JCB announced it has won an order for more than 800 machines from A-Plant, one of the U.K.’s largest rental companies. The deal is believed to be worth more than £27 million (more than U.S. $41 million). A-Plant has placed the order for a fleet of micro, mini and midi excavators and 240 Loadall telescopic handlers.
All of the machines will be constructed in JCB’s U.K. factories in Staffordshire. Delivery of the fleet to A-Plant’s branch network will begin this month through JCB dealer, Greenshields JCB.
A-Plant bought 550 machines from JCB last year and has now bought 7,500 units from JCB during the past 25 years.
“This is the biggest volume deal of the year for JCB from a U.K. customer and we are absolutely delighted that A-Plant has ordered such a significant number of machines,” said JCB CEO Alan Blake. “It is a huge vote of confidence not only in the quality, reliability and fuel efficiency of JCB’s products, but also in the U.K. hire market.”
Among the machines ordered are one-tonne class JCB 8016 and 8018 mini-excavators, which have just gone into production following their international launch at the Bauma construction equipment trade fair in Munich. The units feature more than 30 improvements including an 11-percent increase in dig depth.
“A-Plant has been doing business now with JCB for 25 years and from a single machine purchase in 1988, the business relationship has grown into a real partnership between us, JCB and Greenshields JCB,” said Andrew Winslow, director of purchasing and fleet management for A-Plant.
A-Plant, a division of Ashtead plc, is headquartered in Warrington, U.K.
