand: C-PA3 & C-PA4) – where it will be in full action.

Takeuchi is set to launch its new 5-tonne short-tail swing at Plantworx. The new TB350R short-tail swing compact excavator is part of the 3-Series excavator range, the company’s first fivetonne class short-tail model.

Yanmar looks to have an exciting array of machinery on display on its stand ranging from mini excavator models and wheel loaders, to all-new prototypes.

On display will be Yanmar’s leading conventional tail swing excavators, eco zero tail swing excavators, tracked carriers and the new compact V7HW wheel loader prototype, which is expected to be formally launched later this year.

SANY will take its largest-ever stand to showcase its latest range of excavators and wheel loaders, along with a host of innovative technologies designed to improve productivity, efficiency, and safety on construction sites at this year’s exhibition. Making its UK debut at the show are two brand new SANY wheel loaders, the SW305 and SW405 models. Also debuting at the event will be the new SY18U, alongside a variety of other machinery, such as the SY16C mini digger, the SY155W wheeled excavator and 21-tonne, SY215C crawler.

As well as new product and machinery launches, there will also be a new Get Connected Zone for connected technology. Visitors will also get the chance to watch an incredible showcase of talent and proficiency at this year’s Plantworx as the new All-Level Awesome Earthmovers Operator Challenge will be held at the show!

The Operator Challenge will see participants encounter eight different challenges in the arena where operators of varying skill levels compete in a series of timed trials. There will also be a few ‘machinery famous faces’ taking part in the challenge. Social media influencers, Amy the Digger Girl (aka Amy Underwood) will be at all three days of the show; Conor the Digger Driver (aka Conor Kelly), Bearded Excavation (aka Lloyd Peckham), Lord Muck (aka Kurt Mills) will all be at Plantworx on Tuesday 13th, as well as Tracklass1 (Lana Edwards) and newcomer, Ben ‘the operator’ Wade. It’s certainly a hotly contested and highly anticipated event.

Another much-anticipated feature at Plantworx will also be making a return to the 2023 show. After its incredibly successful debut at Plantworx 2019, The Simulation Zone, sponsored by Plantforce Plant Hire, makes its return and will be the place where training meets technology. The Simulation Zone is an innovative solution that aims to revolutionise construction skill development, with many recognising the significance that technology will play in operator training over the coming decade.

The Simulation Zone will provide visitors with a comprehensive and immersive experience, replicating ‘a real working construction site’ in a virtual setting. In The Simulation Zone, each simulator will allow users to get behind the virtual wheel of machinery to test their skills using the latest technologies and work together to overcome site challenges in a virtual environment. The Zone is open to all visitors regardless of their experience level.

Recognising the need for collaboration, big data, automation, decarbonisation and advanced technology in the construction sector, Plantworx 2023 introduces the BIG Ideas Zone. The BIG Ideas Zone is aimed at startup companies, emerging innovators and established SMEs who are developing radical new concepts with game-changing applications.

The Plantworx Innovation Awards will also be making a return to this year’s show, held in association with the CEA. The Plantworx Innovation Awards recognise and celebrate innovative companies, products, and services that have made a major impact in the construction equipment industry.

CEA chief executive Suneeta Johal said, “Plantworx 2023 will be my first show as CEO and I am very much looking forward to it. I believe with the amount of new and emerging technology this event is set to be the best yet.”