plant hire - head to head
Genie vs Hinowa
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.
| Genie | Hinowa | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | United States (Terex group) | Italy (Nogara, Verona) |
| UK availability | Widely available - large UK network | Good UK dealer coverage |
| Range covers | Scissor lifts, Articulated and telescopic boom lifts, Material lifts | Tracked spider lifts, Tracked mini dumpers, Tracked pallet trucks, Tracked undercarriages |
| Best known for | GS series | Lightlift Performance series |
Choose Genie if...
Powered access in Britain is largely a two-horse conversation, and Genie is one of the horses. The GS scissor lifts are the machine most people mean when they ask to hire a scissor lift.
Look at: GS series, Z series, S series
Full Genie profile →Choose Hinowa if...
Hinowa builds compact tracked machines for working at height and moving material in tight spaces. Spider lift users such as tree surgeons, facade and gutter contractors and fit-out firms choose it for access to gardens, interiors and soft ground, and groundworkers use the tracked mini dumpers on restricted sites.
Look at: Lightlift Performance series, Lightlift 14 series, TeleCrawler
Full Hinowa 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.
Genie vs Hinowa - common questions
Is Genie better than Hinowa?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. Powered access in Britain is largely a two-horse conversation, and Genie is one of the horses. The GS scissor lifts are the machine most people mean when they ask to hire a scissor lift. Hinowa builds compact tracked machines for working at height and moving material in tight spaces. Spider lift users such as tree surgeons, facade and gutter contractors and fit-out firms choose it for access to gardens, interiors and soft ground, and groundworkers use the tracked mini dumpers on restricted sites.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, Genie or Hinowa?
Genie: One of the two names that dominate UK powered access fleets. Hinowa: Has a UK site, Hinowa UK, for the compact tracked range; check local hire stock for specific models.
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.