Coinciding with its diamond anniversary, Terex Finlay was one of many multinational mobile crushing and screening equipment manufacturers that introduced a range of new models among its impressive line up at the 18th edition of Hillhead, where records tumbled in terms of visitors and exhibitors.
More than 500 trade exhibitors showed off their wares at the outdoor exhibition where the world’s leading equipment manufacturers, contractors and suppliers in the quarrying and mining industries descended. There were nearly 20,000 visitors from 26 to 28 June.
'A record-breaking 19,687 unique visitors attended this year’s event, surpassing the show’s previous highest attendance record set in 2005,' it was revealed in a Hillhead statement.
The exhibition space was fully booked, with 546 exhibitors – the highest ever in the biennial event – accommodated in the newly enlarged Registration Pavilion.
Exhibition director Richard Bradbury said: 'With clear blue skies, record crowds and all the majors from the plant and equipment world in attendance, business was buoyant and the atmosphere amongst the exhibitors and visitors was superb!'
The showground, pavilions and demonstration areas were 'packed with all the latest plant and equipment' for the quarrying, aggregates, concrete, asphalt, recycling and construction sectors.
Among the many new product launches were the JCB 220X excavator, the Volvo L260H wheel loader, the Komatsu WA480-8 wheel loader, the Powerscreen Trakpactor 550SR impactor, the Keestrack H4e hybrid electric cone crusher, the Sandvik QE343 screen and EvoQuip Colt 1000 scalping screen.
Some products were on show for the first time in the UK.
Aussie suppliers make capital
Terex Finlay’s Australian suppliers are OPS Screening and Crushing Equipment, which supplies to Western Australia and Northern Territory, and Finlay Screening and Crushing Systems (FSCS), which takes care of the rest of Australia. Delegations from both suppliers attended the show and made gains all round.
Finlay delegates were thrilled to see the new machines in action, even as the company marked its 60th anniversary, exhibiting an impressive line-up.
FSCS spokesperson Ronnie Bustard, who has been to previous editions of Hillhead, described the latest as 'excellent' with a good turnout.
'The weather was good, it was a great experience for our whole team. We educated ourselves,' he added.
Bustard said among the new machines introduced by Terex Finlay were J-960 jaw crushers and I-120 RS impact crushers, a 883+ triple-shaft heavy-duty screen, a TC–100 tracked conveyor and a TF-75 HL tracked feeder.
A spokesman for one Aussie supplier Arrow Machinery, which specialises in kerb concrete machines, said he made it to Hillhead 2018 to 'see several of our existing clients'.
Tim Andrews was pleasantly surprised saying, 'a few new inquiries came as well'.
'Other exhibitors mentioned it was a much better show than the last edition,' he added.
For more news and feedback from Hillhead 2018, visit www.hillhead.com
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