Discover how Conquip Engineering Group turns on-site problems into industry-leading solutions
Founded to deliver exceptional service to the infrastructure, utilities and built environment sectors, Conquip Engineering Group (Conquip) specialises in innovating, designing, and manufacturing best-in-class, compliant equipment and solutions. These offerings are supported by a comprehensive range of services, including in-house design and manufacturing, in-house pre-construction engineering, equipment sales and rental and after-care services. Over the past 20 years, Conquip has experienced rapid growth, establishing itself as a large global brand recognised for innovative engineering, excellent service, and high-quality in-house manufacturing. Daniel Critchley, Managing Director, talks us through the company’s origins and development.
“Since our inception in 2003, we have always been very customer-focused, which has been key to our success. We began with crane attachments and later
expanded into forklift attachments. As our business evolved, we became heavily involved in basement and excavation support, while keeping our customers at the heart of our operations. Some of our customers include contractors working on groundworks, temporary works, infrastructure (including demolition, rail, utilities, tunnels and transport), high-rise structures and housebuilding projects. Our engineering department consistently brings innovative solutions to the market by actively listening to customer feedback and remaining dedicated to improving productivity, efficiency, safety and compliance. One of our standout solutions is the Crane Forks Cage, which we developed with a Tier 1 contractor in response to an industry incident. Traditionally, a pallet of bricks was lifted with Crane Forks and restrained with a net. However, nets can tear or snag on obstacles. By using a cage, we ensure that even if the load tips unexpectedly, it remains secure,” he says.
To meet the needs of its customers, Conquip prioritises delivering the highest quality services efficiently. “We design and manufacture equipment by identifying market challenges and innovating around them. Serving end-users, we help design temporary works schemes at the pre-construction and construction phases, sell equipment, rent it, refurbish it, and even run our own transport service from seven regional locations to enhance the customer experience. Rather than being a mere equipment company, we view our equipment as a service. Indeed, we do not just drop it off on site and leave; we actively support contractors throughout their projects with technical assistance, installation, dismantling, removal, and more. This commitment to be there for our customers and help them succeed in their projects is what sets us apart in the industry.
“Our partnership with various providers enables us to better serve our customers. For example, Wow Group has worked with us to enhance our IT and systems, which we see as essential for delivering the best service we possibly can. We want to maintain the highest standards and Wow Group aids in the delivery of our aspirations. This aligns with our philosophy of placing the customer at the centre of everything we do. The partners we choose in IT and other areas of business support help us to continue to look at things from a fresh perspective, to facilitate improvements. While we do not claim to be the absolute best, we aspire to be best-in-class and aim to raise industry standards. What truly excites us is enhancing the customer experience,” Daniel emphasises.
Customer-centric solutions
Moving on, Daniel sheds light on Conquip’s approach to innovation, which contributes to elevating the company beyond any competition it may have. “When it comes to innovation, we prioritise insights from our customers, particularly from those on the ground who face challenges on site. We often find that the people working closest to the product, and thus the immediate challenge, have the best ideas. So, we strive to understand what issues they are currently facing and identify ways to improve our offerings to address those problems. Our approach is always about keeping the customer at the centre of our focus. For example, with our range of bulk excavation systems (BulkX), we continually seek to innovate and design more efficient solutions tailored to different use cases. We have encountered a wide range of applications for these systems, from basement digs to mines and tunnels. Ultimately, our primary objective is to remove material from a hole efficiently, reduce dig time and increase productivity by evaluating how our bulk excavation systems can be utilised across different job sites and scenarios. Another example is with concrete washout systems, where compliance with regulations and safety standards is paramount. Depending on what the use case is, our approach remains customer-centric, but the expertise required can vary. For instance, neutralising concrete washout water requires a different set of skills and expertise compared to bulk excavation systems. Fortunately, our design engineers are highly capable and can design solutions that are both compliant and improve productivity for our customers,” he elaborates.
Lisa Artemis, Marketing Director, shares further insights on the topic: “Over the years, customers have come to us with specific problems or needs for solutions that did not yet exist, asking us to work with them on these challenges. We have built a reputation based on this approach, and some of our innovations have evolved into standard catalogue items with a much wider appeal. Efficiency, or uptime, is critical. Even solutions that are primarily designed for sustainability or safety benefits can significantly enhance uptime and productivity. One example is our Crane Forks Cage, which represents best practices for lifting palletised materials. However, there are many others, particularly in crane-lifted attachments, where safety and compliance are paramount, and often alongside adherence to sustainability requirements, as it is all linked.”
Expanding further, Lisa discusses one of Conquip’s latest offerings, which combines efficiency and safety. “Last year, we launched a new range of safety attachments aimed at modernising what was quite an old-fashioned way of pouring concrete from a skip with a crane. This innovation stemmed from a customer R&D project, developed in collaboration with a few Tier 1 contractors over an 18-month period. The outcome is a solution that empowers all contractors to improve the safety of their concrete pouring. We take great pride in this work stream, which fosters a symbiotic relationship between us and larger contractors. Our teams spend significant time on site where they hear all sorts of ideas that they share with us to verify and evaluate for broader applicability,” she ends.
Supporting the infrastructure sector
Supporting the infrastructure sectorIn its most recent development, Conquip acquired highly respected ground support systems provider, Pro Mech Limited, in September 2025. Daniel continues: “This acquisition allows Conquip to continue our growth journey by enhancing our technical excavation support offering to the UK market. Customers can now buy and hire an expanded range of excavation support equipment from us for their projects, including hydraulic braces, frames, trenching sheets and sheet piles as well as ancillaries from a total of seven regional locations. This offering allows us to support utilities and infrastructure sectors further.
“Our businesses and teams hold strong, shared customer-centric values and I know both companies will operate with the same dedicated and talented team, ensuring the same high level of customer experience and best-in-class products and services.”
Driven by customer insights and collaboration, Conquip’s focus on innovation ensures the business continues to grow and consistently redefines industry standards by ensuring a wide range of contractors can use compliant, efficient, safe methods and solutions on their sites.