JCB LANDS BIG DEAL AS A PLANT ORDERS 1200 MACHINES

JCB today announced news of one of its biggest deals of the year with an order for 1,200 machines worth £35 million from the UK’s largest plant hire firm.

The contract from A-Plant – which follows its purchase last year of 1,500 JCB machines worth £50 million – includes a fleet of 13-tonne JS130 tracked excavators made at JCB Heavy Products in Uttoxeter, Staffs.

The deal is also good news for JCB’s other Staffordshire factories in Rocester and Cheadle which will manufacture mini excavators, Loadall telescopic handlers and rough terrain fork lift trucks which have been ordered. A-Plant is also buying a fleet of JCB site dumpers. All the machines are being supplied by JCB dealer Greenshields JCB. 

For the first time A-Plant is also investing in a range of UK-produced generators for the rental market from JCB Power Products. The range – produced by the former Broadcrown business acquired by JCB last year – is fitted with the revolutionary ‘JCB LiveLink for Power feature’.  Almost 40 sets have been purchased, providing enough power to keep two hospitals or 1,000 homes running. 

The latest order marks a major milestone for A-Plant as it now means the company has bought more than 11,000 machines from JCB since the first one was purchased more than 25 years ago. 

JCB UK & Ireland Sales Director Dan Thompstone said: “JCB has a long-standing relationship with A-Plant and we are delighted to cement that with this huge order. Winning business like this is testament to JCB’s continued introduction of innovative products supported by unrivalled parts and service back-up from the JCB UK dealer network.”

A-Plant Marketing Director Asif Latief said: “This order is part of our investment programme to ensure our customers continue to get the most advanced, reliable, safe and environmentally friendly equipment.  This year’s investment also includes JCB generators developed by the former Broadcrown business, which is a first for A-Plant and recognises our commitment to offering quality new products to our customers. 

“Our investment programme is unrivalled in the industry and coupled with the high levels of customer support we provide, ensures we are firmly positioned to be the obvious choice for rental equipment whether our customers are local builders, events suppliers or national contractors.”

A-Plant, which is part of FTSE-100 company Ashtead Group plc, is the UK’s largest equipment rental company with over 150 service centres in Britain, more than 3,000 employees nationwide and over 30,000 customers in the construction, industrial, commercial, utility, public sector, homeowner and events markets.  

The JCB Loadalls are fitted with the JCB 55kw Ecomax engine that complies with the latest emissions legislation without the need for additional after-treatment such as a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) or Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) otherwise known as AdBlu.  Offering significant fuel savings and simplicity of operation in end user maintenance and servicing. 

JCB is the market leader in the UK and Ireland construction equipment markets and has eight dealers with 48 depots providing unrivalled back-up support to customers.