French renter Bleu Blanc invests in JCB handlers

French rental company Bleu Blanc has taken delivery of 20 new JCB Loadall telehandlers, including ten 535-140 models, nine 540-170s and one 535-95.

Philippe Jan, chairman and owner of Bleu Blanc, said; "It's vital in our industry to offer the most modern and up-to-date equipment to our customers and this latest investment in JCB machines delivers on that promise."

The company, which also has JCB backhoe loaders in its 8000 unit fleet, ordered the telehandlers from dealer M3 (Dubreuil Group), which covers Western France for JCB.

Bleu Blanc was founded in 2003 and is a significant regional player in the French rental business, with 20 depots and 90 employees. Its main operating areas are northern and western France, in Brittany, Normandy and Maine et Loire Sarthe.

Tim Burnhope, JCB's group managing director of product development and commercial operations, said: "Bleu Blanc has been a JCB customer now for 12 years so we are delighted to win this repeat business from such an important rental company."

Although Bleu Blanc was formed in 2003 by Philippe Jan, the company can trace its roots back to 1957 when Jean Claude Mangeard, the son of a blacksmith, created a company to lease and sell construction equipment.