By Mark S. Kuhar
Hillhead 2018 is gearing up for a special appearance from the largest mechanical puppet ever constructed in Britain. The Man Engine, powered by Volvo, was voted the UK’s Best Arts Project and presented with a National Lottery Awards trophy by comedian and broadcaster David Baddiel.
The more than 30-ft.-high “miner” made an appearance on the National Lottery Awards show on BBC1 on Sept. 27, and the organizers of Hillhead are “delighted to announce that the spectacular mechanical puppet, which is powered by a Volvo L220 wheel loader, will also be in residence for the duration of the 2018 event” taking place at Hillhead Quarry, near Buxton, June 26-28, 2018.
The Man Engine (www.themanengine.co.uk) will be located in the newly redeveloped Registration Area, which has been expanded to meet strong demand for exhibition space at the show.
The area around the demonstration area at the top of the showground has been redesigned to accommodate additional booths showcasing working equipment, including EvoQuip, a new brand launched in the UK from Terex Mineral Processing. The EvoQuip brand brings a simplified range of equipment to the crushing and screening sector, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products to address the needs of the compact crushing and screening markets.
Other companies joining EvoQuip in the newly expanded area include, among others: Weir Minerals Europe Ltd., MDS International, Red Rhino, Rees Machinery Group, MEKA Crushing and Batching Technology, Renault Trucks, Gap Hire Solutions and Indeco.
Event Director Richard Bradbury explained, “Outdoor space is already 90 percent sold with the newly extended area nearly full. We are very excited by the changes we have made at the top end of the site to accommodate more exciting working demonstrations which are synonymous with Hillhead, and the Man Engine will provide a spectacular focal point to the area.”
Further event details are available on the show website at www.hillhead.com.