Ardent Hire Solutions, one of the UK’s biggest plant hire companies, is  expanding its fleet further by placing an order for 525 new JCB telehandlers in a deal worth £26 million.

The order includes a full range of fixed frame models from the compact six metre/2,500kg 525-60 up to the 20 metre/4,000kg 540-200 models. The new machines all come with JCB LiveLink telematics with real time data to Ardent’s management software.

The deal has been done through the manufacturer’s dealer Watling JCB, and the first units are already coming off the production line, along with some classic JCB loader backhoes. This latest order follows on from a two year 1,100 unit deal signed in March 2019.

Ardent chief financial officer Julian O’Neill said:

Our telehandler fleet is already the largest in the UK and this substantial investment strengthens our position in the telescopic handler hire sector.

JCB group managing director major accounts Steve Fox, added: “We are delighted that Ardent Hire Solutions has placed this substantial order with JCB given the very competitive nature of the UK equipment supply market. The size of the order shows enormous faith in the quality of JCB’s machines and also underlines the need to invest in new machinery to support the growth in the UK construction industry, which continues to recover strongly after the Covid-19 pandemic.”