Hillhead memories

by Nick Drew | Sun 22 Jun 2014

Hillhead memories

Hillhead 2014 opens its doors to the public this coming Tuesday, for what promises to be the biggest plant and machinery fest of the year. In this blog I am going to take a look back at some of my highlights from previous shows at the famous Buxton quarry.

Back at the 2005 event one of the stars of the show was a Caterpillar 365CL FS face shovel which was being demonstrated at the face by Finning. An impressive piece of kit, although not quite in the same league as 2012’s show stopper the big Cat 6030.

Biggest dozer at the show in 2005 was the Caterpillar D9T which had been newly introduced into the range around that time.

On the Marubeni Komatsu stand in 2005 the team displayed a 100 tonne class PC1250 hydraulic excavator, which was one of three ordered by Hydrex back in the day. The 651hp machine was shown with a Komatsu PC09 mini excavator sat in its bucket!

One of the largest excavators on display at Hillhead in 2005 was the 85 tonne Terex branded O&K RH30F, which was demonstrated loading a Terex TR45 41 tonne class rigid dump truck.

One of the star attractions at the 2007 show was not a machine at all but the bucket for one. Miller’s 29cu m bucket was heading to Spain after the show, where it would become attached to a Hitachi EX5500. This bucket which weighed in around 35 tonnes, was probably the most photographed item on display with many visitors having their photos taken stood inside it, including yours truly!

The impressive looking Liebherr 586 wheeled loader was being put through its paces on the demonstration plot, where it was loading one of Bell’s biggest offerings the B50D articulated dump truck.

Also on the demo plot was this Komatsu PC450-7 from HE Services fleet, it was being demonstrated using a FRD Furukawa hydraulic breaker which we suspect was supplied by ECY Haulmark.

Jumping forward to the last show now in 2012 and here on the Bell stand we see a B40D model with regular Digger Man Blog reader Ryan Stallard posing for the cameras! This machine was part of an order for CA Blackwell’s.

As previously mentioned the undisputed star of the 2012 show was Caterpillars 6030 face shovel, which was part of £60m pound deal for Cat equipment by Hargreaves. This machine dominated the whole show and sadly it looks as if nothing will match it at this year’s event.

The mighty EC700C was the star attraction on the Volvo stand in 2012 where it was displayed with its bucket in the back of Volvo’s A40F articulated hauler.

Talking of Volvo EC700’s on the AR Demolition stand they displayed their high reach model the EC700B HR which is nicknamed “Mr Tickle”. I believe this machine will be making another appearance this year so one to look out for. Let’s face it’s it’s pretty hard to miss!

Here’s a taste of the action from the 2012 event by my colleague at Earthmovers, Paul Argent, for those who like the videos. [youtube width="725" height="344"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT5dDMekdI8[/youtube] I hope to be attending for most of the three days this year, so if you spot me about on my travels come and say hello.

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