JCB claims rental fuel savings

Manufacturer JCB said its new compact tracked loaders could save customers up to 33% in fuel costs.

The company said UK rental company Apex Plant Hire invested in over 40 new JCB machines, including six 225T compact tracked loaders, seven 85Z-1 excavators, ten tandem vibratory rollers, eight 8016 and ten 8026 mini excavators.

In evaluation against a competitive model, the 225T – powered by a Tier 4i compliant JCB Ecomax engine – proved significantly more fuel efficient, according to the companies.

Apex Plant Hire director David Marriott said, “The first thing we noticed on the new machines were the massive fuel savings. The competition just cannot match up.

“We compared a JCB unit to rival manufacturer’s model and it used a third less fuel on the same work. The JCB only needed to be refuelled two or three times a week while the competitive model required four refills.

“The machines also really come into their own in applications where manoeuvrability and low ground bearing pressure are important. The tracks can either protect delicate virgin ground or prevent further damage in poor ground conditions.”

Mr Marriott added, “Working in wet and boggy conditions is where the safety benefits are also magnified. Slippery boots and clambering over attachments would be a dangerous combination with conventional two arm machines. The side entry door on JCB models is a massive bonus for customers when it comes to the health and safety.

“Over 85% of our fleet is JCB because we value the excellent service support and value for money on high spec machines. We have a strong relationship with our dealer and like to support a UK manufacturer. The JCB LiveLink system is also a great addition with the potential to really boost our fleet management efficiency.”