plant hire - head to head
Rotair 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.
| Rotair | RSP | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | Italy | United Kingdom |
| UK availability | Available, smaller network | Limited UK presence |
| Range covers | portable air compressors, hydraulic breakers | vacuum excavators |
| Best known for | VRK | ESE-6 8000 |
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 →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.
Rotair vs RSP - common questions
Is Rotair better than RSP?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. 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. 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, Rotair or RSP?
Rotair: Available through UK plant and tool hire dealers, though less prominent than Atlas Copco or Doosan Portable Power. 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.