The CEA (Construction Equipment Association) has announced that PlantWorx, the UK’s largest working construction equipment show, has been acquired by Nineteen Group.
PlantWorx has always been a hands-on event built around real machines, real demonstrations and a loyal community of manufacturers, contractors and plant hirers. Since the first show in 2013, it has been shaped by the CEA, its members and an incredible team who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to deliver an event the industry is genuinely proud of.
The final CEA-run edition took place in Newark in September 2025. The next PlantWorx will be held at Birmingham’s NEC on 22–24 June 2027, led by Event Director Nick Davison.
Nineteen Group’s track record, resources and reach give PlantWorx the platform it needs to grow, while keeping its live demonstration spirit at the centre. For the CEA, this move is about giving the show the best chance to develop in the long term, attract new audiences and continue serving the companies that rely on it.
Peter Jones, CEO of Nineteen Group, said: “PlantWorx is a much-loved ‘real kit, real conditions’ show with a strong community and a clear purpose. We are delighted to welcome it to Nineteen. Our role is to invest, support and scale what already works whilst retaining the event’s DNA.”
Viki Bell, Chief Executive of the CEA, said: “PlantWorx has been part of the CEA’s story for more than a decade, and it has only ever been possible because of the brilliant team behind it and the industry that turns up, rain or shine, to support the show.
“Passing PlantWorx into Nineteen Group’s hands is a positive step. They have the scale, market reach and event experience to help the show grow while keeping the live demonstrations and practical focus that make PlantWorx what it is.
“The CEA will continue to have a direct role through the Stakeholder Advisory Council, ensuring our members’ needs stay central to the planning. And I’m pleased to confirm that the long-standing CEA member discount remains in place.
“PlantWorx is in good hands, and this move sets it up for the future.”
Over the years, PlantWorx has been shaped not only by the CEA but by the commitment of the construction equipment sector as a whole. OEMs, plant hirers, tier one contractors, suppliers and operators have all helped build a working show that reflects the way this industry actually operates. Their support has carried PlantWorx from its launch in 2013 through to the final CEA-led show in 2025. As the event moves to Nineteen Group, the CEA will continue to work alongside the companies and organisations that have backed PlantWorx from the start, ensuring the show remains rooted in the needs of the sector as it prepares for its return to the NEC in 2027.
