plant hire - head to head
Kassbohrer vs Rotair
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.
| Kassbohrer | Rotair | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | Germany, now Turkey (Tirsan Kassbohrer) | Italy |
| UK availability | Available, smaller network | Available, smaller network |
| Range covers | heavy low loader and specialist semi-trailers | portable air compressors, hydraulic breakers |
| Best known for | LB5E | VRK |
Choose Kassbohrer if...
A heavy trailer brand with German origins, now built by Turkey's Tirsan Kassbohrer, supplying low loaders and other specialist semi-trailers to heavy haulage fleets.
Look at: LB5E
Full Kassbohrer profile →Choose Rotair if...
Rotair is an Italian compressor manufacturer, now part of the ELGi Group, founded shortly after the Second World War. Its VRK towable compressors are hired by groundworks and utility contractors, including fibre-optic installation crews using the lightweight Fibra version.
Look at: VRK
Full Rotair 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.
Kassbohrer vs Rotair - common questions
Is Kassbohrer better than Rotair?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. A heavy trailer brand with German origins, now built by Turkey's Tirsan Kassbohrer, supplying low loaders and other specialist semi-trailers to heavy haulage fleets. Rotair is an Italian compressor manufacturer, now part of the ELGi Group, founded shortly after the Second World War. Its VRK towable compressors are hired by groundworks and utility contractors, including fibre-optic installation crews using the lightweight Fibra version.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, Kassbohrer or Rotair?
Kassbohrer: Used by specialist heavy haulage operators rather than general trailer hire. Rotair: Available through UK plant and tool hire dealers, though less prominent than Atlas Copco or Doosan Portable Power.
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.