Ritchie Bros. UK to host Plantforce Fleet Renewal Auction on 20th November 2024

Jason KellerNovember 1, 2024 · 6 min read

Over 200 pieces of top-tier, well-maintained machinery from Plantforce Rentals will be up for grabs at Ritchie Bros. UK’s Plantforce Fleet Renewal Auction on 20th November, marking a significant opportunity for buyers to purchase high-quality equipment from one of the UK’s leading plant hire companies.

Plantforce is a leading provider of mobile plant hire solutions and has a wide-ranging fleet of over 2,000 pieces of equipment. The company is renewing their rental fleet and has teamed up with Ritchie Bros. UK to sell their current fleet.

We sat down with Samuel Mercer, CEO of Plantforce, to discuss the company’s journey and its recent partnership with Ritchie Bros. UK. As the company looks forward to a planned period of sustainable growth, Sam’s journey at Plantforce gives a true insight into the business’s culture. From starting out washing machines to rising through the ranks to his current position of CEO. This is a true story of how, with hard work and dedication, you can achieve anything.

Tell us a little bit more about the story of Plantforce?

Plantforce, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, has become a leading provider of plant hire machinery in the UK. It serves the construction, rail, major project, and energy industries. “We provide national coverage for plant hire in the UK with a diverse portfolio of equipment,” Sam explains.

With a fleet of over 2,000 pieces of equipment, including earthmoving, construction, specialist vehicles, and industrial machinery, Plantforce offers a wide range of plant hire services. Their comprehensive offerings are split into six divisions:

• Plant Equipment: A vast fleet of excavators, dozers, articulated dump trucks, and other essential machinery are available on both self-drive and an operated basis.
• Crushing and Screening: One of the largest fleets of crushing and screening equipment in the UK, ensuring efficient material processing.
• Digital Solutions: State-of-the-art machine control technology, partnering with industry leaders like Trimble and Leica to provide cutting-edge solutions.
• Attachments: A wide range of hydraulic and mechanical attachments to enhance the versatility of excavators and loading shovels.
• Compact Equipment: Specialised solutions for the infrastructure sector and smaller projects, including excavators weighing 3 tons or less.
• Heavy Haulage: Transport services for large and heavy equipment, using trucks, trailers, and other specialised vehicles.

Providing machine solutions nationwide to a range of customers requires a high level of customer service, which is looked after at seven locations that provide coverage throughout Great Britain. The company recently opened a depot in Bury, located northeast of Manchester with this specific site being part of their Northerndepot expansion plan. This will see Plantforce reinforce its position as a national Tier 1 plant hire supplier

Equipment for saleSponsored2011 John Deere 320d Skid Steer LoaderLake Worth, USA 7 daysView listing

How did you come to know about Ritchie Bros.?

When choosing a partner for their upcoming fleet renewal auction Plantforce began conversations with the Ritchie Bros. UK team. Once deciding that Ritchie Bros were the right people to drive this forward, they worked closely with the UK sales team who have organised an exciting auction packed full of quality equipment for bidders. The dedicated auction will take place on the 20^th of November with machines viewable at the Maltby site.

“This is our first time partnering with Ritchie Bros UK, when considering the right team to work with, we wanted a company that was knowledgeable and helpful and so far we have found Ritchie Bros. to be just that. We have always regarded them as one of the leading auctioneer houses in the UK, they are well-known and well-established and anyone in the plant and construction industry is aware of who they are,” Samuel comments.  

Ritchie Bros. UK offers a tailored approach to selling equipment packages, ensuring maximum value and efficiency. With our expertise and global reach, we can create a bespoke auction strategy that aligns with specific needs. From marketing and promotion to logistics and settlement, our team will handle every aspect of the process, allowing you to focus on your core operations. By leveraging our online platform and global network of buyers, we can help you achieve competitive prices and expedite the sale of your equipment package.

Why did you choose Ritchie Bros. for the Fleet renewal?

“With sustainability being such a strategic focus for us, it is very important we make the right choice when it comes to selling items from our fleet that are due for renewal. As well as ensuring they are well maintained during their time of service in our fleet, it is important to ensure that they go on to have a “second life”. To do that at the scale needed for our business, we found Ritchie Bros. a fantastic service provider. Their reputation and profile in the pre-owned machinery market mean they can move on quickly and efficiently, allowing us to progress our fleet renewal strategy.”

The fleet renewal auction is a direct result of the Plantforce fleet regeneration strategy, which ensures they refresh their equipment to keep up with the latest emissions ratings and lowest fuel consumption, all whilst being able to give their outgoing fleet of quality used equipment a second life.

“We are diligent and methodical with ensuring all our equipment is serviced and kept in line with manufacturer guidelines however despite this, there is always ongoing technological development in the machinery sector and to offer our clients the most recent engine technology, lowest emissions ratings and lowest fuel consumption to support their sustainability, we must refresh our fleet periodically. It’s what they expect from us and that is a main driver in the fleet regeneration strategy.” Samuel comments.

Equipment for saleSponsored2023 Bobcat S62 Skid Steer LoaderLake Worth, USA 7 daysView listing

Plantforce is the only Plant Hire provider to be awarded Tier 1 status on the two largest civil engineering projects, Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station and High Speed Rail 2.

“The large projects mentioned require machines of a certain age, engine emission compliance and technology compliance, we want to continue to be the provider for larger projects so we must take that into account when assessing the machines we offer,” Samuel explains.

The Plantforce Fleet Renewal Auction is scheduled for November 20th, a date that aligns with Plantforce’s strategy and the expert recommendations from Ritchie Bros.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the expert guidance and support provided by the Ritchie Bros. UK team throughout this process. It has been great to work with a helpful and conscientious team that listens to what you need and then actions accordingly. We look forward to a successful auction on the 20^th November. We know that these machines will provide a great opportunity for Ritchie Bros. buyers.” Samuel explains.

Take a closer look at the inventory for the Plantforce auction here: https://www.rbauction.co.uk/heavy-equipment-auctions/maltby-gbr-2024452

Register to bid here: https://www.rbauction.co.uk/heavy-equipment-auctions/ring-coverage-details/2024452

Equipment for saleSponsored2021 Gehl R105 Skid Steer LoaderLake Worth, USA 7 daysView listing

Read more about Plantforce here:  https://plantforce.com/

See also

How to sell surplus for government agencies: 5 tips for better results