Lynch invest £57 million with Finning

National plant hire firm invests in Caterpillar machines, technology, and specialist training

PROMINENT national plant hire company L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage have invested £57 million with Finning UK & Ireland over the last two years – a strategic move which has seen the addition of 305 new Cat machines to their fleet, complete with a full range of machine technology packages and specialist operator training.

The new machines include several next-generation excavators with built-in functions such as e-fence, load count capacity, and Trimble Earthworks machine control. Models include the Cat 320, 330, 336, 352, and 374. Lynch have also purchased 20 Cat GC excavators – 10 each of the Cat 313 and 320 GC models.

The recent machinery acquisition also encompassed a range of Cat dozers, including multiple D3, D5, D6, D7 and D8 models – including the highly efficient XE, which is said to offer ‘best-in-class’ fuel savings for customers. These purchases bolster Lynch’s existing fleet of dozers and mean that the company now runs one of the UK’s largest dozer fleets.

Also, recognizing the opportunity for investment in grading machines, Lynch have further strengthened their expanding fleet by introducing two Cat 14 graders, and have even more in the pipeline with further D8 and D6 dozers on order.

Jake Wright, head of regional sales at Finning UK & Ireland, said: ‘Lynch have been a Finning customer for more than a decade. Over the last two-and-a-half years they’ve really ramped up their operations because of their involvement in some big infrastructure projects across the UK.

‘This has seen them invest in a combination of high-performance and efficient machines, the latest integrated technology systems, and aftermarket services, alongside a comprehensive training programme to ensure they’re getting the best and most efficient return on their investment.’

Regular sustainability discussions between the Finning and Lynch teams ensure crucial data relating to fuel burn, idle time, and the specific features operators utilize are monitored. Anyone operating Lynch’s hired machinery also benefits from having fast access to certifications and machine specifications, as well as ‘how to’ videos via QR codes in the cab. 

Mr Wright continued: ‘SITECH have also been involved in the majority of what we do with Lynch. In partnership with them, we’ve carried out a series of training sessions, including one to support Lynch’s hire desk staff so they fully understand all the features built into the Cat machines, which, in turn, helps them to provide the most suitable recommendation of equipment for their customers, based on project or site application.’

Lynch director Chris Gill commented: ‘Our remarkable growth trajectory, combined with a longstanding relationship with Finning, aligns seamlessly with our preference for the reliability, brand reputation, and efficiency of Cat machines. Our decision to further invest with them was a natural step.

‘Finning’s extensive coverage area in terms of the machinery we run, from dozers to excavators, complements our needs perfectly. Our new graders amplify the support we offer customers with enhanced site efficiency, because they play a crucial role in maintaining haul routes and in achieving tight tolerances, particularly when combined with transformative Trimble technology.

‘Trimble technology streamlines operations, which saves our customers time and money. Having received in-depth training from the expert team at SITECH, we’ve already rolled out our own machine control training and our dedicated training school to over 250 Lynch operatives, along with offering this training to external operators to ensure they too can get the best out of the technology.

‘We have also upskilled many of our own operators, and during our sustainability discussions with Finning we assess our operators’ performance, monitor the efficiency of our machines, and map driver behaviour to reduce idling time and increase fuel efficiency. We carefully match the right driver with the right equipment and provide our customers with the most suitable machines for their project, so they maximize efficiency on site.’

Carl Parsons, regional sales consultant for SITECH, said Lynch were already using the Trimble Earthworks platform and Trimble Works Manager design-management software, but also offer Trimble machine control cab kits to their larger customers where precision, sustainability, and efficiency are key.

He said: ‘We’ve been working with Lynch to support them in being able to push the technology out to their customers, including the Trimble GPS mastless motor grader, which is the first sold in EMEA.

‘We’ve also supported them with technology days, including a session specifically on intelligent compaction, and are proud to support them in training their own telematics and machine control teams.’