Speedy orders JCB mini excavators worth £3 million

Speedy has just completed an order for £3.3 million worth of JCB 8018 Mini Excavators. The order is the biggest that JCB has received for the model in the past year.

The UK rental company chose the 8018 mini excavator as a major addition to its offering for its customer base in the utilities sector, which includes Thames Water and Welsh Water.

"We've been working in utilities for many years, and this market continues to grow for us. JCB designed this piece of equipment in collaboration with the utilities sector, so procuring it for our customers was a natural step and we expect it to be very popular," said Andy Connor, supply chain director at Speedy.

Special safety features of the 8018 include a steel panel in place of the lower door window in order to reduce glass damage to the cab and a weight sensitive seat, which only allows the machine to be driven when the operator is fully seated.

An extending undercarriage offers additional stability for operators working in conditions where the ground is unstable, for example when undertaking excavations on inclines or soft ground before laying pipes.

The 8018 comes with a 14 kW (19 hp) engine. Its dozer blades can include two nylon wear strips on the lower dozer blade extensions which sit on the road service while digging in order to prevent any damage to the asphalt. The tubular boom has a narrow profile for excellent visibility to the bucket cutting edge when excavating, essential when working round other services.

The Speedy order includes a number of machines in high visibility paint that reflects vehicle lights, ideal for undertaking late night repairs to services.