Holt JCB Swindon Machine Showcase Event Hits the Spot

Holt JCB was first established way back in 1979 as the appointed JCB Dealer for the South West of England and South Wales. Their territory is vast and to further support their regional coverage the company has most recently opened a brand spanking new, state-of-the-art depot in Swindon.

The investment in this new facility brings their total number of depots to seven, which are strategically located across the region, to serve customers needs for sales, parts, attachments and as a hub for the dealers fully trained service teams.

To celebrate the new depot and to offer customers, potential customers and friends a chance to look around the facility, Holt JCB held its Swindon Machine Showcase event last week, and I was delighted to pop along for a look around, and to chew the cud about all things JCB with the friendly Holt JCB team.

There was a good selection of machines displayed for visitors to take a look around, including numerous X-Series excavators including the latest 145XR reduced tailswing models, along with 220XLC and 140XLC conventional tailswing examples.

A stunning new 4CX Groundworker Pro backhoe loader was also presented, already sold to a customer apparently.

In the workshop a quartet of new 140XLC machines were undergoing Pre Delivery Inspections ahead of their delivery to Cinderford based Bell Plant, part of the family-owned Bell Group of companies, who are long standing JCB customers.

Apparently, a vast majority of PDi work is now being done at the Swindon depot, with a lot of new machines coming through the workshops.

Also spotted in the workshop was another 6T-3 forward tipping cabbed dumper for Tonic Construction and business who have led the way in the adoption of fully cabbed site dumpers, and all credit to them for that in my opinion.

Mini excavators, telehandlers and access equipment were also on show for visitors to see, with some of those visitors coming all the way from South Wales for a day out with the diggers, and excellent food and drink provided by local business Sustain Farm Shop.

We were shown the impressive parts department which features a space saving parts carousel which is all controlled by a computer system, that allows you to locate and retrieve the required spare part at the press of a button. The towering storage system can store 1000’s of parts on what is effectively a very small footprint on the ground.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Paul Walker who is what I can only describe as a JCB super fan, the mega enthusiastic machine operator and owner, came along in his restored Transit van which sports the old yellow, white and red livery of JCB service vans from back in the late 70’s early 80’s. Paul takes his van along to local shows and raises money for the RSPCC charity for which he should be commended.

Photo: Courtesy of Neve Hudson Holt JCB.

All in all, it was a fantastic and insightful day spent in Swindon and I thank Managing Director Andrew Shields and wife Kate, for inviting me along. Next up for the Holt JCB team will be the Royal Cornwall Show, and we will be sure to pop along to their stand to see them all again.

Checkout our video walkaround below.