Plantforce Rentals to acquire part of Hawk Plant

Hire firm agrees to take on all Hawk Plant assets and staff associated with Hinkley Point C

SOUTH-WEST-based construction machinery hire company Plantforce Rentals have agreed to acquire the assets and staff from Hawk Plant (UK) Ltd associated with the Hinkley Point C project in Somerset.

Plant hire giants Hawk Plant (UK) Ltd recently fell into administration due to low cashflow, which is believed to have been impacted by a number of historical problematic contracts and a delay in the commencement of anticipated projects.

Plantforce have agreed to step in and take over the affected 100-plus machines and associated workforce operating at the heart of one of Europe’s largest construction sites, without effecting the smooth running of the busy project.

Plantforce, who already have 186 items of plant on the site and have worked alongside Hawk for the last four years, have today agreed to take on all site-based machinery, contracts and infrastructure, in turn securing the employment of more than 100 full-time plant operators based in the South West.

Claire Trott, managing director of Plantforce Rentals, said: ‘This is a sad outcome for a company which has dominated the plant hire world for many years and a company we have very much respected. This is a strategic decision with our main priority being to secure the continued employment of the workforce on site and minimize the impact on the Hinkley Point C project.’