plant hire - head to head
Ammann vs Hamm
Both makes turn up on the same shortlists, and the honest answer is that they are built for different buyers rather than one being better than the other. Here is what actually separates them - from a directory that sells neither.
| Ammann | Hamm | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | Switzerland (Langenthal) | Germany (Tirschenreuth, Upper Palatinate) |
| Making trailers since | 1869 | 1878 |
| UK availability | Available, smaller network | Good UK dealer coverage |
| Range covers | Tandem and single drum rollers, Vibratory plates, Vibratory rammers, Walk-behind rollers | Tandem rollers (1.5 to 14 t), Single drum soil compactors, Pneumatic-tyre rollers (8 to 28 t) |
| Weight range | From 66 kg rammers up to tandem rollers over 2,500 kg | 1.5 to 25 t |
| Best known for | ARX tandem rollers | HD CompactLine |
Choose Ammann if...
A Swiss family-owned maker of compaction equipment, asphalt plants and pavers. UK contractors and hire fleets look at it for light plates, rammers and small tandem rollers as an alternative to BOMAG and Wacker Neuson.
Look at: ARX tandem rollers, APF and APR plates, ATR rammers
Full Ammann profile →Choose Hamm if...
Hamm is a German roller specialist, part of the Wirtgen Group, which is itself part of John Deere. UK road, groundworks and surfacing contractors and hire fleets buy it for tandem rollers and soil compactors across the 1.5 to 25 tonne range.
Look at: HD CompactLine, HD+ series, HC series
Full Hamm profile →Where to hire or buy either
Most UK plant hire companies carry several makes and advertise none of them, so the practical move is to find the firms covering your area and ask what is on the yard.
Ammann vs Hamm - common questions
Is Ammann better than Hamm?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. A Swiss family-owned maker of compaction equipment, asphalt plants and pavers. UK contractors and hire fleets look at it for light plates, rammers and small tandem rollers as an alternative to BOMAG and Wacker Neuson. Hamm is a German roller specialist, part of the Wirtgen Group, which is itself part of John Deere. UK road, groundworks and surfacing contractors and hire fleets buy it for tandem rollers and soil compactors across the 1.5 to 25 tonne range.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, Ammann or Hamm?
Ammann: The maker publishes a UK English edition of its site; check local hire and dealer stock for specific models. Hamm: The Wirtgen Group site lists WIRTGEN LIMITED in Newark as its UK company.
Can I hire rather than buy?
Yes. Most UK plant hire companies hire as well as sell, and many carry several makes without listing them. Search by your area and ask what they have on the yard.
Other comparisons
GetBrent is an independent directory and is not a dealer for, nor affiliated with, either manufacturer. Brand and model names are the trademarks of their owners, used here only to identify the products they refer to. Specifications vary by model year and market - confirm weights, dimensions and towing limits with the supplier before hiring or buying.