plant hire - head to head
RSP vs Scarab Sweepers
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.
| RSP | Scarab Sweepers | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | United Kingdom | UK (Marden, Kent) |
| UK availability | Limited UK presence | Good UK dealer coverage |
| Range covers | vacuum excavators | road sweepers |
| Best known for | ESE-6 8000 | Merlin 55 |
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 →Choose Scarab Sweepers if...
Scarab Sweepers is a Kent-based manufacturer of truck-mounted road sweepers, now part of the Fayat Group. Its Merlin range is chassis-mounted to trucks from 7.5 tonnes upward and hired by local authorities and contractors for street and site cleaning.
Look at: Merlin 55
Full Scarab Sweepers 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.
RSP vs Scarab Sweepers - common questions
Is RSP better than Scarab Sweepers?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. A manufacturer of vacuum (suction) excavation equipment, used by utility and cable contractors to dig safely around buried services without a digger bucket. Scarab Sweepers is a Kent-based manufacturer of truck-mounted road sweepers, now part of the Fayat Group. Its Merlin range is chassis-mounted to trucks from 7.5 tonnes upward and hired by local authorities and contractors for street and site cleaning.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, RSP or Scarab Sweepers?
RSP: A specialist brand supplied through a small number of UK plant hire and utility contractors. Scarab Sweepers: A well-established UK sweeper brand, hired by specialist sweeper and plant hire companies.
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.