Page 7 - HUB-4 Magazine Issue 99

News
Astec ambition shines bright in
the Hillhead 2026 sunshine
With eight new products and patented technology innovations spread across two large stands and in the
‘Crusher Alley’ Rock Processing Demo Area, Astec made a big statement at Hillhead 2026 with its
ambitious growth plans in Europe and the rest of the world, built on its rich 150-year engineering history.
At Astec’s Day 1 exhibition press conference, attendees heard
that the company’s new product line is focused on innovation
and application. This includes new washing plants, material
handling equipment, screening technology, and mobile
crushing and screening units. The eight products on show at
Hillhead 2026 (23-25 June) are among more than 20 that will
enter the quarrying, roadbuilding, construction, and recycling
markets over the next two years.
The Astec senior management team panel of Jaco Van Der
Merwe, CEO; Michael Norris, Group President Materials
Solutions; Damian Power, Managing Director, Astec Europe;
Stephen Whyte, Vice President, Product Management; and
Malachy Gribben, Vice President, Channel Management
stressed how the company's investment in its Omagh, County
Tyrone, Northern Ireland, facility has established a strong
European footprint, enabling local manufacturing of the new
Frontier range of tracked crushing and screening units
unveiled at Hillhead 2026.
“We are global but local in Europe,” said Damian Power. “We
have 230 people in our Omagh facility, across manufacturing,
engineering and product support. We now have a critical mass
for product support and parts and service in the European
region. This facility was built with expansion in mind, offering
a runway for growth over the next five years.”
Astec differentiates itself through unique product features,
including its patented Multi-Frequency Screen, which
addresses blinding issues, and its new patented Vari LPV
screen, which represents next-generation technology.
Stephen Whyte said, “If you look around some of the products
here, there are not many companies in our industry that have
the level of NPD [New Product Development], either
completed in recent years or ongoing, that we do.”
Further emphasising how Astec stands out in a highly
competitive crushing and screening solution marketplace, Jaco
Van Der Merwe said, “Customers buy the whole team, not
just the equipment. That includes the dealer network, some of
whom we have here, who are among the best people in the
industry. We are a parts and service business that sells
equipment, and if we provide that to our customers, the
features and benefits you see on every other machine [at
Hillhead 2026] become a whole lot less important.”>
www.hub-4.com July/August - Issue 99
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