plant hire - head to head
Bomag 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.
| Bomag | Hamm | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | Germany | Germany (Tirschenreuth, Upper Palatinate) |
| Making trailers since | 1957 | 1878 |
| UK availability | Good UK dealer coverage | Good UK dealer coverage |
| Range covers | Rollers and compaction equipment, Cold planers, Soil stabilisers/recyclers, Plate compactors | Tandem rollers (1.5 to 14 t), Single drum soil compactors, Pneumatic-tyre rollers (8 to 28 t) |
| Best known for | BW AD-5 tandem rollers | HD CompactLine |
Choose Bomag if...
Bomag is a German manufacturer specialising in compaction equipment - rollers, plate compactors, cold planers and soil stabilisers - rather than a full construction equipment line. UK groundworks and surfacing contractors hire its light and medium tandem rollers for asphalt patching, driveway and footpath compaction where a heavier single-drum roller would be unnecessary.
Look at: BW AD-5 tandem rollers, Single drum rollers
Full Bomag 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.
Bomag vs Hamm - common questions
Is Bomag better than Hamm?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. Bomag is a German manufacturer specialising in compaction equipment - rollers, plate compactors, cold planers and soil stabilisers - rather than a full construction equipment line. UK groundworks and surfacing contractors hire its light and medium tandem rollers for asphalt patching, driveway and footpath compaction where a heavier single-drum roller would be unnecessary. 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, Bomag or Hamm?
Bomag: Widely stocked by general plant hire companies across the UK, mainly for light and medium compaction work. 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.