Leading plant hire company Ashbrook Plant Hire Ltd. is celebrating the delivery of its 1,600th Cat® machine, marking the latest milestone in a 20 year partnership with Finning UK & Ireland.

Ashbrook’s most recent investment from Finning includes 166 Cat machines and reflects a period of sustained investment at scale, taking Ashbrook’s total machines from Finning to 1,600 across two decades.

With a fleet of Cat machinery including backhoe loaders, rollers, excavators, articulated dump trucks and bulldozers to service construction, agriculture and industrial work, Ashbrook specialise in B2B work that delivers on reliability and efficiency.

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.”

Totalling £8m, Ashbrook’s latest delivery included a Cat 308 excavator which is its 1,600th machine from Finning, with Cat machines representing an integral part of Ashbrook’s hire-fleet. The latest haul also included Cat 302.7s and Cat 305s fitted with air conditioning and hydraulic quick hitches, which means operators stay comfortable and productive through a full shift and can change attachments without leaving the cab. It’s a specification that few plant hire firms offer as standard on machines of this size, giving Ashbrook’s customers a level of safety, versatility and operator welfare its competitors simply can’t match.

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 features auto idle and auto engine shutdown, cutting waste fuel burn for a more economical and sustainable site, and comes with onboard grade technology to ensure precision and reduced material waste.

“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.”