Power Plant Moves To All - Kubota Minis Fleet

Leading plant hirer Power Plant Hire Ltd has taken delivery of an
initial batch of 26 Kubota mini excavators after deciding to
standardise on the Japanese designed machines. It is to purchase a
total of 150 over the next two years as it switches to an all-Kubota
minis fleet.

The decision to stick with Kubota came after it had two of the latest
models on trial and received excellent feedback from customers and its
own service engineers. Included in the first tranche of cabbed
machines are models spanning the extensive weight range offered by
Kubota.

There are ten KX36-3 1.5 tonne machines, seven U25 2.5 tonne zero tail
swing machines, four U50 5 tonne zero tail swing machines, and five of
the newly-introduced KX080-3 8 tonne models.

The Halesowen, West Midlands, plant hirer, which also has depots in
Bolton, Hereford and Pontypool, runs a 150-strong mini excavator
fleet. Among its regular customers are house builders, ground workers,
civil engineers and local builders.

Said commercial director Guy Mathew: "After using several others makes
of minis over the years, I consider the current Kubota range to be
head and shoulders above the rest. They deliver a great many
advantages both to us and to our customers.

"As well as having the highest market acceptance of any mini, they are
highly reliable, can be easily and quickly serviced, and will probably
achieve the best resale results when we come to dispose of them."

The zero tail swing models were chosen after demands from customers
for an easy-to-manoeuvre mini that would work in extremely confined
spaces. An important factor was that, unlike some other minis, they
have a ROPS/FOPS approved cabin for added operator safety.

All of the machines have Kubota's unique and ground-breaking
'ANTI-THEFT' system fitted as standard. It's based on an individually
programmed key for each machine that replaces the former universal
starter key. The key has an identification code embedded in an IC chip
that incorporates a state-of-the-art immobiliser system.

It starts and stops the engine like a conventional ignition key, and
also opens the machine's cab door, fuel filler cap and engine canopy.
Without it, the fuel, hydraulic and electric systems are fully
immobilised. Any attempt to start the machine with an un-programmed
key activates the system's alarm.

Mr Mathew added: "As a responsible plant hirer we take plant theft
very seriously, and are pleased to be able to offer our customers a
sophisticated and factory-backed anti-theft system."  

The minis were supplied by official Kubota distributor, BTE Plant
Sales Ltd, from its Markfield, Leicester depot. It has been providing
various items of plant to Power Plant for a number of years.

"As well as being impressed with every single one of the Kubota
models, we visited BTE's premises to inspect their service department
and to see how they managed the product, and we found a slick,
well-established operation." said Mr Mathew.

Kubota is the UK, European and world leader in mini excavators and
provides the largest range of minis available from a single
manufacturer. Customers can select from 18 base models, spanning the
weight range from 850 kg to 8-tonne, and including the  widest choice
of the increasingly popular zero tail swing machines.

Kubota mini excavators have a legendary reputation for quality,
performance, reliability and excellent resale values and their
versatility makes them the ideal tool for many different applications
and end-users, from civil engineering to landscaping and plant hire
companies to owner operators.

Contact:

Richard Harrison
Sales & Marketing Manager

Kubota (UK) Ltd -  
Construction Equipment,   
Dormer Road,     
Thame,  
Oxfordshire, OX9 3UN.            
Tel: 01844 214500.   
Fax: 01844 216685.