One of JCB's newest business ventures is celebrating its biggest ever order after securing a deal from a leading international hire company worth almost £500,000.

The company's Light Equipment Division recently began manufacturing at the £7 million JCB Attachments factory in Uttoxeter in a bid to grow its share of the multi-million pound light compaction equipment market.

Now the commitment to the sector is reaping dividends after Dutch-based Bo-Rent placed an order for 290 units including rammers, forward vibratory plates and reversible vibratory plates, kit used in smaller scale construction projects where earth, stone and hardcore and paving needs compacting.

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JCB Sales Operations Director Chris Spring said: "This represents the single largest deal to date for JCB light equipment and it is testament to the high quality and robustness of our products that one of Europe’s leading hirers has placed this order."

The JCB Light Equipment Division is designed to build JCB's presence in a market where almost 130,000 units are sold every year. The equipment, produced under the JCB Vibromax brand, includes a range of 15 vibratory plate compactors, reversible plate compactors and rapid blow tampers.

The light compaction equipment market generates annual sales of £250 million and has huge potential for JCB and the new JCB Attachments factory, which opened last year, gives the company a real opportunity to build its business in this sector and increase sales. Europe and North America offer the largest opportunity for growth in this sector, with hire companies and utility firms being the largest customers.

(CD/JM)