Introducing a World-First Test Facility
Hillhead 2026 will mark a major milestone for Plant Parts as we officially introduce The Rig — our world-first hydraulic motor testing facility — to the industry.
Visitors to Stand PD1 will have the opportunity to learn more about the most significant investment in our company’s 30+ year history: a purpose-built facility developed specifically for Swing Drive and Final Drive hydraulic motors.
After years of planning, collaboration and engineering development, The Rig represents an investment of around £1 million and reinforces our commitment to raising standards across hydraulic motor repair, testing and reliability.
What Makes The Rig Different?
Unlike conventional hydraulic test rigs adapted from pump systems, The Rig has been designed entirely around motors. At its core is a state-of-the-art electronic dynamometer, combined with a fully electronic fixed structure and regenerative capability, allowing us to carry out highly accurate testing under genuine operating loads.
The facility is capable of testing motors from 18cc to 340cc, with load testing up to 132kW. More importantly, it enables us to simulate real-world working conditions and validate performance directly against OEM specifications — something rarely available within the UK market.
For customers operating in demanding sectors such as quarrying, mining, demolition and waste management, reliability is critical. Downtime is costly, and confidence in repaired components matters more than ever. The Rig has been developed to address exactly that challenge.
Raising Standards in Repair and Testing
Rather than relying solely on functional or batch testing, every repaired motor can now be tested under load before leaving our workshop. This gives customers complete confidence that repaired units are performing as expected before they are returned to service.
The facility also delivers fully automated single-operator testing alongside advanced data acquisition and detailed performance reporting, providing greater transparency and traceability throughout the repair process.
Developing The Rig has not been without challenges. From overcoming supply chain pressures to achieving the level of precision required for regenerative capability, the project has pushed both engineering and operational boundaries. The result positions Plant Parts among a very small number of European suppliers capable of offering this level of specialist hydraulic motor testing.
Visit Us at Hillhead 2026
Hillhead provides the ideal platform to showcase what The Rig means not only for our business, but for the wider industry. Visitors to the stand will be able to speak directly with our team about the thinking behind the project, the technical capabilities involved and the practical benefits it offers to equipment owners and operators.
Alongside The Rig, we’ll also be discussing our wider repair and replacement solutions, as well as the partnerships that continue to strengthen our offering across the sector.
And, as always, there will be a lighter side to the stand too, including our popular competition to win a LEGO kit by guessing the weight of our bespoke drive coffee table.
Contact Plant Parts
📍 Visit us at Stand PD1 at Hillhead 2026
📞 Contact the team to arrange a visit or discuss your requirements 01473 820 910
🌐 Visit our website and social channels for updates, videos and behind-the-scenes content from The Rig www.plantparts.com
We look forward to welcoming visitors to Stand PD1 and sharing the next chapter of The Rig story.