FAMILY FIRM FORGES INTO 50TH YEAR OF PARTNERSHIP WITH JCB

JCB's worldwide success has seen customers join the JCB Family from all continents, climates and industries. But when we look closer to home, there are companies that can trace links back to the very early days of JCB. Firms that have built their businesses, created jobs and supported development in Britain with JCB equipment at the fore.

One such company is Andrews Plant Hire. Founded in 1969, the Wareham, Dorset-based firm specialises in haulage, plant hire, contract, civil engineering and demolition.

2019 sees the enduring partnership enter its 50th year and these two British businesses have worked hand in hand ever since.

Chris Andrews|Operations Manager

Chris Andrews continued to say; "So far operator and customer feedback has been very positive. It's pretty clear to us that the four years of planning, research and development and the significant financial investment in the new product is paying dividends. I am confident that as the new size X Series models roll out, we ourselves will be investing in more of these going forward. We like to buy British historically and that's another reason we buy JCB."

A South West Super Power

Andrews Plant Hire is a well established plant hire & haulage firm operating throughout Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Devon. It offers an extensive range of plant on both self-drive or operated basis with all operators CPCS and Epic Course qualified.

It also undertakes large or small contracts, from bulk earth moving, land restoration and lake construction to tip lining and covering, muck away, mineral extraction, site clearance, low loader haulage and demolition. It works with many of the leading waste, aggregates and civil engineering organisations including: Morgan Sindall, Viridor, Sita, Imerys, Suttle Stone Quarries, New Milton Sand & Ballast and Holme Sand & Ballast.

FIVE DECADES OF LOYALTY 

1966 Peter Andrews drove the first ever JCB 6C excavator while working for Brooks Diggers – delivered by Mr JCB

1969 Peter founded Andrews Plant Hire

1970 The first JCB is purchased - a second hand (1962) JCB 3C MK1

1979 New 807B and 808 excavator models are purchased

1989 Andrews moves into compact equipment with the order for JCB 814 and 820 models

1996 The heavyline fleet is updated with JS200, JS240 and JS300 models

1999 Chris Andrews joined business

2015 The relationship is strengthened with multiple JS220 and 457 wheeled loader purchases

2019 Andrews Plant Hire buys its first JCB X Series crawler excavator models.

FIVE DECADES OF LOYALTY 

1966 Peter Andrews drove the first ever JCB 6C excavator while working for Brooks Diggers – delivered by Mr JCB

1969 Peter founded Andrews Plant Hire

1970 The first JCB is purchased - a second hand (1962) JCB 3C MK1

1979 New 807B and 808 excavator models are purchased

1989 Andrews moves into compact equipment with the order for JCB 814 and 820 models

1996 The heavyline fleet is updated with JS200, JS240 and JS300 models

1999 Chris Andrews joined business

2015 The relationship is strengthened with multiple JS220 and 457 wheeled loader purchases

2019 Andrews Plant Hire buys its first JCB X Series crawler excavator models.

FIVE DECADES OF LOYALTY 

1966 Peter Andrews drove the first ever JCB 6C excavator while working for Brooks Diggers – delivered by Mr JCB

1969 Peter founded Andrews Plant Hire

1970 The first JCB is purchased - a second hand (1962) JCB 3C MK1

1979 New 807B and 808 excavator models are purchased

1989 Andrews moves into compact equipment with the order for JCB 814 and 820 models

1996 The heavyline fleet is updated with JS200, JS240 and JS300 models

1999 Chris Andrews joined business

2015 The relationship is strengthened with multiple JS220 and 457 wheeled loader purchases

2019 Andrews Plant Hire buys its first JCB X Series crawler excavator models.

SIX OF THE BEST 

With the heavy-duty nature of much of its work, tracked excavators have been a key workhorse for Andrews for many years. When it came to the latest fleet renewal, they invested in six new JS220X models from JCB’s new X Series.

Operations Manager, Chris Andrews said:

“The new hydraulics have proved incredibly smooth – good power in the dig and the much improved cab interior which is up there with the best of them. It is clear that a lot of thought and customer feedback has gone in to the design of these models which can only be a good thing.

"So far operator and customer feedback has been very positive. It's pretty clear to us that the four years of planning, research and development and the significant financial investment in the new product is paying dividends. I am confident that as the new size X Series models roll out, we ourselves will be investing in more of these going forward. We like to buy British historically and that's another reason we buy JCB."

UNRIVALLED SUPPORT 

Peter Andrews cut his teeth as a machine driver in the 1960s and was the first person to operate a JCB 6C tracked excavator when it was launched in 1968. It was delivered personally to his then employers, Brooks Diggers in Poole, Dorset, by JCB Founder Joseph Cyril Bamford CBE.

A year later in 1969 Peter struck out on his own and founded Dorset-based firm Andrews Plant Hire with a second hand JCB backhoe – a purchase that set his family company firmly on the road to success.

Today Peter has been joined by sons Chris and Daniel within the company which now runs a fleet of nearly 60 JCB machines including the latest purchases, six new JCB 220X crawler excavators. They join JCB models including: 427 and 457 wheeled loaders, JS130, JS220 and JS360 tracked excavators, several mini and midi excavators and new JCB site dumpers.

Peter, who is still at the helm of the firm, said: “We’ve operated JCB products since the very beginning and the recent wheeled loading shovels and excavators are outstanding performers in touch applications.

“JCB have been very good to me and the quality, backup and versatility has been first class. Superb service has been the hallmark of the support from JCB dealers from our first relationships through to our current dealer Holt JCB. Led by Andrew Shields, the service is second to none.”