Electro-Services Ltd, a major plant hirer to the utility sector, has added mini excavators to its growing roster of specialist equipment with an investment of £1.2 million in market leading Kubota machines.

It is one of the largest single orders received by Kubota so far this year and is part of Electro-Services' drive to meet the demands of an ever-expanding utility sector.

The order for nearly 80 Kubota minis, across the weight range from 1.5 to 8 tonnes, includes 8 tonne KX-080 and 3 tonne KX61-3 machines, together with the new 1.6 tonne U17-3 model and other 2.5 tonne U25-3 and 5 tonne U50-3 zero tail swing machines.

It represents the largest slice of a total £1.7 million investment in new plant - the largest made by Electro-Services - as it celebrates its 21st anniversary.

The company is also buying 55 2.5 and 3.5 tonne trailers to deliver the Kubota minis to customers, as well as 25 Terex dumpers including 1 tonne high lift, 3 tonne swivel, 6 tonne swivel and 9 tonne straight models.

All of the mini excavators, which incorporate Kubota's unique key-based 'ANTI-THEFT' system, as standard equipment, are being supplied with a full range of buckets by Kubota dealer Shellplant, of Earls Barton, Northampton. The machines will also be equipped with Atlas Copco hydraulic breakers.


Electro-Services' Sales Director Chris James said: "Adding mini excavators to our hire offering is a natural bolt-on as far as our utility customers are concerned. We chose Kubota because they are the outright market leaders.

"Despite the current economic climate I am more confident about these purchases than any other that we have made. We pride ourselves in supplying the highest quality equipment, which is why we chose the Kubota and Terex brands.

"Although they are both near the top end for us in purchase price, I feel their known quality and reliability amply justifies the investment cost and reinforces our commitment to providing our clients with the very best plant. A good 50% of the minis are already booked out to our utility clients, and we shall also be looking at the housing and construction hire markets."

Electro-Services is a family-owned and run business established in 1987, with its head office at Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire. It is a leading supplier to the utilities market across the UK of specialised equipment and plant, with depots in Luton, Tyne & Wear, Glasgow, Cardiff, Wigan and East London.

Kubota is the UK, European and world leader in mini excavators and its machines have a legendary reputation for quality, performance, reliability, versatility and excellent residual values, coupled with outstanding dealer support - providing unbeatable value for money, a vitally important consideration in the current economic climate.

With the widest range of minis available from a single manufacturer, Kubota offers 19 base models spanning the weight range from 850kg up to 8 tonnes and including the largest selection of highly versatile zero tail swing machines from 1 to 5 tonnes - all featuring world leading Kubota engines to provide economic and environmentally sound performance.

The compactness, productivity, versatility and cost-effectiveness of Kubota mini excavators make them ideal for many different applications and end-users; from building, construction, civil engineering, quarrying, demolition, recycling and landscaping, to plant hire companies, utilities and owner operators.