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Aug 2026

NCE Bridge Supplier 2026 Finalist

July 2026

Heavy lifting at Milford-on-Sea with Hitachi 1200

June 2026

Power and Productivity at Kishorn Port

May 2026

Complex Platform Demolition Delivered at Berrylands Station

April 2026

Birdlip - Highway Access Challenge Conquered

March 2026

Birnbeck Pier: Trusted with Precision Restoration

February 2026

WM Plant Hire Returns to Sheerness for Precision Dredging at Berth 5

January 2026

Spider Excavator Successfully Completes Llangollen Canal Recovery Operation

December 2025

Our Spider excavator has been delivering a soil nailing solution for clients this month. When a private garden faced a significant landslip challenge with extremely restricted access, initial stabilisation and soil nailing approaches proved challenging. We collaborated with Garness to help them quickly pivot to a more effective solution using our specialised R555 Spider Excavator - perfectly designed for navigating tight spaces where standard equipment and larger spiders simply couldn't reach. "Our Spider Excavator demonstrates its versatility in precisely these situations - accessing seemingly impossible terrain to complete critical stabilisation work,” noted WM Plant Hire’s Operations Director Matt McCombe, whose responsive in-house fabrication team custom-designed and manufactured a specialised mounting bracket to seamlessly integrate Garness's drilling equipment with the spider excavator. The team's commitment was impressive, with collaboration between both WM operator and Garness' dedicated rope access team, working tirelessly for long hours in tough ground conditions to ensure project success. This project in which the nimble Spider machine successfully installed 70 soil nail anchors to stabilise the slope effectively, highlights our commitment to working collaboratively with clients, providing innovative, solution-focused equipment customised to meet specific geotechnical challenges. For geotechnical engineers working in rail, highways, or other sectors requiring support in difficult-to-access locations, our specialised spider excavator services offer the perfect combination of versatility, precision, and customised solutions.

Nailing it with the Spider to Overcome Tricky Access

November 2025

This month WM Plant Hire are proud to showcase our successful partnership on the prestigious Havant Thicket Reservoir project, where we've provided critical plant solutions to keep this major infrastructure development on track over the last couple of months. Working alongside Future Water (a joint venture between Jones Bros and Mackley) and their specialist subcontractor Keller, we've delivered exactly the right equipment to tackle some seriously challenging ground conditions. Our CAT374 long reach excavator has been the star performer, successfully excavating a 70-meter slurry wall trench to an impressive 10-meter depth – creating the impervious barrier essential for preventing water leakage from the future reservoir. The project presented unique challenges, including blind digging and tough rock seams that could have derailed progress. Here's where our collaborative approach really paid off: while Jones Bros hired a CAT345 long reach machine with breaker attachment to tackle the rock, our CAT374 continued the precision excavation work for the trench with Keller. This seamless coordination between multiple machines and contractors ensured the project stayed on schedule. We've already completed the first 70-metre phase and we're excited to return in December 2025 for the next phase, followed by the full earthworks season from March to October 2026. This project perfectly demonstrates how the right plant selection and strong client partnerships can overcome even the most demanding site conditions.

Overcoming Challenging Ground Conditions at Havant Thicket Reservoir

October 2025

A Spider excavator has been instrumental in tackling clearance operations on 12 balancing ponds along a major UK motorway. Working with highways contractors, the Spider excavator successfully removed weed and silt, overcoming access challenges, uneven and soft ground conditions, and even climbing over barriers to avoid lane one closures. Its compact size and agile movement enabled it to navigate tight spaces and slopes, while our experienced operator skilfully manoeuvred the machine to avoid damaging the surrounding terrain. By avoiding lane closures, the contractors minimised disruption to motorway traffic, saving time and reducing the risk of accidents. The Spider excavator's versatility and capability make it an ideal solution for contractors taking on demanding projects. Its unique design and capabilities, combined with expert operators, make it the ultimate problem-solver for getting the job done quickly, safely, and efficiently.

Spider Tackles Motorway Clearance Operations

September 2025

Working with EA Contractors, WM Plant Hire's innovative approach to the Bewdley Flood Risk Management Scheme combined zero tail and Spider excavators to overcome significant site constraints. The zero-tail operated from the road, managing 3-tonne rock bag lifts despite gas main restrictions and leaving pedestrian access, while the Spider excavator worked on the challenging riverbank terrain. This dual-machine solution met strict Environment Agency requirements, using silt and air bubble curtains for environmental protection. The approach also allowed wildlife dispersal while ensuring efficient project delivery. The completed scheme now protects over 50 properties from River Severn flooding, demonstrating WM Plant Hire's expertise in delivering specialist solutions that balance engineering demands with environmental care.

Dynamic Duo Combine Forces for Flood Protection

August 2025

Precision Dredging at Grutness Ferry Terminal Upgrade

July 2025

Supporting SRE's Challenging Soil Nailing Operations at Lingfield

June 2025

Sustainable River Restoration with Spider

May 2025

Tight Access Solution on Pumping Station

April 2025

Spider bridging the gap in Highways

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News Archive

Aug 2026 >
NCE Bridge Supplier 2026 Finalist Read More
July 2026 >
Heavy lifting at Milford-on-Sea with Hitachi 1200 Read More
June 2026 >
Power and Productivity at Kishorn Port Read More
May 2026 >
Complex Platform Demolition Delivered at Berrylands Station Read More
April 2026 >
Birdlip - Highway Access Challenge Conquered Read More
March 2026 >
Birnbeck Pier: Trusted with Precision Restoration Read More
February 2026 >
WM Plant Hire Returns to Sheerness for Precision Dredging at Berth 5 Read More
January 2026 >
Spider Excavator Successfully Completes Llangollen Canal Recovery Operation Read More
December 2025 >
Nailing it with the Spider to Overcome Tricky Access Read More
November 2025 >
Overcoming Challenging Ground Conditions at Havant Thicket Reservoir Read More
October 2025 >
Spider Tackles Motorway Clearance Operations Read More
September 2025 >
Dynamic Duo Combine Forces for Flood Protection Read More