LiuGong Machinery showcased a 12-machine lineup, including 10 UK debuts, at Hillhead 2026, the UK exhibition for quarrying, construction and recycling equipment held on 23-25 June. The manufacturer used the three-day event to run live demonstrations in a quarry environment covering quarrying, demolition, infrastructure, earthmoving, compaction and battery-electric applications.
The lineup spanned electric equipment, compact excavators, heavy-duty quarry machines and demolition solutions. Among the debuts was the 925FCR, a 25-tonne compact radius short-tail excavator making its UK launch after joint development by LiuGong’s European and UK R&D teams for urban construction, road building, demolition and infrastructure projects. The machine was displayed in a leopard print finish and drew attention from visitors for its compact features.
LiuGong also introduced the 838TE, 848TE and 8110TE electric wheel loaders, part of a growing portfolio of battery-electric machines engineered for zero-emission heavy-duty applications in quarries, ports and aggregate yards. At the demonstration area, the manufacturer showed how the machines deliver full-shift performance with rapid DC charging in less than 70 minutes, supported by intelligent control systems.
“The conversations we’ve had over the three days at Hillhead confirmed that customers want to see practical solutions for different applications they face every day,” says Harry Mellor, sales director of LiuGong UK and Ireland. “What we have achieved was to demonstrate the high performance our machines deliver first-hand and explain the years of expertise behind the development of each one.”
The show also marked 60 years of LiuGong wheel loader production. The company built China’s first wheel loader in 1966 and has since delivered more than 600,000 wheel loaders worldwide. To mark the anniversary, it displayed a special edition 877T wheel loader carrying new 60 Years of Wheel Loaders branding.
The 877T, which made its European debut earlier this year at SaMoTer in Italy, forms part of LiuGong’s T-Series wheel loader range, which received the 2026 Red Dot Design Award. The machine introduces several upgrades over the previous 877H generation, including enhanced automation, a pressurised and climate-controlled cab, and a load-sensing hydraulic system paired with a powershift transmission.
“Sixty years of wheel loader expertise is more than a milestone for LiuGong. It represents generations of engineering experience that continue to shape the products we bring to customers today, from conventional machines to the next generation of electric solutions. The 877T is one of the key solutions developed through this expertise,” says Howard Dale, president of LiuGong Europe.
The 877T was sold to a customer before the end of the first day of the exhibition.
LiuGong ran its battery-electric portfolio in a live quarry environment, including the 838TE and 8110TE electric wheel loaders, the 924FE electric excavator, the DR50CE rigid mining truck and the 4280DE motor grader, each making its UK debut. The machines operated alongside interim charging solutions, including charging piles and mobile battery energy storage systems provided by Vital Power Group and Dutch Energy Solutions, allowing visitors to see how battery-electric equipment and supporting infrastructure work together as a complete site solution.
“We are working with our partners across the UK and Ireland, exploring different charging solutions, including mobile battery storage, that can keep battery-electric machines working effectively in our customers’ quarries,” says Dean Thornewell, managing director of LiuGong UK and Ireland. “We have demonstrated the value of these partnerships at Hillhead; visitors are now making enquiries about replicating our total electric solutions across their sites.”
LiuGong specialists from across Europe joined the UK and Ireland team throughout the event to discuss application requirements and product development with visitors.
“For LiuGong, Hillhead is about more than exhibiting machines. It’s about building relationships, listening to customers, and demonstrating the strength of the support behind our machines. The turnout and feedback we received this year reinforce the momentum we continue to build across the UK and Ireland,” says Thornewell.
Image: LiuGong
