JCB has won an order for over 800 machines from one of the UK's leading rental firms. The deal is worth more than GBP27 million (USD41 million).

The order from A-Plant for a huge fleet of micro-, mini- and midi-excavators and 240 Loadall telehandlers is a big boost for JCB's British factories, where all the machines will be made. The fleet will be delivered to the hirer's extensive UK depot network this month through JCB dealer Greenshields JCB.

This comes on the back of 550 machines ordered by A-Plant last year (Forkliftaction.com News #567). The hire company has now bought 7,500 machines in total from JCB.

JCB CEO Alan Blake says the order is the biggest volume deal for 2013 so far for JCB from a UK customer. "It is a huge vote of confidence not only in the quality, reliability and fuel efficiency of JCB's products, but also in the UK hire market."

Among the machines ordered are 1T class JCB 8016 and 8018 mini excavators, which have just gone into production following their international launch at the Bauma construction equipment expo in Munich last month.

Also in the new fleet are Loadall telescopic handlers powered by JCB's Ecomax engine. Developed to meet the EU Stage IIIB/US Tier 4 Interim emissions standards, the JCB Ecomax Tier 4i doesn't need costly diesel particulate filters or exhaust after-treatment fluids. JCB says its Loadalls use 7% less fuel than outgoing models.

Andrew Winlow, director of purchasing and fleet management for A-Plant, says the machine order fulfills the firm's promise to offer customers the "newest, most productive, innovative and fuel-efficient machines" on the market.

"With the Loadalls powered by the innovative Ecomax engine, A-Plant and its customers both benefit; customers will use less fuel and A-Plant won't be faced with the expense of maintaining diesel particulate filters or the addition of Ad Blu to the engine," he explains.

A-Plant's business relationship with JCB stretches back 25 years. From a single machine purchase in 1988, the business relationship has grown into a real partnership between the hirer, JCB and Greenshields JCB.

A-Plant is one of the UK's largest plant, tool and equipment hire companies, hiring a vast range of non-operated equipment for industry and construction. Its hire fleet comprises over 110,000 itemised pieces of plant, tools and equipment. The UK workforce totals more than 1,900 employees, based at locations nationwide, including its support office in Warrington, Cheshire. It is part of Ashtead Group plc, which also comprises Sunbelt Rentals based in the USA.