A-Plant £15 million AWP order

A-Plant has invested £15 million in its aerial work platform fleet.

The UK-based rental company, part of Ashtead Group, has placed orders with six suppliers for more than 720 new machines. The two largest deals are a 274 machine, £6 million order with Genie and a more than £4.6 million order from JLG for 220 machines.

The Genie order comprises rough terrain diesel scissor lifts from 26 ft to 50 ft working height, diesel articulating booms from 34 ft to 80 ft and an extensive electric range, including self-propelled scissor lifts from 12 ft to 40 ft and articulating booms from 34 ft to 45 ft.

The JLG order includes diesel booms from 34 ft to 85 ft, electric booms up to 45 ft and electric scissors from 12 ft to 40 ft. All of the diesel models are fitted with fuel-efficient Tier IIIB compliant engines.

In addition, Skyjack received a £1.7 million order for almost 70 diesel scissor lifts and Niftylift is providing 48 new diesel articulating booms, electric bi-fuel booms and trailer-mounted. Haulotte is supplying electric mast lifts and on the non-mechanical access side, Power Towers has received an order for 110 including the self-powered Pecolift and the powered Nano push-around.

The new diesel booms have secondary guarding fitted as standard to offer customers complete peace of mind when it comes to safety. 110v generators have also being fitted to the diesel scissor lifts and diesel booms. In total A-Plant has well over 2000 AWP units in its fleet.

Asif Latief, marketing director at A-Plant, said, “This investment confirms A-Plant’s access fleet as one of the most up-to-date and efficient anywhere in the UK, as the new machines will replace our older models and the specification of environmentally friendly equipment to meet ‘green’ building requirements has been a key consideration.”

The access investment forms part of a wider expenditure programme across its rental fleet that exceeded £100 million in 2013, with a similar investment expected this year.