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Drumclog Plant Ltd

Insights

LGP vs standard excavators, what's the difference?

At a glance

Low ground pressure and standard excavators look similar, but the way they spread their weight changes what ground they can safely work.

Drumclog Plant · 1 June 2026

Why ground pressure matters

A standard excavator concentrates its weight onto narrow tracks. On firm ground that's fine, but on peat, marsh or reclaimed land it sinks, churns up the surface, and can get stuck fast.

A low ground pressure, or LGP, excavator spreads the same weight across much wider tracks. That lower ground pressure lets it work soft, boggy and environmentally sensitive sites that would stop a standard machine within a few metres.

When you need one

If your site includes peatland, riverbanks, reclaimed ground or anywhere the ground can't be firmed up in advance, an LGP machine is the safer, faster choice. It also causes less disturbance, which matters on environmentally sensitive contracts.

Our fleet

We run the UK's largest LGP excavator fleet, from 3 tonne mini machines up to 20 tonne plus, operated or self-drive, mobilised across Scotland.

Need this on your project?

Low Ground Pressure Excavator Hire: We have the largest fleet of Low Ground Pressure Excavators in the UK, for projects on soft ground or where environmental impact must be kept to a minimum.