Part of Ardent's order is prepared for delivery

The UK's biggest telehandler hirer is further expanding its fleet with an order for GBP26 million (USD37 million) worth of JCB Loadall models.

Ardent Hire Solutions is adding 525 new JCB Loadall telescopic handlers to its fleet as the UK construction equipment hire market rebounds strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic. The order spans the compact 525-60 to the 540-200 models, which have reaches of between six and 20 m.

The machines - supplied by JCB dealer Watling JCB - have already started rolling off the production line at JCB's World HQ in Rocester, Staffordshire, along with 25 3CX backhoe loaders, which are also part of the massive deal. It follows a deal in 2019 with Ardent for GBP75 million (USD105 million) worth of JCB machines.

JCB group managing director for global major accounts Steve Fox says: "We are delighted that Ardent Hire Solutions has placed this substantial order with JCB given the very competitive nature of the UK equipment supply market. The size of the order shows enormous faith in the quality of JCB's machines and also underlines the need to invest in new machinery to support the growth in the UK construction industry, which continues to recover strongly after the COVID-19 pandemic."

London-headquartered Ardent Hire Solutions is one of the UK's biggest plant hire companies and covers the length and breadth of Great Britain through 11 hire depots, from Glasgow in the north to Fareham in the south.

Specialising in providing plant hire to major housing, civil and construction clients, Ardent is constantly investing in the most technologically advanced machines. It has more than 7,000 units for rent with an average age of less than three years.

The new JCB machines all come with JCB LiveLink telematics technology, providing real-time feeds to support Ardent's award-winning Site Manager digital platform, which helps construction companies improve safety, increase productivity and reduce costs.

Ardent chief financial officer Julian O'Neill says: "Our telehandler fleet is already the largest anywhere in the UK and this substantial investment strengthens our position in the telescopic handler hire sector."