Plant hire firm expands to new premises with £1.7m investment

A plant hire firm has expanded to new premises in Stoke-on-Trent in a £1.7m investment.

The 5.6 acre site in Talke will provide Robert Coates (Plant Sales) with additional space and five additional rental units, creating four jobs for the family business.

The company was established in 1980 and supplies, hires and services a range of heavy plant and machinery such as dozers, excavators, cranes and commercial vehicles.

The business currently employs 10 staff and turns over £6m a year.

Robert Coates, managing director at Robert Coates, said: “Moving to the new site will allow the continued evolution of our business. I started selling commercial vehicles over 40 years ago and have developed a family business, which now exports all over the world. We are already a CASE dealership and will shortly be adding another two manufacturers to our product range, further expanding our offering to new and existing clients. ”

Steve Sargeant, Barclays Business Banking relationship director, said, “By really understanding the business and the industry sector, Barclays has been able to provide a funding package to support Robert Coates (Plant Sales) Ltd throughout this exciting expansion. A £1.7m investment in the new premises demonstrates both Barclays and Robert’s confidence in the continued growth and success of the business.”

Coates added: “This is very much a family business with my two sons and daughter working in the business. Specialising in the new and second hand sales market for heavy plant, we are growing the business in the right direction. We have consolidated two previous operations into our new site, providing additional warehousing, a showroom, offices and five additional units which will be available to rent in 2021.”