Staffordshire digger giant JCB has won its biggest-ever deal in the UK after rental firm Morris Leslie Plant Hire placed an order for £87.5 million worth of machines.
The huge order from the Perth-based company, which operates nationally, includes a bumper deal for 50 iconic JCB backhoe loaders.
The investment will also see Morris Leslie Plant Hire take delivery of excavators, site dumpers, Loadall telescopic handlers and compaction equipment – allowing it to supply the most up-to-date fleets to housebuilders and the construction sector.
All the machines will be manufactured at JCB’s factories in Rocester and Cheadle, Staffordshire, and are powered by the latest low emissions engines.
The order will be supplied by dealer Scot JCB to Morris Leslie’s 14 nationwide depots throughout the rest of the year.
The deal comes at a time when new figures show a resurgence in demand for backhoes in the UK, with the market growing by more than 12 per cent in 2022.
Morris Leslie, Chairman of the Group, said: “We are delighted to have agreed our largest ever order with our long-term partner JCB to support our 2023 growth plans and by the end of the year our entire JCB fleet will be operating with the latest Stage V engines.
“The backhoe loader part of the order is particularly pleasing, and we look forward to seeing ongoing growth of our JCB 3CX fleet.
“The backhoe continues to be hugely popular with our customers thanks to its excellent loading and excavating capabilities and the ability to travel directly to the site, cutting the need for costly transportation.”
JCB Sales MD Marco Bersellini said: “We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Morris Leslie Plant Hire. This deal demonstrates confidence in the construction market and confirms that JCB has exactly the right products to meet the needs of hirers and end users.”
