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20 Spring 2021 M ajor UK equipment rental company Sunbelt Rentals UK has invested £65 million in new machinery. The Warrington-based company is expanding and renewing its fleet as the construction industry rebounds strongly from the Covid-19 pandemic. Sunbelt’s Chief Executive Officer Andy Wright said: “We have performed strongly throughout the pandemic and this significant order supports our determination to maintain and expand our market leadership position within the UK.” Sunbelt Rentals is the UK’s biggest equipment rental company and covers the whole of Great Britain through 200 hire depots with a fleet of more than 250,000 itemised machines. Sunbelt Rentals rebranded its business in 2020 from A-Plant to mirror the name of its sister company in North America. The latest investment comprises 2,100 new JCB machines and is the biggest ever order from a UK customer in JCB’s 75-year history. The new machinery line-up includes telescopic handlers, mini and midi excavators, site dumpers, tracked excavators and rough terrain fork lifts manufactured at JCB’s Staffordshire factories. Sunbelt Rentals is also investing in 350 JCB access platforms – JCB’s biggest-ever UK deal for this equipment following its entry into the $8 billion powered access market in 2017. Soaring demand from the industry in the wake of initial COVID-19 lockdowns has also prompted manufacturer JCB to recruit hundreds of new shop floor employees. At the same time, the company’s finance division delivered more than £50 million of loans, distributed through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) – designed to support the continued provision of finance to smaller UK construction businesses during the outbreak. Customers were able to access the scheme, used to back a fixed rate hire purchase facility with a six month payment pause, then 48 monthly instalments, The Government will make a Business Interruption Payment to cover the first 12 months of interest payments and any lender-levied charges. Monks Contractors used the scheme to invest in a new wheeled material handler and 30 new BMI ejector and walking floor trailers. Managing Director Chris Monk said: “The pandemic and lockdown made everyone feel uneasy. Some form of disruption was inevitable, but we must look forward. It is essential we continue to invest and maintain our fleet to deliver the best possible service.” << BIGGEST EVER UK ORDER HERALDS STRONG INDUSTRY RECOVERY NEWS