ROCESTER-based digger giant JCB is celebrating after winning a huge new order.
A multi-million pound deal has been secured with one of the country’s leading plant hire firms and includes more than 80 machines built at both the Uttoxeter and Rocester factories.
The deal has been secured with London-based Lynch Plant Hire and includes a fleet of 20 JS220 and 20 JS130 tracked excavator models in addition to two wheeled excavators, a JS175W and a JS130W.
All those machines are manufactured at JCB’s Heavy Products factory in Uttoxeter but the sizable deal also includes 40 JCB Loadall Telescopic handlers and six backhoe loaders made at the firms World Headquarters at Rocester.
The excavator order has been placed in response to increased demand from Lynch Plant Hire’s customers for machines which can operate in the demanding road and rail sectors.
Several of the machines have already been delivered and are already performing on high profile projects across the UK, including the M25 motorway widening scheme.
Lynch Plant Hire Director Robert Lynch said the decision to deal with JCB was about the quality of the firm’s products.
He said: “One of the key criteria when selecting our plant is product quality ensuring that our customers have access to the best equipment available and that it is always up to the task.
“With this in mind, we have offered JCB Loadalls and backhoe loaders for over 15 years as they are universally accepted as the best machines on the market.
“When it cam to expanding our tracked and wheeled excavator fleet, we conducted trials of the leading models using our own operators to carry out the tests.
“We ultimately chose the JCB machines as the operator feedback was very, very positive, particularly regarding smoothness of controls and stability when digging.
“Equally important to us is back-up and both JCB and our dealer, Greenshields JCB have shown a great willingness to help us.
“We are confident they will provide us with excellent service whether it be working together to enhance the safety features on our fleet or with on-site support to minimise downtime for our customers.”
The deal comes as a further boost after JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford revealed earlier this month that the company expects to see a significant improvement in both sales and profits this year compared to 2009.
