Blackwood take new JCB machines on board

Scottish plant hire firm acquires 16 new excavators from JCB as part of major fleet investment

BLACKWOOD Plant Hire, the Kilmarnock-based plant hire and contracting firm, have updated their fleet with 16 new excavators from JCB. The fleet investment is being funded by Blackwood’s recent success in landing a series of renewable energy and rail contracts in central Scotland.

The new JCB excavator fleet includes an 8025, 8085, four JS130 machines, five JS145 models, a JS160 LGP (low ground pressure) unit and three JS220 models. This takes the total number of JCBs to 48 – nearly half of Blackwood’s 105-machine line-up.  

Capitalizing on major investment in the Scottish renewable energy market, Blackwood are already putting the new machines to work. The JS160 LGP model, with its 1500mm wide tracks, has been responsible for drainage work at Elvanfoot, in South Lanarkshire, as part of the high-profile £600 million Clyde wind farm project.

The JCB machine had been excavating drainage channels in the surrounding grassland to counteract the impact of the wind farm’s infrastructure. This will ensure the area’s natural water levels are maintained so sheep can continue to graze. The new wind farm will feature 152 wind turbines with a maximum total generation capacity of up to 456MW - enough energy to power over 200,000 households.
 


Tom Blackwood Jnr, director, said: ‘We were quick to recognize the opportunity to provide plant to serve the renewable and rail sectors and developed our fleet and expertise accordingly. We have chosen the JCB machines as none of their competitors could provide the same performance, value for money and backup. We have a great relationship with our dealer Scot JCB, while the package from JCB Finance has allowed us to expand our fleet at the speed necessary to maximize the opportunities available.’