Hill Head

Quarries & Mines Editorial

Hillhead 2018

Quarrying + Construction + Recycling

26-28 June, Hillhead Quarry, Buxton, Derbyshire

The biennial Hillhead exhibition is the largest quarrying, construction and recycling event in the UK, attracting over 500 exhibiting companies and welcoming 19,000 trade visitors from around the world. Held in a limestone quarry in Derbyshire, UK, the free-to-attend event was formed in 1982 by Nottingham-based The QMJ Group Ltd, and to this day showcases thelatest products, services and equipment for the quarrying, construction and recycling industries.

The show is famous for its four working demonstration areas and it is these that make the Hillhead experience so special. Having the opportunity to see plant and equipment doing a real ‘job of work’ in a live quarry environment is invaluable for both exhibitors and visitors alike. Each of the demonstration zones has its own unique focus. While the Quarry Face plays host to dumptrucks, excavators, loading shovels and large wheel loaders, rock processing takes place in the aptly named Crusher Alley, where tracked and skid mounted crushers, screens, and scalping grids are showcased.Sited towards Hillhead Quarry’s southern boundary, the Recycling Area will exhibit a variety of shredding, screening and washing equipment, while the Registration Area, which has been developed ahead of the 2018 show, provides additional rock processing and recycling space.

Complementing the outdoor stands, Hillhead also hoststwo large indoor pavilions, where a range of ancillary equipment such as computer software, health and safety gear and security systems can be found. As a result of overwhelming demand, the 2018 show has undergone not 1 but 2 extensions to the Registration Pavilion, boosting its capacity to over 90 exhibitors and making 2018 a record-breaking year – with over 500 exhibitors confirmed for the first time in the show’s history.

The 2018 show will also welcome a special appearance from the largest mechanical puppet ever constructed in Britain.  The Man Engine, powered by Volvo, was built to celebrate Cornish mining heritage and in 2017 was voted the UK’s Best Arts Project. The 10m high ‘miner’ will be located in the newly redeveloped Registration Area and be in residence for the duration of the show.

Visitor interest in the 2018 show has already proven extremely high and prospective attendees are advised to pre-register for their free entry badgevia the show’s website to avoid delays on site. This year’s visitors can also benefit from the show’s online visit planning tool Engage, where they can plan their day at the show as well as pre-book appointments with exhibitors before they arrive. The new Engage tool, which has been sponsored by the Institute of Quarrying, will also help visitors discover more of the show’s features, with recommendations of exhibitors, products and news coverage tailored to each visitor’s area of interest. 

Hillhead 2018 will take place from 26-28 June at Hillhead Quarry, near Buxton, Derbyshire. For more information, or to register for a free entry badge,visit www.hillhead.com.