JCB has won a multi-million pound deal to supply one of the UKs leading vehicle remarketing companies with a fleet of 42 wheeled loading shovels.
The first of the JCB 416HT shovels have now rolled off the production line at JCB Earthmovers in Cheadle, Staffordshire, for customer Copart UK. They have gone into service unloading and handling vehicles for the company which are brought in for storage prior to sale via an online auction process.
The order - supplied through Leicestershire based JCB dealer Watling JCB was secured in the face of fierce competition and was placed after operators involved in the product evaluation process voiced a preference for the JCB machines.
JCB Sales MD David Bell said: "We are delighted to have won such a sizeable and prestigious order from Copart UK, particularly as we secured it against some very tough competition. It speaks volumes for the quality of JCB's wheeled loaders that the operators preferred our machines. They were also impressed with the machines' fuel efficiency, which in the current climate plays an increasingly important role for businesses needing to keep costs under control.
"Copart UK's operators also liked the superior hydraulic controllability and lifting capability, coupled with their preference for powershift rather than hydrostatic drive."
Copart UK Managing Director Nigel Paget said: "JCB won this business against stiff competition because of the functionality and suitability of the chosen loaders, their build quality and prompt lead in time and the after sales service. The deal is a great example of two businesses with major US and UK operations working to support British industry."
Copart UK is deploying the 42 wheeled loading shovels at its 12 facilities across the UK. The company was founded in 1982 and went public on the NASDAQ in 1994, establishing a European presence in 2007 with four acquisitions totalling £80 million. In the UK, Copart employs almost 500 people.
Copart manages vehicle remarketing for 171 businesses in the automotive and insurance sectors, handling everything from motorbikes and cars to tractors and coaches. Once a vehicle has been deemed a total loss, Copart collects it, transfers it to one of their facilities and takes digital images in readiness for participation in an on-line auction.
Each week Copart runs daily online auctions with up to 1000 vehicles per sale. Copart has more than 150,000 registered buyers from all over the world that have access to the auction website.