JCB secures major order for mini diggers

STAFFORDSHIRE excavator manufacturer JCB has continued its strong start to 2011 with another multi-million pound order.

Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins has commissioned the Rocester firm to supply 505 of its compact excavators for its hire fleet.

JCB said the order was secured against stiff competition from other excavator suppliers.

Travis Perkins, which has more than 600 branches throughout the UK, is an existing JCB customer. It has placed an order for 371 JCB 8014 mini-excavators and 134 JCB micro-excavators. The machines will be supplied by JCB dealer Watling JCB.

Yvette Henshall-Bell, JCB’s UK and Ireland sales director, said: “We are delighted to win this repeat business from one of the UK’s most respected building and construction companies, particularly as it was secured in the face of fierce competition from other major suppliers in our industry.

“JCB has been manufacturing mini-excavators for almost 30 years and this order from such a major player in our industry is testament to the quality and reliability of JCB’s compact excavators.”

Richard Dey, Travis Perkins group hire director, said: “JCB mini-excavators are extremely popular with our hire customers and they have an excellent reputation in the marketplace and that, coupled with the excellent customer relationship and comprehensive service back-up provided by Watling JCB, coupled with JCB’s comprehensive dealer network, gave us no hesitation in placing this order.”

All of the mini-excavators are made at JCB’s Compact Products in Cheadle.

Earlier this month JCB announced it had won a £14m order from Manchester-based plant hire group, which is expanding its fleet.

The order is for a range of JCB products including Loadall telescopic handlers, JCB mini-excavators, tracked and wheeled excavators and the new 3CX Eco backhoe loaders. It is one of the biggest single deals ever landed by JCB.

This followed the announcement before Christmas that the firm had secured another major order, this time from the Swedish Army.