plant hire - head to head
Mecalac vs Thwaites
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.
| Mecalac | Thwaites | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | France (Annecy) | England (Leamington Spa) |
| UK availability | Widely available - large UK network | Widely available - large UK network |
| Range covers | Site dumpers (TA, MDX and Revotruck ranges), Crawler skid-excavators (MCR), Wheeled excavators and excavator-loaders, Articulated and swing loaders | Site dumpers, from walk-behind through to large swivel-tip machines |
| Best known for | TA range | Site dumper range |
Choose Mecalac if...
Mecalac is a French maker of compact construction machines whose UK unit in Coventry, formed from the Terex Construction Equipment business, builds backhoe loaders, dumpers and rollers. Buyers are groundworks contractors, utilities and hire fleets that want compact dumpers and urban-friendly excavators from one maker.
Look at: TA range, MDX range, MCR range
Full Mecalac profile →Choose Thwaites if...
If you have hired a site dumper in Britain, there is a good chance it was a Thwaites. A focused manufacturer rather than a full-line one, and that focus is why hire fleets keep buying them.
Look at: Site dumper range
Full Thwaites 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.
Mecalac vs Thwaites - common questions
Is Mecalac better than Thwaites?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. Mecalac is a French maker of compact construction machines whose UK unit in Coventry, formed from the Terex Construction Equipment business, builds backhoe loaders, dumpers and rollers. Buyers are groundworks contractors, utilities and hire fleets that want compact dumpers and urban-friendly excavators from one maker. If you have hired a site dumper in Britain, there is a good chance it was a Thwaites. A focused manufacturer rather than a full-line one, and that focus is why hire fleets keep buying them.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, Mecalac or Thwaites?
Mecalac: The maker's history lists a UK design and production unit (Mecalac Construction Equipment UK Ltd) formed from the Terex Construction Equipment business in Coventry. Thwaites: A British dumper specialist stocked across 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.