JCB’s success sees a rich history blended with cutting edge innovation. Strong foundations with continued evolution.
These qualities are mirrored by one of the company’s longest standing customers. One whose fleet now spans the eras of JCB, the perfect mix of old and new.
Peter Andrews first entered the construction industry in the 1960s as a machine operator for Brooks Diggers. He was behind the controls of the very first JCB 6C tracked excavator when it was delivered by JCB Founder Joseph Cyril Bamford himself in 1967.
Peter established Andrews Plant Hire in 1969. Since then the company has gone on to become a well renowned plant hire and haulage firm operating throughout Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Devon. It boasts a fleet of more than 60 JCB machines including the latest purchase of three JCB 370X excavators, which join eight JCB 220X crawler excavators, 427 and 457 wheeled loaders, JS130, JS220 and JS360 tracked excavators, several mini and midi excavators and JCB site dumpers in the company’s impressive line-up.
What unites these two companies is a passion for the industry and an enduring relationship which now spans over 55 years.
Quality you can trust
The secret to keeping customers happy is limiting downtime and maximising efficiency – offering equipment that is reliable and efficient on site. With over 50 years’ experience in the industry Peter Andrews understands that investing in the highest quality, up to date machinery is the key to success.
He said: “We’ve operated JCB products since the very beginning and the latest wheeled loading shovels and excavators are outstanding performers in tough applications.
“JCB has 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 early relationships with F English Plant and Berkeley JCB through to our current dealer Holt JCB. Led by Andrew Shields, the service is second to none.”
Excellent X-Series
Chris Andrews | Andrews Plant Hire's Operations Manager
As we will touch on below, Andrews Plant Hire has a passion for the early equipment that shaped its business decades ago. But its team has always been swift to embrace the evolution of plant and the innovations in technology that can bring massive efficiency gains to the construction sector.
Its latest investment in three JCB 370X tracked excavators – the largest excavator in the advanced JCB X Series range – highlights the company’s dedication to being at the forefront of technology on behalf of its customers.
These new machines will join their stablemates, the JCB 220Xs already in the Andrews Plant Hire’s fleet that have been key workhorses for the company for many years.
As Andrews Plant Hire’s Operations Manager and Peter’s son, Chris Andrews said: “The hydraulics have proved incredibly smooth – there is good power when digging and the much-improved cab interior is up there with the best of them. It is clear that a lot of thought and customer feedback went into the design of these models.”
Vintage Icons
JCB fans at heart, when Andrews Plant Hire was planning a major milestone in the company’s history it chose to source and restore some vintage JCB machinery.
Firstly, a JCB 6D hydraulic tracked excavator and secondly the JCB Hydra-Digga Loadall backhoe loader. With the help of JCB’s Julian Carder, and a lot of hard work and financial investment, both machines have been restored to their former glory with the JCB HydraDigga touted as likely the best example of the iconic 1959 digger in the world.
Both machines are proudly on display at the company’s headquarters in Dorset – reiterating the company’s longstanding relationship with, and ongoing loyalty to, JCB.
JCB through and through
From its very first machine – a second-hand backhoe in 1969 - to the recent investment in the latest X Series excavators, Andrews Plant Hire is a company that has JCB at its very core.
Much like the Andrew’s JCB fleet that spans the ages, the partnership represents a proud history and an exciting future.