by Richard Cosgrove | Sat 19 Jul 2025
Family-owned Flannery Plant Hire invests in a fleet of 220 new JCB machines
Family-owned Flannery Plant Hire has invested in a massive fleet of 220 new JCB machines in a deal worth more than £22 million.
Supplied by dealer Greenshields JCB, the order includes JCB Loadall telescopic handlers, X Series tracked excavators, site dumpers, mini excavators and 3CX backhoe loaders. The fleet will be delivered throughout 2025 to work on major national infrastructure projects.
The investment marks the latest major deal between the two family businesses, a relationship that began in 1972 when Pat Flannery founded Flannery Plant Hire with a JCB 3C backhoe loader. Now run by sons Martin, Patrick Jnr and Paul, the company’s fleet has more than 6,500 machines.
Flannery Plant Hire MD Patrick Flannery said: “Our customers continue to be delighted with the JCB range and we will continue to invest in the finest quality, innovative equipment available. We are particularly interested in JCB’s development of hydrogen powered machines and we plan to take the first hydrogen 3CX from JCB”.
JCB Global Major Accounts MD Steve Fox said: “We are proud of our longstanding business partnership with Flannery Plant Hire, especially as Pat Snr started the business with just a 3C backhoe. The Flannery family should be very proud of their successful and forward-thinking business.”
Greenshields JCB MD James Richardson added: “As a dealer, we have been working with Flannery Plant Hire for over three decades, which results in a deep understanding of their customers’ needs and the aftersales support required to keep their machines running smoothly.”
All the new machines will be fitted with JCB’s LiveLink fleet management system to deliver operational efficiencies and provide end users with data on machine utilisation, CO₂ levels and safety performance. The X Series excavators will also feature a suite of enhanced safety technologies including Human Form Recognition (HFR) and X-Watch slew and height limiters.
Wembley-based Flannery Plant Hire is one of the UK’s leading family-owned equipment hire companies, specialising in operated plant. It operates 13 depots across the UK and Ireland and employs 2,200 operators supporting customers nationwide.
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