A MAJOR Staffordshire plant hirer has struck a deal worth around £450,000 with Rocester-based digger giant JCB,
Hood Plant Hire – one of the Midlands’ longest established plant hirers – has invested in a fleet of new top specification JCB backhoe loaders as part of its pledge to provide the best customer service in the business.
Hood Plant Hire was founded in Staffordshire in 1971 by Martin Hood with one backhoe loader.
From a one man operation it has grown into a business employing 20 people, operating a fleet of 35 machines.
The latest investment in new plant – worth around £450,000 – is a fleet of fuel efficient JCB 3CX Contractor backhoe loaders manufactured at JCB’s World Headquarters in Rocester.
The new backhoes come with Smooth Ride System (SRS) and TorqueLock.
TorqueLock reduces fuel consumption by up to 25 per cent while increasing speed by up to 10 per cent and the Smooth Ride System maximises load retention around site for increased productivity and operator comfort.
The backhoes also come with Advanced Easy Control servo controls.
Mr Hood’s son Fraser is now the company’s managing director with responsibility for day-to-day running of the business which is based at Cold Meece, near Stone.
He told the Advertiser that the JCB machines fitted in well with Hood Plant Hire’s ethos of ‘excellent customer service’.
He said: “The secret to being in business for the past 42 years is simple – excellent customer service.
“It’s all about offering the best quality equipment at the right price and at the right time as well as having the best operators.
“The investment in the very latest JCB backhoes is all part of delivering on that customer service promise because we’ll be hiring out top specification machines which are best-in-class.”
The machines have been supplied by JCB dealer Gunn JCB based in Stoke-on-Trent.
Gunn JCB deputy managing director Paul Hartshorn said it was ‘delighted’ that Hood Plant Hire went with the backhoes.
He said: “JCB is the world’s number one backhoe manufacturer and we are delighted Hood Plant Hire has selected JCB backhoes to meet their new fleet requirements.”
Hood Plant Hire offers machines ranging from 750kg micro excavators up to 30 tonne tracked excavators on a non-operated or operated basis, as well as wheeled excavators dozers and dumptrucks.
The company specialises in utility contracts, highways, civil engineering and general building projects.
JCB has proved a popular choice with plant hire firms.
Last year the digger firm struck a deal with one of the world’s leading plant hire companies Ashtead Group worth £36 million.
