Strong feedback from a key market.
Successful Hillhead 2026 for SBM…
SBM Mineral Processing has taken a positive view of Hillhead 2026, the UK's leading quarrying demonstration show. For the first time in Buxton, the Austrian manufacturer showcased not only its mobile crushing plants, but also its extensive portfolio of mobile concrete mixing technology.
"It was clear from the outset that the extreme weather, with temperatures of around 36°C, would have a major impact on the show in the quarry. That made it all the more encouraging to see visitor numbers clearly pick up from the second day onwards, bringing us a large number of valuable contacts and in-depth discussions with customers, prospects and partners," says Norbert Dieplinger, Regional Sales Manager for Processing.
Impressive showing in processing
Together with its UK distribution partners Orba Group and Banner Equipment, SBM presented its hybrid electrified mobile crushers both in the live demonstration area and at the stand. "In terms of model selection, preparation and customer approach, our show concept worked perfectly – our partners did a truly excellent job,", says Dieplinger. "A particular highlight was the commented live demonstration of our REMAX 450 impact crusher at the quarry face. It gave us an excellent platform to showcase the full benefits of our plant design, including the highly economical diesel-electric drive concept. Just a few metres away at the stand, visitors were then able to explore these advantages in greater depth, where the REMAX 400 with fully electric plug-in option and our 450 tph JAWMAX 450 jaw crusher, a highly mobile 40-tonne 'workhorse', also proved to be real crowd-pullers."
SBM also gained further traction in terms of market reach at Hillhead. "Alongside existing customers from Banner's northern territory and Orba's southern English regions, we welcomed many experts this year from nationwide material producers and recycling service providers", adds Dieplinger. As important as direct fuel savings, easier maintenance and HSE aspects are for local and regional operators, the broader benefits of SBM's hybrid technology are becoming increasingly relevant, particularly for larger fleets. "With hundreds of successful installations worldwide, our diesel-electric REMAX and JAWMAX series have been setting international standards for years in several applications, high availability and long-term sustainability."
A key part of that appeal is SBM's advanced CRUSH CONTROL system. Thanks to clear, multilingual menu guidance, even inexperienced operators can become productive safely and quickly, while all key performance and machine data can be accessed remotely and documented easily for maintenance purposes. At Hillhead, this complete package also impressed potential partners in sales and service. "We expect to continue expanding our presence and customer support rapidly, not only across the British Isles. Once again, Hillhead demonstrated its international reach."
Important momentum for mobile concrete
SBM's concrete division is already looking to build on this momentum over the medium term, having presented its EUROMIX® and DYNAMIX® 2500 mobile concrete mixing plants in Buxton for the first time. Detailed scale models highlighted the mobility and flexibility of the two modular series, which have long held a premium position in mobile and semi-mobile concrete mixing technology. Both ranges offer the full application spectrum of modern batch mixing technology and uncompromising concrete quality. Thanks to SBM's stock production strategy, both plant series are available at short notice, enabling customers to meet tight project schedules with maximum flexibility and minimal lead times.
Against the backdrop of large and steadily growing installed bases across Central European markets, SBM also sees significant potential in the British Isles. Market requirements are similar: major infrastructure schemes and mid-sized transport projects require flexible on-site concrete technology that shortens transport distances while improving both the economic and environmental performance of construction materials. Stationary operators, such as ready-mix suppliers and precast plants, can also benefit from SBM's mobile concrete mixing plants, which can be installed quickly with a compact footprint. Temporary demand peaks or special concrete production campaigns can be handled without modifying existing infrastructure. High-quality mixer modules, cement silos and aggregate bins – all available with optional winterization insulation and designed to meet stringent noise and dust emission standards – also enable existing plants to be upgraded efficiently. Combined with modern, fully networkable control systems, a broad range of concrete recipes and flexibly adjustable production capacities, these solutions can help extend the economic life of existing sites and often restore their profitability within existing permits. The versatility of the EUROMIX® and DYNAMIX® series was also reflected in the expert discussions and targeted enquiries received by the SBM concrete team at Hillhead 2026.
Currently, prospective concrete customers in the UK and Ireland are supported directly by SBM's concrete specialists at its Austrian headquarters in Oberweis, close to the company’s production facility in Liezen. Customer benefit from proven expertise in customer-specific planning and implementation, as well as short lead times of the transport-optimized technology modules. These strengths also formed the basis of SBM's discussions with potential national and regional partners. Looking ahead, the company expects to expand its own presence in the UK and Ireland for the concrete segment in the medium term as well.