Skip to main content

First ever Plantworx show hailed a success after attracting over 11,000 visitors

The debut PLANTWORX construction equipment exhibition at Stoneleigh Park, in Warwickshire, central England, has been hailed a success after attracting more than 11,500 visitors over the course of the three-day event. While the British weather was true to form with torrential rain for the best part of two days, serious buyers were out in in their droves. PLANTWORX also made National TV on the morning of day one (May 14 2013) – with BBC Breakfast News broadcasting live from the show, interviewing PLANTWORX or
May 21, 2013 Read time: 3 mins
The debut 3579 PLANTWORX construction equipment exhibition at Stoneleigh Park, in Warwickshire, central England, has been hailed a success after attracting more than 11,500 visitors over the course of the three-day event.

While the British weather was true to form with torrential rain for the best part of two days, serious buyers were out in in their droves. PLANTWORX also made National TV on the morning of day one (May 14 2013) – with BBC Breakfast News broadcasting live from the show, interviewing PLANTWORX organiser Rob Oliver, CEO of the 3418 Construction Equipment Association (CEA); Alan Blake JCB’s CEO; and Lee Andrews, Finning’s business manager.

Spanning over 100,000m² and boasting 260 exhibitors from all areas of the construction equipment industry, the CEA organised and promoted exhibition is said by its organisers’ to be the UK’s largest ‘working’ construction event.

Show visitors saw the very latest plant and machinery operating in ‘real’ site conditions. Many exhibitors, including 176 Case, 1413 Finning, 2394 Volvo, 255 JCB, 1654 Takeuchi and 6791 Ammann, encouraged visitors to try the kit first hand on one of the many busy digging demonstration areas.

Simon Frere-Cook, Plantworx 2013 exhibition director, said, “Many exhibitors and visitors asked if we would be repeating PLANTWORX in 2015 and if so when the event would be held?

“Such a decision will include post-event surveys for both exhibitors and visitors which will ask for views and comments on all aspects of their participation in the event and their thoughts for a 2015 event.  From the positive feedback we have already received, we are in no doubt that there will be a 2015 event, so watch this space!”

Lyle Sibbald, 1222 Terex’s marketing manager, said, “We do a lot of trade shows, and PLANTWORX was the climax of all shows.  It was fantastic we’ve had lots of ‘bums on seats’ and an overwhelming response to our new products. Looking forward to 2015.”

Jeff Wright, sales director of bodybuilders and trailer manufacturers Shawtrack, reported an excellent show too, saying, “Very encouraging for us. We have sold 18 winches off stand, four sets of loading ramps and have had endless enquiries.  We have also sold four bodies – it was well worth exhibiting and a very cost effective exercise.”

Jo Prigmore came all the way from New Zealand to visit the show.  She said, “I really enjoyed the visit. The amount of new machinery on show was very impressive.  The demonstration areas were also excellent – it’s good to see machines in working conditions.”

Chris Hendy, director Brendon Power Washers, added, “Certainly from the people we spoke with both exhibitors and customers were very happy to see a demonstration exhibition back in the UK.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • CEA: UK Off Highway Sector to gain from new innovation programme
    May 20, 2014
    The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) believes an imminent Technology Strategy Board led programme to encourage innovation in the UK’s Off Highway sector is likely to lead to a multi-million euro investment in the future of the construction equipment supply chain. Speaking of the keenly-awaited programme CEA chief executive Rob Oliver said, “We have been working with the TSB for some time and are now confident that a funding competition will be confirmed very shortly. The TSB have a well-established
  • JCB North America has new chief after John Patterson CBE retires
    January 7, 2014
    JCB’s John Patterson CBE, who rose through the ranks from field service engineer to Group chief executive, has retired after 43 years’ service. Arjun Mirdha is the new president and CEO of JCB in North America, where Patterson had led operations as chairman and CEO since 2008. After joining JCB in 1971, Patterson went on to work in Canada and America before returning to the UK in 1988 as managing director of JCB Service. In 1993, he was appointed managing director of JCB Sales before becoming Group CEO –
  • Intermat 2009 promises to be bigger than before
    July 4, 2012
    For 2009, the Intermat exhibition will prove a major event on the off-highway equipment calendar This year's Intermat construction equipment exhibition in Paris promises a great deal for the visitor. The show will feature a total surface area of 180,000m² including 30,000m² of outside demonstration areas and this represents 7% more space than for the previous exhibition in 2006. Some 1,320 companies are exhibiting and come from 43 countries, with 64% of exhibitors coming from outside France. Around 209,032
  • China gears up for its giant CICEE construction equipment show at the Changsha exhibition centre in May 2023
    January 19, 2022
    China has announced that its CICEE International Construction Machinery Exhibition will be held from May 12-15, 2023 in Changsha, and forward bookings are looking very strong.