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Stevens Equipment Rental acquire 1000th machine

Stevens Equipment Rental has celebrated the delivery of its 1,000th new machine while also becoming the first company in the UK to introduce the Cat 980 wheel loader equipped with Caterpillar's new Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) technology.

With more than 50 years of experience supplying construction equipment, the company has invested in two 30.9-tonne Cat 980 wheel loaders, providing customers with machines designed to deliver high productivity while enhancing safety on demanding job sites.

The milestone machines, finished in a commemorative livery, represent Stevens Equipment Rental's 1,000th and 1,001st new additions to its fleet. They also showcase the company's early adoption of Caterpillar's latest safety technologies.

Supplied by Finning UK & Ireland, both loaders are equipped with a full suite of Cat technology, including Cat CPM Weighloader, surround-view cameras, object and people detection, and the Cat Detect collision mitigation system featuring AEB.

Andrew Stevens, Managing Director of Stevens Equipment Rental, said: "Over 50 years we have continually expanded our national fleet to ensure we can offer our customers the latest in low-emission, high performance machines. We are pleased to mark our 1000th machine milestone with the Cat 980, which brings increased efficiency and ease of operation to customers working in the most demanding applications.

"Safety is embedded in our ethos at Stevens Equipment Rental and we are proud to be the first in the UK to offer the Cat 980 with Cat Detect featuring the new AEB technology function. This innovative function will actively intervene and halt machinery to prevent struck-by incidents on site and is something we saw as an essential investment for improving site safety for our customers."

The new AEB function forms part of the Cat Detect collision mitigation system, using integrated sensors and smart cameras to identify people and obstacles in the machine's path. If the operator fails to respond to a hazard, the system automatically applies the service brakes. A Motion Inhibit function also prevents the machine from engaging gear from a standstill if an object or person is detected within the critical zone.

The delivery also highlights the long-standing relationship between Stevens Equipment Rental and Finning, which has supported the business for more than two decades with machine supply, aftersales support, fleet development and digital technology.

Neil Baxter, Key Account Manager at Finning, said: "We are thrilled to share this milestone moment with Stevens Equipment Rental who have consistently chosen to make investments in both their fleet and technology to ensure the very best for their customers, both in machine productivity and safety."

The two Cat 980s are backed by a Cat Customer Value Agreement (CVA), providing planned maintenance, remote monitoring and servicing support, while Cat Equipment Protection Plans (EPP) offer additional warranty cover to help maximise machine uptime.