Customer marks five decades of loyalty with new JCB purchase

One of JCB’s longest-standing customers in the world has invested in a brand new fuel-saving machine - nearly half a century after founding his family firm with a second hand JCB backhoe. 

Peter Andrews cut his teeth as a machine driver in the 1960s and was the first person to operate a JCB 6C tracked excavator when it was launched in 1968. It was delivered personally to his then employers, Brooks Diggers in Poole, Dorset, by JCB Founder Joseph Cyril Bamford CBE. 

A year later in 1969 Peter struck out on his own and founded Dorset-based firm Andrews Plant Hire with a second hand JCB backhoe – a purchase that set his family company firmly on the road to success.  Today Peter’s company runs a fleet of 38 JCB machines including the latest purchase, a brand new 457 wheeled loader. His son Chris Andrews is now also a Director of the company. 

Peter, who is still at the helm of the firm, said: “We’ve operated JCB products since the very beginning and the recent wheeled loading shovels have been outstanding performers in tough applications. That drove the decision to purchase the latest 457 model and everyone loves it. Performance is first class and the service from our dealer, Holt JCB, continues to go from strength to strength.” 

UK and Ireland Sales Director Dan Thompstone said: “Andrews Plant Hire is one of JCB’s most loyal customers and certainly one of the longest standing in the world. We are delighted to continue our long association with them.” 

The investment follows the outstanding performance of an earlier model which has delivered more than 5000 hours of impressive service over the last two years. The machine meets Euro Stage IV (Tier 4 Final) without the need for a costly diesel particulate filter (DPF) and Peter has describes its performance in challenging aggregates applications as ‘first class’. 

The company’s fleet includes JCB 427 wheeled loaders, JS130, JS220 and JS360 tracked excavators, along with mini and midi excavators and new JCB site dumpers. 

The new JCB 457 is operating at pits owned by Imerys Minerals where it extracts sand and loads it into screeners.  The model meets Euro Stage IV (Tier 4 Final) emissions standards, with the adoption of a powerful MTU diesel engine that is perfectly matched to the machine’s operating duties. The engine contributes to a massive fuel saving of around 16% compared to the previous model. As with other JCB machines, the engine in the 457 meets latest emissions legislation without the need for a costly diesel particulate filter (DPF), relying on an efficient combustion process, with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system and an exhaust fluid additive. 

Founded in 1969, Andrews Plant Hire is a well-established plant hire & haulage firm operating throughout Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Devon. It offers an extensive range of plant on both self-drive or operated basis with all operators CPCS and Epic Course qualified. 

It also undertakes large or small contracts, from bulk earth moving, land restoration and lake construction to tip lining and covering, muck away, mineral extraction, site clearance, low loader haulage and demolition. It works with many of the leading waste, aggregates and civil engineering organisations including: Morgan Sindall, Viridor, Sita, Imerys, Suttle Stone Quarries, New Milton Sand & Ballast and Holme Sand & Ballast.