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Ashbrook secure 1600th Caterpillar machine

Ashbrook Plant Hire Ltd. has taken delivery of its 1,600th Cat® machine from Finning UK & Ireland, marking the latest milestone in a 20-year relationship between the two companies.

The latest £8m investment includes 166 Cat machines and takes the total number of machines supplied to Ashbrook by Finning to 1,600 over the past two decades. Ashbrook operates a fleet of Cat machinery including backhoe loaders, rollers, excavators, articulated dump trucks and bulldozers, supporting construction, agriculture and industrial customers across the UK. The company focuses primarily on B2B plant hire, with machine reliability and efficiency key considerations when specifying its fleet. James Ashbrook, Managing Director at Ashbrook Plant Hire Ltd, said: “Our latest investment from Finning has supported the growth of our fleet, as well as replaced older machines. As we continue to grow, Finning has been a consistent presence, not only delivering machines and on-board technology to meet our performance standards but providing reliable support with Finning Field Service Engineers based at both of our sites full time.

“With the number of housing developments and infrastructure projects in the UK growing, this latest investment gives us the means to continue to deliver the reliability and performance that our customers need, backed by the ongoing support and expertise from Finning.”

The 1,600th machine is a Cat 308 excavator, which joins a range of Cat models in Ashbrook’s hire fleet. The latest delivery also includes Cat 302.7 and Cat 305 excavators equipped with air conditioning and hydraulic quick hitches, allowing operators to remain in the cab when changing attachments while improving comfort during a full shift. Neil Baxter, Key Account Manager at Finning, said: “Ashbrook has consistently invested in the Cat 308 as it is big enough for real groundwork but still easy enough to transport, as well as being compact enough for urban or residential sites. Having one machine that serves multiple customers’ needs saves it from sitting idle between jobs, ultimately bringing a bigger return on investment for Ashbrook.”

The Cat 308 is equipped with auto idle and auto engine shutdown functions to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption, while onboard grade technology provides greater precision and can help reduce material waste. Neil continued: “Our relationship with Ashbrook goes beyond that of a supplier. Helping to specify machines such as the Cat 308, which will benefit both the business and its customers is just the beginning. From on-site field engineers through to technology and service support, the team at Finning is always working behind the scenes to ensure Ashbrook has all it needs to maintain its position as one of the leading plant hire companies in the UK.”