An Ipswich plant hire firm has ordered up 900 telescopic handling machines worth more than £53million.

East Anglian Daily Times: Pictured left to right are Fork Rent Chairman Guy Nicholls and Director Trudi Nicholls and Watling JCB MD Richard TelferPictured left to right are Fork Rent Chairman Guy Nicholls and Director Trudi Nicholls and Watling JCB MD Richard Telfer (Image: Archant)

Fork Rent, based in Felixstowe Road, aims to cement its position as one of the UK’s biggest hirers of JCB Loadall telescopic handlers with the contract.

The deal, announced today, was said to be one of the biggest single orders in JCB’s history.

The machines are manufactured at JCB’s world headquarters at Rocester, Staffordshire, and all are to be delivered during 2013.

Fork Rent Chairman Guy Nicholls said: “Fork Rent and JCB have a great working relationship that spans over 25 years and that enables us to provide our customers with the latest technology and most highly specified machines. This latest investment in new plant delivers on our commitment to offer customers the highest level of service back up in our industry, reliability and peace of mind.”

The deal will also mean that Fork Rent becomes the first major plant hire company to buy the new JCB 540-200 Loadall, Europe’s highest-reach rigid frame telescopic handler, capable of reaching a height of 20 metres.

Fork Rent purchased its first JCB machine in 1987, and since then, the company has invested in more than 5,500 JCB machines through JCB dealer Watling JCB.

Fork Rent plc, one of the UK’s largest privately owned self drive plant hire company, has a fleet of more than 3000 machines including JCB backhoe loaders, compact excavators, large excavators, dumpers, access equipment and utility vehicles.

JCB’s UK & Ireland sales director Dan Thompstone said: “Fork Rent’s reputation for investing in modern and up-to-date machines is well known across the industry. JCB’s reputation for innovation in construction equipment is equally well-known. So we’re delighted that Fork Rent is investing in machines that will deliver meaningful benefits to their customers, with fuel-efficient JCB Ecomax engines for lower running costs and 540-200 models offering much higher reach.”