Big Cat deal for Breedon Scotland
Scottish arm of Breedon Aggregates makes biggest Cat roller purchase within EAME
THE Scottish arm of Breedon Aggregates completed the largest acquisition of Caterpillar rollers in Europe and the Middle East (EAME) in 2014. The 29-machine deal has taken Breedon’s total investment in Cat machines in the past 12 months to £2.5 million.
Working with the UK’s largest independent aggregates business, Finning put together a package that included 25 utility rollers (eleven Cat CB14Bs, eight Cat CB24Bs and six Cat CB34Bs), three Cat CB44Bs asphalt rollers and one Cat AP500E paver.
The machines were delivered in the final quarter of 2014, joining the two Cat AP500Es pavers purchased by Breedon Scotland and a third AP500E bought by Breedon England at the end of 2013.
The rollers are being used to servicing single-carriageway roads, dual carriageways and motorways under major trunk road maintenance contracts, led by Breedon Scotland’s associate company, BEAR Scotland.
Commenting on the deal, Alan Mackenzie, chief executive of Breedon in Scotland, said: ‘After hiring a large majority of our compaction fleet for many years, we looked at the whole-life costing of hire versus purchasing.
‘Cat delivered a sustainable package for us. It is extremely valuable for Breedon Scotland to be able to invest in Cat machines that we know will consistently deliver. We are confident that the improved machine performance across our fleet will increase the productivity, efficiency and quality of our projects, which will, in turn, improve our financial performance.’
Mr Mackenzie continued: ‘It’s not just the functionality of the Cat machines which is important to our operations; it’s also the support Finning are able to provide. With a full five-year warranty, complete servicing maintenance and a network of branches throughout Scotland, Finning offer the best-possible option for keeping our machine downtime to a minimum.
‘Breedon have sites spanning the whole of Scotland, including the Hebrides, so the fact that Finning are ubiquitous across our country will have a significant positive impact on our on-going running costs.’
Finning area sales manager John Stuart, who oversaw the deal, said the largest investment in Caterpillar rollers in Europe and the Middle East was testament to Breedon’s growing success within the paving market.
