A Gloucestershire plant hirer has bought 22 JCB JZ140 tracked excavators to meet a growing demand for the machine from UK house builders.

Dursley-based Rocket Rentals has already taken delivery of 12 machines with a further 10 to follow during 2012. All of the 14 tonne, zero tailswing models are fitted with JCB’s LiveLink telematics system which is particularly beneficial for hire fleets. With customer health and safety of paramount importance to Rocket Rentals, each has also been specified with the JCB Dualock Quickhitch, additional hand rails on the upper structure along with dozer blades for enhanced performance.

Rocket Rentals Director, Simon Tomblin said: “For self-drive rental firm like ours, zero tailswing is essential. Much of our business is in groundworks for the major UK house builders. Space is often tight, so zero tailswing means less damage and ticks many crucial health and safety boxes.

“We monitored the evolution of JCB’s zero tailswing excavators for some time before making our first purchase. Since then, the JZ140 has proven to be cracking machine with great demand from our customers, hence taking ten more over the coming months. As with the all JCBs, they are backed up brilliantly by our dealer Holt JCB which provides excellent support and next day parts delivery.

“LiveLink is another major factor why we choose JCB. Not only does it give us total peace of mind on security, it gives us complete control and a better understanding of our fleet from a business perspective. We have a real time overview of where our machines are operating and can also access data on each machine’s performance, efficiency and reliability - which shows us how effective our investment has been and steers us when updating the fleet.”

The machines have been fully employed since their delivery, with high profile projects including groundworks at Crest Nicholson’s Hanham Place house building development in Bristol. The zero tailswing JZ140 is ideally suited to the confined areas of the site where it is performing earthmoving and utilities in preparation for the 34 property development.

Founded in 2003, Rocket Rentals boasts an extensive fleet of machines comprising 1-20 tonne excavators, dumpers, telehandlers and compaction equipment. The line-up includes: JCB Loadall telescopic handlers, JCB JS tracked excavators and a new JCB Vibromax VT860 roller.