plant hire - head to head
Haulotte Group vs Niftylift
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.
| Haulotte Group | Niftylift | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | France | England (Milton Keynes) |
| UK availability | Widely available - large UK network | Widely available - large UK network |
| Range covers | scissor lifts, boom lifts, telehandlers, vertical mast lifts | Trailer-mounted boom lifts, Self-propelled boom lifts, Vehicle-mounted platforms |
| Best known for | Optimum 8 | HR series |
Choose Haulotte Group if...
Haulotte Group is a French manufacturer of scissor lifts, boom lifts and telehandlers whose roots trace to the Pinguely engineering works founded in 1881, taking its current name in 2005. It is one of the most widely hired access platform brands in the UK, used extensively by major national hire companies. Its diesel booms and battery scissor lifts, such as the Optimum 8, compete head-to-head with Genie, JLG and Skyjack on UK access hire fleets.
Look at: Optimum 8, HA16 RTJ PRO
Full Haulotte Group profile →Choose Niftylift if...
The British answer in powered access, and particularly strong in trailer-mounted booms - the machines a small contractor can tow to site behind a van rather than needing a low-loader.
Look at: HR series
Full Niftylift 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.
Haulotte Group vs Niftylift - common questions
Is Haulotte Group better than Niftylift?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. Haulotte Group is a French manufacturer of scissor lifts, boom lifts and telehandlers whose roots trace to the Pinguely engineering works founded in 1881, taking its current name in 2005. It is one of the most widely hired access platform brands in the UK, used extensively by major national hire companies. Its diesel booms and battery scissor lifts, such as the Optimum 8, compete head-to-head with Genie, JLG and Skyjack on UK access hire fleets. The British answer in powered access, and particularly strong in trailer-mounted booms - the machines a small contractor can tow to site behind a van rather than needing a low-loader.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, Haulotte Group or Niftylift?
Haulotte Group: Widely represented in UK national hire fleets such as Nationwide Platforms and AFI-Rentals; Haulotte sold its former direct UK Platforms hire business to HSS in 2013. Niftylift: A British access manufacturer stocked throughout UK hire fleets.
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.