Dragon Equipment Rocks PlantWorx 2023

Last week the Dragon Equipment Team made their much-anticipated debut at the 2023 PlantWorx show in Peterborough. We showcased our growing range of machines, including the impressive CR400 Crusher, which was unveiled for the first time at the show. The combination of live demonstrations, beautiful weather, and enthusiastic feedback from attendees created an unforgettable experience for the Dragon Equipment team.

The team left no stone unturned in their efforts to impress attendees at the show, with the stand featuring an array of cutting-edge machines. The star of the show was undoubtedly the newly launched CR400 Crusher. With its advanced technology and unparalleled performance, the CR400 captured the attention of both industry professionals and construction enthusiasts.

The live demonstrations were a major highlight of the event. They not only showcased the capabilities of our product range but also provided valuable insights into their practical applications and advantages. The live demonstration of our popular CR300 Crusher left the audience in awe, showcasing its power and efficiency in real-life scenarios.

The splendid weather at the PlantWorx show added an extra layer of delight to the already vibrant atmosphere. With sunny skies and a gentle breeze, attendees were in high spirits, making the event all the more enjoyable.

Dragon Equipment takes immense pride in our British-made machines, and our dedication to quality craftsmanship did not go unnoticed. The machines were praised for the build quality, reliability, and innovative features.

As the PlantWorx show drew to a close, we couldn't help but reflect on our successful debut. The overwhelmingly positive feedback and interactions we received has left us eagerly awaiting the announcement of the venue for the 2025 PlantWorx event.  

Introducing the powerful new CR400 Crusher from Dragon Equipment

Reduce waste, reduce labour, reduce Co2 emissions and increase productivity.

We are excited to unveil our latest British designed and built machine, the CR400 Crusher. Building upon the success of the CR300 Crusher, the CR400 offers enhanced power, endurance, and crushing efficiency, specifically designed to tackle demanding demolition jobs and large scale construction projects.

The CR400 Crusher complements the existing product line, catering to different job requirements with precision. While the CR300 remains ideal for projects where access is tight or restricted, or the workload is a little less, the CR400 is specially engineered for demolition-focused jobs that demand increased crushing capacity.

At the heart of the CR400 Crusher is the powerful Vanguard EFI 23HP V-Twin petrol engine, with a 33L fuel tank. This high-performance engine is, meticulously designed to deliver exceptional power and reliability in demanding conditions, empowering operators to undertake larger-scale projects with ease.

Although a bigger and more powerful machine, the CR400 is still easy to transport, weighing in at under 1,200Kg and just 800mm wide. Plus, it retains the innovative CR300 'no stress' and 'anti-stall' features which act as a machine minder to ensure maximum output and minimal machine downtime.

Managing Director, Jeff Haines commented;

"We are thrilled to introduce the Dragon Equipment CR400 Crusher to the market. While customers love the CR300, we’re often asked if we do anything bigger. The CR400 excels in handling heavy workloads, but retains all the engineering finesse that the CR300 is known for. With its increased size, power, and endurance, the CR400 is a game-changer for demolition projects."

Learn more about the Dragon Equipment CR400 Crusher here.

IRE 2023 a resounding success – thank you!

What a week it has been! This week the Dragon Equipment Team have been showcasing our machines to the visitors of the prestigious International Rental Exhibition (IRE) held in Maastricht, the Netherlands. The event spanned several days, showcasing the latest innovations and advancements in the global rental industry.

Throughout the event, our stand attracted a steady stream of enthusiastic visitors. We were overwhelmed by the comments and positivity from visitors from across the industry. The team were delighted to interact with and share the CR300 Crusher and PB1000 Power Barrow on the stand with industry professionals, and showcase what these innovative machines are capable of.

It was also great to have the opportunity to connect with both existing clients and potential customers, building valuable relationships and further establishing our reputation as engineering innovators in the global rental industry.

Managing Director, Jeff Haines, commented:

“It was such a positive and encouraging event for the team and I, it would not have been possible without the support and dedication of both the event organisers and the Dragon Equipment Team back at base – a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped make the event such a resounding success. An extra special thank you to Harry, Regis and the KHL Team for your support on the ground in Maastricht – we couldn’t have done it without you!”

The show provided the perfect platform for us to showcase our cutting-edge machinery and commitment to innovation and sustainability. We eagerly look forward to the 2026 International Rental Exhibition!

Simple, but essential machine maintenance

We like to think our machines are super easy and simple to maintain. But there is one key piece of maintenance we recommend over and above everything else, and that is to ensure the grease nipples are greased regularly – ideally daily.

Grease nipples, also known as grease fittings or zerks, are used in the hydraulic systems of our machines for lubrication purposes. There are several reasons why this is our number maintenance tip;

Lubrication: The primary purpose of greasing a grease nipple is to provide lubrication to the components of a machine.

Friction reduction: Lubrication reduces friction between moving parts, minimises wear and tear, and ensures smooth operation.

Seal and protect: Grease acts as a sealant and protective barrier. It helps seal out contaminants like dirt, dust, moisture, and debris that could enter the machine's components.

Temperature control: Grease can help dissipate heat generated by friction within the machine. It provides a thermal barrier, reducing the risk of overheating and ensuring optimal performance.

Maintenance and inspection: By greasing the appropriate fittings, you can visually inspect the condition of the components, identify any signs of wear or damage, and take necessary maintenance measures.

Noise reduction: Proper lubrication through greasing can also help reduce noise produced by moving parts. By maintaining a lubricating film, grease minimises metal-to-metal contact, resulting in quieter operation.

It might be a simple task, but it is essential to proper machine maintenance – so keep your grease gun handy!

Tracks over wheels

All our machines are built using the same all-terrain track base, designed and manufactured in our Suffolk factory. As engineering innovators a lot of thought has gone into each and every design feature of all our machines, and these tracks are no different. We sometimes get asked “why tracks not wheels”, and the answer is for many many reasons!

Improved traction and stability: Machinery on tracks can distribute weight over a larger surface area, providing improved traction and stability on uneven terrain, steep slopes, or soft ground. This makes them ideal for use in challenging outdoor environments – such as construction sites or forests.

Reduced ground pressure: Tracked machines are designed with a larger surface area in contact with the ground compared to wheeled machines. This larger contact area helps to distribute the weight of the machine over a larger area, which reduces the amount of pressure exerted on the ground.

The wide, flexible tracks distribute the weight of the machine more evenly and provide better traction, even on slippery or uneven surfaces. This allows the machine to operate with less slippage and less risk of causing damage to sensitive or unstable surfaces, such as lawns or wetlands.

Better mobility: Machinery on tracks can navigate rough terrain, obstacles, and steep inclines more easily than machinery on wheels, making them ideal for use in challenging outdoor environments.

Higher load capacity: Machinery on tracks can often carry heavier loads than machinery on wheels, making them ideal for construction and forestry applications where heavy loads need to be transported.

Reduced maintenance costs: Machinery on tracks can often require less maintenance than machinery on wheels because they have fewer moving parts and are less likely to be damaged by rocks, debris, or other hazards.

Although the base has a few size variations across the range for weight distribution and stability reasons, the construction and design is consistent. Using the same track base across our range reduces the costs associated with research, development and tooling, and helps us to reduce the overall cost of production, making the machines more affordable for customers. As well as simplifying operator training and reducing the likelihood of errors, reducing downtime for maintenance and repairs, simplifying spare parts inventory and ensuring customers can easily identify our products which helps to build trust and loyalty in the Dragon Equipment brand.

If you’d like to find out more, please get in touch.

Let us help you lighten the load

The range of Dragon Equipment Lifters can safely transport loads of up to 1,000Kg, especially helpful when site access is restricted or narrow, but the machines also offer several benefits from a health and safety, and productivity view point.

·       Reducing the risk of back injuries: Shovelling heavy loads into a wheelbarrow and manually transporting them can lead to back injuries, strains, and other musculoskeletal disorders. By using a Lifter, users can avoid these physical demands and the associated risks.

·       Preventing slips, trips, and falls: When transporting heavy loads manually, there is a risk of tripping or losing balance, which can cause serious injuries. The use of a Lifter reduces this risk significantly.

·       Improving efficiency: The machine can transport loads faster and more efficiently than manual labour, reducing the time workers spend moving loads and allowing them to focus on other tasks.

·       Minimising damage to property: When manually transporting heavy loads, there is a risk of damaging property, such as scraping walls or knocking over items. The Lifters’ precision and control can minimise the risk of these incidents occurring.

·       Increasing productivity: With the use of a Lifter, workers can move larger loads more quickly, which can increase overall productivity and output.

The use of a Dragon Equipment Lifter can help to improve worker safety, efficiency, and productivity while minimising the risk of property damage and personal injuries.

Helping you manage your TCO

At Dragon Equipment, many of our customers come from the hire industry. Understanding what is important to these types of businesses makes up a key part of our product design and development.

If you’re in the hire industry, working out the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for your machines is vital to any business planning. Luckily, there are helpful tools on the market now to make this easier for businesses to work out. Tools such as the ERA TCO calculator: Total Cost of Ownership of Construction Equipment (erarental.org).

There are several features on our range of machines have which have been designed specifically to help hire shops manage and even reduce their TCO;

Vanguard 400 Petrol engine

All of our machines come, as standard, with the Vanguard 400 petrol engine from Briggs and Stratton. The engine’s maintenance intervals are double the industry standard offering a lower total cost of ownership. It also features Vanguard’s patented TransportGuard system which eliminates the number one hire equipment return challenge of oil and fuel dilution.

Effortless maintenance schedule

The daily maintenance across all of our machines is the application of 5 pumps of oil to 3 easily accessible grease nipples – and that’s it! Depending on the level of use, the jaw plates on our crushers receive the highest wear levels, but they are easily replaced and spares can easily be ordered from our UK-based warehouse in Suffolk. 

Tool free attachments

All of our crushers and lifters come with attachments. These all feature tool-free release for easy attachment/detachment of accessories depending on the specific job in hand. Not only does this reduce the time spent getting machines ready for hire, but attachments can be shared across machines, reducing the initial investment cost.

Fewer operational problems

All our machines have been designed with incredibly simple controls, so minimal training is required for hirers. Plus, there is an e-stop end for additional safety. Our crushers also feature ‘no stress’ and ‘anti-stall’ technology programmed into the machine’s electronic control unit (ECU), greatly reducing the need for a customer to call engineers out to fix ‘jammed’ machines.

 All of these features combine to ensure our machines are easy to maintain and service, easy to use and ultimately have a predictable and low TCO. Get in touch to find out more.

Come and see us at this year's PlantWorx Show

Taking place in June this year, PlantWorx is the UK’s live showcase event for construction professionals interested in construction equipment, plant, tools and services; highlighting new construction equipment, on-site services, alongside live machine and tool demonstrations.

The event takes place in Peterborough, not too far from the Dragon Equipment HQ in Suffolk. We’re delighted to have agreed a stand at the show, with space for us to bring a selection of machines for live demonstrations.

If you’d like to come and see us for yourself, we’ll be on stand C-BE3 & C-BE2 and you can register now for FREE tickets here.

Stress relief the Dragon way!

One of the common problems with crushers, we hear about over and over again, is how quick they are to jam, get blocked and then break. Here at Dragon Equipment we’re all about solutions, not problems, and our experienced design engineers make sure our machines address the common problems our customers are likely to face.

You can see this first hand in the innovative design of our CR300 Crusher. It may look sleek and simple – a conscious design decision to ensure it is easy to service and maintain – but behind the scenes some very clever programming eliminates the problems of jamming, blocking and breaking.

This ‘no stress’ and ‘anti-stall’ technology programmed into the machine’s electronic control unit (ECU) will detect when the load is too high and switch the jaw movement into reverse, reducing the load on the engine until the material is processed. If this is not enough to process the material, the ECU will switch off the feed completely to prevent the engine from stalling. With the engine still running, the operator can manually switch between forward and reverse to overcome the jam. 

The powerful jaws of the CR300 Crusher are in fact so robust that these features are rarely called upon, but ensuring the solutions to these problems are close at hand is key to product development at Dragon Equipment.

You can find out more about all our powerful problem-solving machines in the ‘products’ area of our website.  

See you in Maasctricht at the International Rental Exhibition

We’re off to Holland for the 2023 International Rental Exhibition, and we can’t wait to see you there!

Following multiple reschedules due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are excited to be confirmed at this year’s IRE show in Maastricht, Holland. The show will be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for equipment rental, showcasing the latest in compact construction equipment.

The Dragon Equipment Team will travelling over, alongside a CR300 Crusher and PB1000 Power Barrow, ready to show the crowds what these powerful, yet compact machines are capable of, showcasing British engineering at its very best.

We’ll be on stand 2513, so if you’re coming along to the show – make sure you stop by to say ‘hello’! You can register here.

Dragon joins up with MKM for their newest venture

As the UK’s leading independent builder’s merchant, MKM Building Supplies have branches the length and breadth of the country – opening its 100th branch in Bromsgrove last month.

 In September 2022 MKM set out on a new venture, launching a tool hire arm to the business, and we are excited to be coming on this new journey with them. Thanks to an introduction by our dealer for the Home Counties, Boss Plant Sales, five of these new specialist tool hire locations have Dragon Equipment machines available for hire. These locations include LF1000 Lifters at Perth, Norwich, Lincoln North and Manchester Central, and CR300 Crushers at Perth, Norwich, Bromsgrove and Manchester Central.

Kate Tinsley, MKM’s CEO, says:

“Our ethos at MKM has always been about giving our customers what they want and need, which is why we are constantly looking at ways we can develop and enhance the service we provide our customers.

Entering the hire market is a fantastic evolution for the business and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Dragon Equipment.”

 The Dragon Equipment Team were also invited to attend the official launch event at the Norwich branch, and we had a great afternoon meeting MKM customers old and new. We look forward to continuing our work with MKM as they roll this new business venture out to more branches across the UK.

 Dragon Equipment Managing Director, Jeff Haines, commented;

“We’re excited to be joining the MKM team on this new venture and to support them with the roll out of more Dragon Equipment machinery. As a British company, it’s great to support another British company as they expand their business.”

 You can find your closest available machine on our map, where all MKM Tool Hire Branches are listed.

Dragon Equipment appoint TC Harrison as dealer

We are delighted to announce a new Dragon Equipment dealer – TC Harrison. A family-owned business for over 90 years, with experience selling and servicing a vast range of equipment, TC Harrison will be the official dealer for Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Managing Director Jeff Haines commented;

“As our business continues to grow, it is important for us to work with partners who we trust to represent Dragon Equipment and we’re excited about the wealth of knowledge and the experience TC Harrisons brings with them.”

TC Harrison will be working across the entire Dragon Equipment product range, which includes the new PB1000 Power Barrow, as well as the more established machines, including the CR300 Crusher, LF1000 Lifter and DS110 Dust Suppression Unit.

If anyone lives in these areas and is interested in finding out more about any of these machines, please reach out to the TC Harrison team who will be happy to arrange a chat, demo or visit. You can reach them at www.tchjcb.com

Introducing the PB1000 Power Barrow

 We are excited to announce the launch of our powerful new tracked barrow - the PB1000 Power Barrow.

Built using the same tried and tested all-terrain track base as all of the Dragon Equipment range, the manoeuvrable PB1000 is capable of safely carrying, lifting and tipping loads of up to 1,000Kgs. 

The steel bucket is incredibly durable and robust which ensures it can stand up to the toughest of jobs on commercial or domestic building sites. Plus, with a weight of under 650kg and width options to suit all situations, it’s a machine that is easy to move from site to site, using a van, truck or trailer, making sites with restricted access much more accessible.

With the PB1000 bucket in its lowest position the front is just 870mm from the ground, making loading by hand easier. The custom-built conveyor of our CR300 Crusher can easily discharge into the bucket - removing the crush to the preferred place makes the pair the perfect match to increase productivity and reduce material handling time. With the bucket fully raised it will reach to 1,425mm, so can easily and safely tip full loads into a skip, dramatically reducing the labour involved in moving materials on site.

As with all of the Dragon Equipment range, the PB1000 is powered by the Vanguard 400 14HP petrol engine, which benefits from a fully integrated cyclonic air filtration system and maintenance intervals that are double the industry standard, as well as the patented Vanguard TransportGuard to prevent oil and fuel dilution during transit. A diesel option is also available upon request.

Jeff Haines, Director at Dragon Equipment explained:

“The PB1000 Power Barrow is the next step in helping us to revolutionise how we recycle, move and use materials on site. Working in harmony with our LF1000 Lifter and CR300 Crusher, together the machines can dramatically reduce the amount of time, money and energy used on both commercial and domestic sites”.

Find out more about the PB1000 Power Barrow here.

Case study: LF1000 saves hire customer hours of hard graft and manual labour

It’s a familiar story. You’re doing some construction work in your back garden and you order several bags of sand and MOT hardcore for the project. The delivery arrives, and is loving placed out the front of your house…now what!

Historically, this would be when the hard work starts. Unloading the bags into barrows and wheeling them round the side of the house to the back garden. Hours of hard graft and manual labour before you can even start the actual project!

But this is no longer the case, as a recent hire customer learnt to their delight…

On the project in question, several bulk bags of sand and MOT were delivered to the front of the house. Even at this stage space was tight – there was not enough room for the bags to be laid out, so they were stacked 2 high on the driveway.

Using the LF1000 Lifter, on hire from their local tool hire shop, the customer was able to reach and lift the bags, even stacked 2 high. Since the LF1000 is narrower than the actual bag, the customer could safely track each bag round the side of the house, through the narrow garden gate, and position each bag exactly where it was needed – stacking them 2 high again.

The total trip for each bag was around 180 metres. Without the lifter, the job would have been completed by hand, and as the customer commented;

“We would still be doing the job next month if we didn’t have that cracking little machine!” 

First customer trade in as we approach four years

As we approach the four year anniversary of Dragon Equipment, it’s reassuring to see how far our powerful little machines have come!

As one of our first customers, local Dragon Equipment advocates SD Home & Gardens, who carry out crushing jobs as EcoCrush, have been crushing their way around East Anglia with one of the very first CR300 Crushers. In fact, their micro crusher has been so busy they have just traded it in for the latest model!

The latest modal of the mini crusher includes a power take off point for powering a hydraulic breaker (or other tools), new crush size options of 3mm, 20mm or 40mm, and connection point for our custom-built conveyor attachment.

The EcoCrush team are already hard at work turning piles of rubble into reusable and saleable hardcore material – saving their customers time, money and CO2!

Their original CR300 will be going through our workshop for a thorough service, and will then be available to buy. If you would be interested in buying a second-hand crusher, please get in touch.

The EcoCrush Team - out with the old and in with the new - latest CR300 Crusher modal

Eros Hire Tools take delivery of CR300 Crusher

The Aylesbury branch of Eros Hire Tools has just taken delivery of a Dragon Equipment CR300 compact crusher with the detachable conveyor. The machine was supplied by Tring based Boss Plant Sales, the official Dragon Equipment Dealer for London, and the Home Counties.

 The CR300 was put to work the following day working behind a house on a compact site where a patio was being replaced. The crushed concrete slabs were used as hardcore under the new patio saving transport and disposal costs and the cost of new hardcore.

 Eros Hire Tools’ Director and Plant Manager Shane Sutton commented;

“We’re always on the lookout for new and innovative products to add to our fleet. The Dragon Equipment compact crusher fits the bill, meeting a real need for private and business users. It’s also complimentary to our existing fleet in that it can work with a micro excavator, and a small tracked or wheeled dumper for example. The machine is British, very well made, and with some very clever features to aid reliability and servicing.”

5 reasons why now is the right time for YOUR business to invest in a CR300 Micro Crusher

We all know the purse strings are being pulled a bit right now by the rising cost of fuel and materials. But what if we told you we could create a revenue stream for your business, from something you would usually pay to dispose of? Interested? Read on…

1.       6 tonnes an hour

Our CR300 Micro Crusher can take a pile of old rubble or concrete from any job and crush it into small and uniform pieces – up to 6 tonnes an hour.

2.       Choice of crush size

The resulting crush size can be set to one of three sizes, depending on its desired end use. Choose from 3mm, 20mm or 40mm.

3.       Unlimited access (virtually)

The CR300 Micro Crusher is only 700mm wide, and weighs under 785kg, meaning it can fit through a standard doorway and therefore most garden gates. It can also safely be transported in the back of a van, truck or on a trailer – no job is off limits.

4.       Conveyor attachment

Team the base machine with the custom conveyor attachment, and you can crush straight into a 1 tonne bag – no more double, or triple moving of material.

5.       Saleable product

A full 1 tonne bag of crush is perfect hard core for any construction project, and therefore a saleable commodity – one that is currently in short supply!

Plus, combine the CR300 Crusher with our LF1000 Lifter and you’ll be stacking the bags high in no time at all, and you won’t need to pay to dispose of the rubble once the job is complete.

Interested in finding out more? Get in touch to book a demo!

BEFORE

AFTER

CR300 Crusher in all it's glory!

Recently we were delighted to welcome the lovely and talented Cherry from Simply C Photography to our Suffolk factory. The sun was shining and sky was clear and blue - the perfect backdrop to capture our CR300 Crusher sparkling in the sun light.

Cherry spent a few hours getting up close and personal with the micro-crusher, and we couldn’t be happier with the resulting images. Capturing every detail - large and small - we now have a beautiful library of photographs to help us showcase this impressive, compact machine.

Thank you Cherry. We can’t wait to have you back to photograph more machines!

Pacamat appointed French distributer

The Dragon Equipment Team are excited to announce that construction and landscaping professionals based in France can now get their hands on Dragon Equipment machinery from a dedicated French distributer!

Based near Marseille, France, Pacamat have now taken delivery of their first CR300 Crusher and are ready to start demonstrating their new micro-crusher to the French construction and landscaping market.

As sole distributers for all Dragon Equipment products in France, Pacamat already have several machines on order, now with our Suffolk-based production team.

As well as the CR300 Crusher, Pacamat are will also be selling the DS110 Dust Suppression Unit and LF1000 Lifter.

If you would like to find out more about any of the products in the Dragon Equipment range and you are based in France, reach out to the Pacamat Team now!

Helping you on the road to net zero

The Global Cement and Concrete Association has set out targets to reach net zero emissions by 2050, and with cement and concrete manufacture being responsible for 7% of global CO2 emissions*, they have a very long road to travel.

As the most used man-made building material in the world right now, concrete is everywhere. It boasts amazing benefits of strength, durability, resilience, safety and affordability, and is fundamentally shaping our world.

This may sound like a problem. Its not. For members of the construction and landscaping industries, this presents an opportunity.

With the demolition or replacement of any concrete buildings, paths or structures comes tonnes of surplus concrete waste. Our CR300 micro crusher can crush up to 6 tonnes of this concrete waste an hour into a reusable material. The crushed concrete makes for the perfect hardcore – often bought in to fill holes, underpin foundations or add support.

So instead of buying in bags of ‘new’ hardcore, why not crush the pile of concrete waste and use this? Saving you the cost and CO2 of waste disposal, and of buying in new hardcore, but more importantly for the race to net zero, this is recycling an otherwise waste product and therefore reducing the amount of waste in the concrete industry.

If you’d like to see our crusher in action, just get in touch, we’d love to arrange a demo.

*Cement and concrete industry launches Net Zero Accelerators across the world – including focus on the ‘global south’ : GCCA (gccassociation.org)