(L-R) Buta Atwal, general manager of JCB Compact Products; Richard Telfer, managing director of Watling JCB; Richard Dey, Travis Perkins Group hire director and Andy Raine, Watling JCB sales director.

Travis Perkins, a leading UK supplier to the building industry, has invested over GBP3 million (USD4.7 million) in a fleet of new JCB machines.

Most of the new machines purchased are JCB 8008 micro and JCB 8014CTS mini excavators. The order also includes Teletruks, JCB's telescopic forklift, used for lifting and loading in the company's depot yards.

The latest investment sees the Travis Perkins Group pass a significant milestone in its business relationship with JCB which has spanned over 15 years - the purchase of its 1,500th JCB machine.

Richard Dey, Travis Perkins group hire director, says the company will "continue to exceed [its] customers' expectations and maintain industry-leading utilisation rates for [its] fleet" with the new machines. "The excellent service support from Watling JCB is also integral to our decision to place this new order."

Leicester-based JCB dealer Watling JCB, which has 600 branches in the UK, supplied the order.

JCB UK and Ireland sales director Dan Thompstone says the company is proud to have sold its 1,500th JCB machine to Travis Perkins. "It's a huge vote of confidence in the quality of JCB products that such an established and well respected company as Travis Perkins continues to invest in JCB micro and mini excavators in such huge numbers."