plant hire - head to head
Liebherr vs RSP
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.
| Liebherr | RSP | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | Switzerland (Bulle) | United Kingdom |
| UK availability | Available, smaller network | Limited UK presence |
| Range covers | wheel loaders, excavators, cranes, concrete equipment | vacuum excavators |
| Best known for | L556 XPower | ESE-6 8000 |
Choose Liebherr if...
Liebherr is a Swiss-German engineering group whose wheel loaders and excavators compete with Caterpillar and Komatsu on major quarry and construction sites. Its XPower loaders use a hybrid drivetrain aimed at cutting fuel use on repetitive loading cycles.
Look at: L556 XPower
Full Liebherr profile →Choose RSP if...
A manufacturer of vacuum (suction) excavation equipment, used by utility and cable contractors to dig safely around buried services without a digger bucket.
Look at: ESE-6 8000
Full RSP 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.
Liebherr vs RSP - common questions
Is Liebherr better than RSP?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. Liebherr is a Swiss-German engineering group whose wheel loaders and excavators compete with Caterpillar and Komatsu on major quarry and construction sites. Its XPower loaders use a hybrid drivetrain aimed at cutting fuel use on repetitive loading cycles. A manufacturer of vacuum (suction) excavation equipment, used by utility and cable contractors to dig safely around buried services without a digger bucket.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, Liebherr or RSP?
Liebherr: Available through a smaller network of UK plant dealers than the market-leading CAT and JCB ranges. RSP: A specialist brand supplied through a small number of UK plant hire and utility contractors.
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.