Platform Co says handlers “fit well”

UK access rental company The Platform Company is to accelerate its move into telehandlers by increasing its fleet from 154 to 250 JCB units by the end of the year. The company – one of the UK's biggest aerial platform renters – bought 70 new JCB handlers one year ago, has since doubled the fleet, and said the initiative had been a success.

“We anticipated a strong take–up in telehandler hire from existing customers and that has certainly happened”, said Platform's sales director Lee Perry, “with new customers coming on board to take advantage of the telehandler service alone.”

Mr Perry added that the handlers had also led to some new customers – such as in the waste management sector and in concrete plants – and these have now started to rent aerial platforms. “It's opened our eyes to new markets for access”, he said.

The Platform Company is not renting handlers to housebuilders because rental rates in that sector wereunder pressure, said Mr Perry. The JCB machines in its fleet comprise 7 m, 9.5 m, 12.5 m and 17 m models. Pictured is one of Platform's JCB 525–125 Loadalls.

Mr Perry expressed strong views on the after–sales service capabilities of access manufacturers. He said JCB was a “million years ahead” in terms of parts availability and service back–up; “I don't expect the access companies to be as good a JCB, but I've asked them to be at least 50% as good as they are.”