New division at digger giant lands £500,000 contract

A NEW division at digger maker JCB has secured its biggest ever order.

The firm's Light Equipment Division has landed a deal with Netherlands-based Bo-Rent, an international hire company, worth almost £500,000.

Bo-Rent has placed an order for 290 units including rammers and vibratory plates – equipment used in smaller-scale construction projects where earth, stone and paving needs compacting.

JCB's Light Equipment Division has just started manufacturing at the firm's £7 million Attachments factory in Uttoxeter, which opened last year.

JCB hopes to increase its presence in the light compaction market, which generates global sales of £250 million a year.

Sales operations director Chris Spring said: "This represents the single largest deal to date for JCB Light Equipment and it is testament to the high quality and robustness of our products that one of Europe's leading hirers has placed this order."

The deal is the third significant contract won by JCB in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, the Rocester-based firm revealed it has secured a £14 million order from the French military to provide a fleet of specially armoured and camouflaged backhoe loaders, less than a week after picking up a £2 million-plus contract with vehicle auction company Copart UK.