Dragon Equipment Joins Vanguard at GroundsFest and The APF 2026

September has been a busy month for the arboriculture, forestry and groundcare industries, with two major events bringing the industry together.

GroundsFest took place at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire on 16–17 September, followed just a week later by the APF Exhibition at Ragley Estate, also in Warwickshire, from 24–26 September. And we were delighted to be part of both.

Our engine supplier and long-standing partner, Vanguard (Briggs & Stratton), had stands at both shows and very kindly invited the Dragon Equipment team along for the ride. While Vanguard’s engines are impressive in their own right, there’s nothing quite like seeing one working at the heart of a Dragon Equipment machine to demonstrate what it can really do.

Putting the LF1500 to the test

For both shows, we took along our LF1500 Lifter, powered by the Vanguard 400 EFI/ETC 14HP petrol engine and fitted with our articulated log grab attachment.

Capable of lifting up to 1.5 tonnes, the LF1500 Lifter is designed to provide the power and versatility needed for demanding lifting and material-handling jobs – and we wanted visitors to see that for themselves.

At GroundsFest, the LF1500 Lifter was demonstrating its versatility in a groundcare setting, using the articulated grab to lift and move a hay bale. It was a simple but effective way to show visitors how the machine can be used for a wide range of material-handling tasks.

A week later at the APF, the focus shifted towards forestry and arboriculture, with the LF1500 Lifter taking on a much more substantial challenge – lifting a huge log with the articulated grab.

The demonstrations certainly caught people’s attention.

Throughout both shows, visitors were keen to stop, take a closer look at the LF1500 Lifter and talk to the Dragon Equipment and Vanguard teams about what it can do. It was a great opportunity to demonstrate the machine in action and chat to people who understand the challenges of working in forestry, arboriculture and groundcare.

A partnership from the beginning

Vanguard has been a supporter of Dragon Equipment since the very beginning, and their team have played an important role in helping us develop and refine our machines.

The Vanguard 400 EFI/ETC 14HP petrol engine is used across our full Lifter range, as well as the CR300 Crusher and Power Barrow range, so this is a partnership that reaches right across our product range.

We’re proud to work with a supplier who shares our focus on building practical, hardworking machinery for the real world – and it was fantastic to showcase that partnership at two of the industry's biggest events.

Thank you, Vanguard!

A huge thank you to the whole Vanguard team for inviting us along and for looking after us so well at both GroundsFest and the APF. We really appreciate the opportunity to showcase the LF1500 Lifter alongside your engines and, as always, enjoyed working with the team.

Both shows were fantastic, with strong attendance, plenty of great conversations and lots of enthusiasm for the industry. It was encouraging to see so many people from across arboriculture, forestry and groundcare coming together – and it certainly feels like an industry with plenty of momentum behind it.

We were delighted to be part of it and look forward to seeing everyone at the next shows!