Thompsons Plant Hire | Plant, Haulage and Specialist Services

Thompsons Plant Hire has an extensive array of plant equipment available for hire, including:

• Dump Trucks (from 25 / 40 tons)
• 360 Excavators (from 1.5 / 46 tons)
• Bulldozers
• Wheeled Loading Shovels
• Shredders
• Screeners

This equipment allows the company to tackle a wide range of projects and they now have considerable expertise in the following areas.

Overburden Removal

Overburden Removal is a term used primarily in the quarrying industry. It refers to the removal of all the surface materials in order to expose the rock-head. The materials that are removed are generally placed at the edge of the site to be used in the restoration process once quarrying has finished. Overburden removal requires heavy earthmoving equipment such as bulldozers, excavators, dump trucks and cranes.

Site Restoration

Site restoration is more or less the opposite of overburden removal and involves handing sites such as quarries, waste tips and mines back to nature. The landscape is sculpted in order for it to lend into the surrounding area, in doing this lagoons and ponds are often created.

In the aftermath of the Cumbrian floods in 2010 Thompsons were asked to demolish a bridge that had become unstable for the Lake District National Park Authority. They were then able to restore the surrounding area sympathetically to the delight of all concerned.

Rock Armour

Rock Armour is when rock or other materials are used to armor shorelines, railway tracks, bridge pilings and foundations from erosion due to water or ice. Thompsons Plant Hire has considerable experience in the transport and instillation of rock armour, having worked a number of challenging projects including sea defenses on the south coast and the shoring up of the West Coast Mainline.

Extended Contracts

Thompson’s currently have plant on extended hire working to replace Blackpools world famous seaside tramlines. This is a long-term project working in conjunction with BAM Nuttal, and on this occasion the companies plant has been rebadged in BAM Nuttal’s livery.

The Company also has a long-term relationship with the Port of Workington where one of their 360° excavators is regularly in use unloading timber boats from Scotland on behalf of Iggesund Paperboard. Once unloaded Thompson’s transport the timber from the port to the mill.

Plant machines are hired out complete with our experienced CITB, PTS, EPIC & SPA (Quarry Passport) trained operators, who may also be hired to drive our customer's own equipment.