plant hire - head to head
Ausa vs Mecalac
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.
| Ausa | Mecalac | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | Spain (Barcelona) | France (Annecy) |
| Making trailers since | 1956 | 1974 |
| UK availability | Good UK dealer coverage | Widely available - large UK network |
| Range covers | Articulated site dumpers, Rough terrain forklifts, Telehandlers, Electric dumpers, forklifts and telehandlers | Site dumpers (TA, MDX and Revotruck ranges), Crawler skid-excavators (MCR), Wheeled excavators and excavator-loaders, Articulated and swing loaders |
| Best known for | D-series dumpers | TA range |
Choose Ausa if...
Ausa is a Barcelona-based maker of compact industrial vehicles, selling in 90 countries through a dealer network. UK buyers are contractors, farms and hire fleets looking for articulated dumpers and rough terrain forklifts.
Look at: D-series dumpers, C-series forklifts, T-series telehandlers
Full Ausa profile →Choose Mecalac if...
Mecalac is a French maker of compact construction machines whose UK unit in Coventry, formed from the Terex Construction Equipment business, builds backhoe loaders, dumpers and rollers. Buyers are groundworks contractors, utilities and hire fleets that want compact dumpers and urban-friendly excavators from one maker.
Look at: TA range, MDX range, MCR range
Full Mecalac 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.
Ausa vs Mecalac - common questions
Is Ausa better than Mecalac?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. Ausa is a Barcelona-based maker of compact industrial vehicles, selling in 90 countries through a dealer network. UK buyers are contractors, farms and hire fleets looking for articulated dumpers and rough terrain forklifts. Mecalac is a French maker of compact construction machines whose UK unit in Coventry, formed from the Terex Construction Equipment business, builds backhoe loaders, dumpers and rollers. Buyers are groundworks contractors, utilities and hire fleets that want compact dumpers and urban-friendly excavators from one maker.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, Ausa or Mecalac?
Ausa: The maker lists a UK subsidiary and a UK dealer network on its official site. Mecalac: The maker's history lists a UK design and production unit (Mecalac Construction Equipment UK Ltd) formed from the Terex Construction Equipment business in Coventry.
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.