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BOA Plant Hire continues to invest in Kubota

BOA Plant Hire has expanded its Kubota fleet with the purchase of more than 25 compact excavators over the past six months as part of an ongoing programme to modernise its equipment.

The Bedford-based company, part of structural steel specialist Barratts of Aspley, now operates a fleet of more than 100 machines, around 80 of which are Kubotas. The range spans everything from the compact K008-5 micro excavator through to the 8.5-tonne KX085-5.

Established more than 10 years ago, BOA Plant Hire supplies self-drive equipment to customers within a 50-mile radius of its Bedford headquarters. Alongside its excavator fleet, the company offers dumpers, rollers, telehandlers, powered access equipment, welfare units and contract lifting services using all-terrain mobile cranes.

Plant Manager Darren Millard says the business has long favoured a single-source supply strategy, with around 85% of the fleet supplied by Kubota dealer Shellplant, which also provides warranty support.

"It's much easier having a single source of supply for the fleet, particularly when it comes to parts availability and aftersales support," said Mr Millard. "I've known Tom Haywood at Shellplant for 25 years and they've always provided excellent service.

"We also receive very few complaints from customers about Kubota machines. From the micro excavators through to the 8-tonne class, they may not always be the standout model in every individual category, but as an overall package they're hard to beat."

Tom Haywood, Sales Manager at Shellplant, added: "Since BOA established its plant hire division in 2014, it has been a loyal Kubota customer and one we've enjoyed working closely with. We look forward to continuing that relationship for many years to come."

The latest investment reflects strong demand across the company's customer base, with BOA typically replacing machines every four years to maintain a modern fleet.

"We've been extremely busy and have invested to meet customer demand," said Mr Millard. "Following this latest intake of machines, we don't anticipate needing to add many more until next year."