Vac-Ex
Vac-Ex is a UK-based manufacturer of compact vacuum excavation equipment — including tracked and trailer-mounted excavators, air-powered excavation lances and excavator attachments — selling, renting and servicing to utility contractors, rail operators, water utilities, and municipal authorities across 15+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersDoncaster, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Vac-Ex does
Vac-Ex Ltd is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of compact vacuum (suction) excavation equipment, headquartered at a purpose-built facility in Thorne, Doncaster. The company was incorporated in 2008 to commercialise vacuum-excavation technology originally developed for the founder's hire business, and since 2022 it has operated as a pure manufacturing, sales, training, parts and service entity following the divestiture of the operated-hire business John Mee VAC-EX Hire. The product portfolio comprises tracked and trailer-mounted vacuum excavators (T-VAC 2, T-VAC 2 hydraulic arm, T-VAC 2 trailer, AIR-VAC 2, AIR-VAC 4), an excavator-mounted attachment (360-VAC), and air-powered excavation lances (AIR-EX and AIR-EX 2.0). Patents cover the T-VAC 2 remote-control platform (GB2572193) and the 360-VAC attachment (GB2308424.7 pending), with design protection on the AIR-EX 2.0 (DM/233174).
The company monetises through five streams: one-time equipment sales configured via an online build tool; nationwide UK equipment rental with full maintenance; NPORS and manufacturer-accredited operator and mechanical training; an e-commerce parts shop at parts.vac-ex.com; and tiered service and maintenance contracts (Full Package, Trailer Service, Health Check). Pricing is quote-based for capital equipment with finance arranged through JCB Finance, Lombard and Close Brothers Asset Finance. Customers include utility contractors, rail operators, water utilities (Scottish Water, Thames Water), gas/electric utilities (National Grid), civil engineering firms, nuclear facilities, municipal authorities and arboriculture specialists; 15+ country distribution is delivered through appointed channel partners.
Commercial engagement is built around direct UK sales with five dedicated phone lines (sales, rental, training, service, parts), active participation in major industry exhibitions (Bauma, Nordbau, Plantworx, No Dig Live, ScotPlant), a 'hire before you buy' trial programme, and a telematics owners' portal (manager.vac-ex.com). Multiple industry awards — including the Water Industry Awards 2019 with Morrison Utilities/Thames Water, the 2018 Utility Week Awards Highly Commended, the 2017 Scottish Water Strictly Innovation Awards, and the 2026 King's Award for Enterprise in Innovation — provide third-party validation in safety-critical infrastructure markets.
Vac-Ex firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vac-Ex
- Legal name
- Vac-Ex Ltd
- Website
- https://vac-ex.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vac-Ex is a UK-based manufacturer of compact vacuum excavation equipment — including tracked and trailer-mounted excavators, air-powered excavation lances and excavator attachments — selling, renting and servicing to utility contractors, rail operators, water utilities, and municipal authorities across 15+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vac-Ex industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vacuum Excavation Equipment
- NAICS
- Construction Machinery Manufacturing (333120), Construction, Transportation, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53241)
- SIC
- Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Vacuum Systems (Wet/Dry, Dust Extraction) (IMAHALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Cleaning & Environmental Equipment Rental/Leasing (Vacuum Trucks, Dust Control, Dehumidifiers) (TLABAFAK), Vacuum Pumps & Systems (IMAHANAD)
Keywords
Where Vac-Ex is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Doncaster
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vac-Ex business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Equipment Sales: Sale of vacuum excavation equipment including T-VAC 2 (track and trailer variants), AIR-VAC 2, AIR-VAC 4, 360-VAC attachment, and AIR-EX lance tools. Customers can configure and build custom units through online configurator.
- Equipment Rental: Nationwide non-operated supply of VAC-EX units including T-VAC and AIR-VAC for short- or long-term rental contracts. Includes full maintenance and inspection package. Available throughout UK.
- Training Services: NPORS and manufacturer-certified training on all tools and machinery. Training available at company premises in Thorne, Doncaster or customer locations. Certificates valid for three years.
- Parts and Service: Parts shop offering replacement parts for all VAC-EX equipment. Service and maintenance contracts available including full package, trailer service, and health check options.
- Used Equipment: Sale of approved pre-owned VAC-EX equipment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Equipment purchase - custom configuration pricing |
| Usage-based | Multi-year contract | Equipment rental - short and long-term options |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Training courses - operator and mechanical certification |
| Subscription | Annual | Service and maintenance contracts |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Vac-Ex product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vac-Ex designs, manufactures, and supplies compact vacuum excavation equipment for safe, non-destructive digging around buried utilities. The product portfolio includes tracked vacuum excavators (T-VAC 2), narrow-track units (AIR-VAC 2 and AIR-VAC 4), air-powered excavation lances (AIR-EX and AIR-EX 2), and an excavator attachment (360-VAC). The company also offers nationwide UK equipment rental, NPORS-certified training, parts, and maintenance services.
Product overview
VAC-EX Ltd is a UK-based manufacturer of vacuum/suction excavation equipment offering a portfolio of products for safe, non-destructive excavation around underground utilities. The core product line includes tracked and trailer-mounted vacuum excavators (T-VAC 2 series, AIR-VAC series) and air-powered excavation lances (AIR-EX series), along with excavator attachments (360-VAC). The company also provides a mobile management app (VAC-EX Manager) for fleet and machine oversight. All products support sales, rental, training, service, and parts services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- T-VAC: Tracked vacuum excavator product line including T-VAC 1 and T-VAC 2 models for safe, non-destructive excavation around underground utilities.
- AIR-VAC
- AIR-EX
- 360-VAC
- VAC-EX Manager
Products and services
- T-VAC 2 Tracked Vacuum Excavator Compact tracked vacuum excavator with remote-control operation combining high-pressure air excavation with powerful vacuum extraction on a fully remote-operated tracked platform. Designed for safe excavation in confined, sensitive, and hard-to-reach environments. Features Kubota Stage V low-emission engine.
- T-VAC 2 with Remote Control Hydraulic Arm T-VAC 2 equipped with a remote-controlled hydraulic arm providing 180-degree working radius and adjustable working height for handling the 150mm/6 inch vacuum hose. Patent granted GB2572193.
- T-VAC 2 Trailer Vacuum Excavator
Quantifiable outcome
- 65% reduction in excavation time in confined spaces
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Vac-Ex
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Vac-Ex technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Vac-Ex partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- VAC-EX Norway DistributormajorDistributor appointed for Norway handling sales and support of VAC-EX equipment in the Norwegian market.
- Youngman Richardson & Co. Ltd (VAC-EX New Zealand)majorDistributor appointed for New Zealand handling sales and support of VAC-EX equipment in the NZ market. Website: https://www.yrco.co.nz/brands/vac-ex/
- VAC-EX Japan DistributormajorDistributor appointed for Japan handling sales and support of VAC-EX equipment in the Japanese market.
- Morrison Plant & Fleet ServicescoreStrategic partnership recognized by Water Industry Awards 2019 'Alliancing and Partnership Initiative of the Year'. VAC-EX equipment integrated with Morrison's operated hire fleet for utility excavation services alongside Morrision Utilities and Thames Water.
- Thames WatercoreJoint winner of Water Industry Awards 2019 in recognition of partnership delivering dramatic improvements in efficiency, customer service and overall performance through innovative use of vacuum excavation technology.
- VAC-EX Denmark, Ireland, Romania & Australia DistributorsmajorMultiple distributors appointed in 2019 for Denmark, Ireland, Romania, and Australia markets.
- VAC-EX France DistributormajorExclusive distributor appointed for France handling sales and support of VAC-EX equipment in the French market.
- VAC-EX Netherlands DistributormajorDistributor appointed for Netherlands handling sales and support of VAC-EX equipment in the Dutch market.
- VAC-EX Singapore DistributormajorDistributor appointed for Singapore handling sales and support of VAC-EX equipment in the Singapore market.
- Kubota (Engine Supplier)corePartnership with Kubota for reliable, industry-leading, low-emission, water-cooled diesel engines meeting EPA Tier 4 and EU Stage V environmental regulations. Used across T-VAC 2 and AIR-VAC product lines.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Vac-Ex competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- McLaughlin Group: Manufacturer of vacuum excavation equipment (VERSA-LITE line) targeting utility contractors and municipalities. Comparable to Vac-Ex as a specialised vacuum-excavation OEM serving the same safe-digging use cases.
- GapVax: Manufacturer of industrial vacuum loaders and vacuum excavators serving municipal and utility customers. Direct product overlap with Vac-Ex's tracked and trailer-mounted excavation units in the same end markets.
- Vactor Manufacturing: Manufacturer of sewer cleaners, hydro-excavators, and industrial vacuum equipment serving utility and municipal markets in North America. Comparable to Vac-Ex's combined wet/dry industrial vacuum systems and excavator-based configurations.
- Rioned: Netherlands-based manufacturer of vacuum/suction and high-pressure jetting equipment for sewer and utility cleaning. Closely comparable to Vac-Ex in product category (industrial vacuum excavation and cleaning equipment) and complementary as the leading European specialist in this segment.
- Vermeer Corporation: US-based, family-owned industrial and environmental equipment manufacturer with a substantial vacuum excavation product line (VX series truck- and trailer-mounted units). Direct competitor to VAC-EX's T-VAC and AIR-VAC across utilities, pipeline, and municipal markets.
- Ditch Witch: The Toro Company subsidiary that produces a broad vacuum excavator range (FX series, HTV systems) and is one of the most recognised vacuum excavation brands in North America. Competes head-to-head with Vac-Ex in the safe-digging utility segment.
- TRUVAC: US-based vacuum excavation equipment brand focused on trailer- and truck-mounted air and hydro excavation units. Closely comparable to Vac-Ex's T-VAC / AIR-VAC product approach for utility safe-digging applications.
Broad incumbents
- Caterpillar: Global construction and mining equipment OEM that offers vacuum excavation units via its dealer and Cat Rental network. Broad incumbent that competes with Vac-Ex in larger infrastructure projects but does not specialise in the compact, remote-controlled niche Vac-Ex occupies.
- JCB: UK-headquartered broad construction equipment manufacturer with an extensive domestic dealer network. Overlaps with Vac-Ex in utility and construction applications but offers vacuum excavation as part of a much wider equipment portfolio rather than as a specialism.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Vac-Ex social profiles
Digital presenceVac-Ex compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Vac-Ex financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vac-Ex leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Vac-Ex subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Vac-Ex funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vac-Ex M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vac-Ex
What does Vac-Ex do?
Vac-Ex designs, manufactures, and supplies compact vacuum excavation equipment for safe, non-destructive digging around buried utilities. The product portfolio includes tracked vacuum excavators (T-VAC 2), narrow-track units (AIR-VAC 2 and AIR-VAC 4), air-powered excavation lances (AIR-EX and AIR-EX 2), and an excavator attachment (360-VAC). The company also offers nationwide UK equipment rental, NPORS-certified training, parts, and maintenance services.
Is Vac-Ex a public or private company?
Vac-Ex is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Vac-Ex founded?
Vac-Ex was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vac-Ex based?
Vac-Ex is headquartered in Doncaster, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Vac-Ex make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are equipment Rental, training Services, parts and Service and used Equipment.
Who are Vac-Ex's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are McLaughlin Group, GapVax, Vactor Manufacturing, Rioned, Vermeer Corporation, Ditch Witch and TRUVAC. Broad incumbents are Caterpillar and JCB.
Does Vac-Ex have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vac-Ex.
What industry is Vac-Ex in?
Vac-Ex's product category is Vacuum Excavation Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHALAC, Industrial Vacuum Systems (Wet/Dry, Dust Extraction), with a secondary code of TLABAFAK, Industrial Cleaning & Environmental Equipment Rental/Leasing (Vacuum Trucks, Dust Control, Dehumidifiers). Its NAICS code is 333120 and its SIC code is 3531.