Heavy Plant Hire: How to Choose the Right Equipment for High Demand Projects

With tight deadlines and even stricter budgets, every construction project is under pressure before it even starts. This is why heavy plant hire plays such an important role in planning and executing a construction project, furnishing a project with the right model of plant hire, at the right time, and to the high standards that you deserve. At Ardent, we offer you the latest and greatest models of plant hire, with customer service support to match, and a reliable partner that is crucial to your high-demand construction schedules.

Assessing project scope and site conditions

What factors affect your choice of plant hire? The first thing that must be done is an analysis of the project and site.

• Access and site terrain – what is the size of the site? What are the ground conditions? This information helps to decide whether tracked machinery or wheeled will be required.
• Constraints to the area – compact machinery is vital for urban construction sites or where there is tight access. You must consider the tail swing of machinery.

Once you have this basic information through a site survey for plant hire, our specialist team of advisors can offer professional guidance and advice on the right plant hire equipment and delivery schedule to fit your project.

Specifying the right machinery: power vs precision

Ardent has a range of machinery available for use on high-demand projects and sites. We are continuously updating our fleet to ensure that our clients have access to the latest models. This boosts efficiency, safety, and performance. We have telehandlers, forklifts, roto telehandlers, and a range of attachments that can transform a simple piece of machinery into a powerhouse to be used for multiple tasks. A site and project survey will determine whether you need the use of machinery that offers you care and precision or power. 

Versatility is key on any high-demand site, and that’s where the use of attachments transforms a telehandler into a machine that can be used across multiple tasks across your site. This can be in the form of a bucket for powerful earth removal tasks, a sweeper attachment to help clear debris, and fork extensions to move larger, unwieldy objects safely at height.

The impact of fleet age and reliability on deadlines

With tight deadlines and finance an issue for every project, reliability is key when choosing a plant hire company. High-demand projects cannot afford equipment downtime, or any delays on site. Ardent Hire has a young fleet, updating our options regularly to the latest models. This ensures that there are fewer breakdowns on site and better reliability all round. As part of your plant hire agreement all maintenance and repairs are conducted between hires, minimising downtime even further. Newer models of plant have better safety features, lowering instances of accidents on site that could cause potential injuries or fatalities. New models also include telematics to track productivity, boosting performance and allowing for a tweak in approach should you see data analysis that shows where operations can be improved.

Prioritising fuel efficiency and sustainability

Sustainable plant hire solutions are not a pipe dream. We believe in eco-friendly options wherever possible and reducing carbon emission through our choice of plant in our fleet and the way our machinery operates. Stage V engines and newer models come as standard, reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions. This helps to reduce the carbon footprint of your project and lower your costs, where fuel is usually the highest part of your budget. We also offer smart fuel management solutions to take your control over fuel consumption and costs even further.

Availability and lead times in the UK market

To meet tight deadlines and run a smooth high-demand project, you must be prepared. Ardent has the experience and readily available fleet to meet your needs. With supply chain demands in the UK always under pressure, look to book early to guarantee the availability of the heavy machinery that you require on site. We’re with you every step of the way, ensuring you have what you need to make the grade.   

Choose the right heavy plant hire for your project

Ready to secure the industry’s most reliable heavy plant machinery for your next project? High-demand projects are tough, with tight deadlines and strict budgets to adhere to, it’s important that you plan ahead and have access to the best heavy plant options to suit your project and the tasks at hand. Contact Ardent Hire today to discuss your heavy plant hire requirements. You can call us on  03333 202 555 or email hire@ardenthire.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is fleet age important when hiring construction machinery?

A younger fleet of machine options improves reliability and reduces instances of breakdowns on site. Newer machines have Stage V engines for better fuel economy and lower carbon emissions. Finally, safety standards improve with each new model range.

How far in advance should I book heavy plant hire for a project?

 Every project is unique, so there is no hard and fast rule. We would advise that you get in touch with our team as early as possible though, as during the peak construction seasons in the UK, it is best to book 4-6 weeks in advance for heavy-lift machinery or 2-4 weeks in advance for lighter models.

Can I hire telehandlers for short-term projects?

Yes, Ardent Hire offers flexible terms for short-term projects. You can arrange heavy plant hire for short-term projects, for one day, weekly requirements, or even longer.