Digger giant lands major new contract

DIGGER firm JCB has landed a £2 million-plus deal to supply 42 wheeled loading shovels.

The first of the 416HT machines have already rolled off the production line in Cheadle and gone into service for customer Copart UK, a vehicle re-marketing firm with bases all over the country.

JCB has not revealed the exact value of the contract, but a spokesman said it was worth more than £2 million.

The company said the order was supplied through Leicestershire-based dealer Watling JCB.

David Bell, managing director at JCB Sales, said: "We are delighted to have won such a sizeable and prestigious order, particularly as we secured it against some very tough competition.

"It speaks volumes for the quality of our wheeled loaders that the operators preferred our machines. They were also impressed with the machines' fuel efficiency, which in the current climate is an important factor."

Copart UK Managing Director Nigel Paget said: "JCB won this business because of the functionality and suitability of the loaders, their build quality, prompt lead-in time and after-sales service."

The contract comes as a welcome boost for the company, which has been hit hard by the global downturn in the construction industry.