Record 2,000th Kubota Mini For Gap Group

The GAP Group, the UK's largest independent tool and plant hirer, has grown its fleet of Kubota mini excavators to more than 2,000.

This milestone figure confirms the GAP Group as the largest independent customer for Kubota construction equipment worldwide.

The 2,000th machine was part of a batch of 1.5 tonne KX36-3 models supplied to its Coventry depot for a Balfour Beatty contract.

They were purchased from Young Plant & Equipment Sales, sole supplier to GAP of mini excavators, along with the plant hirer's first batch of the new Kubota KX080-3  8 tonne models.

Said Ken Stewart, GAP Group's Procurement Manager: "We've been sourcing Kubota machines from Young Plant since December 1999 and our latest purchases have taken the fleet to over 2,000. Each year we surpass the previous year's record purchases, and in 2006 we took delivery of more than 500 machines."

GAP has a four-year agreement, signed in January 2006, with Young Plant to acquire a minimum of 2,000 Kubota minis. It stocks models from across the range, from 0.85 tonne to the new 8 tonne KX080 machine, with zero tail swing variants proving increasingly popular with customers.
 
"Our purchasing policy is to single-source wherever possible and to place ever increasing volumes of business with fewer suppliers through long-term commercial agreements so that valued suppliers share in our continuing success," said Ken Stewart.

"Kubota offers a wide range of reliable and robust products that have a high standard of build quality, while Young Plant provides us with the back-up needed to support our fleet both in terms of service and the provision of genuine spare parts."

Said Young Plant's Managing Director, Brian Young: "Once again the GAP Group has exceeded all our expectations with its latest orders. To have purchased over 2,000 machines in such a relatively short period is a tremendous achievement.

"This milestone figure confirms GAP Group to be the largest independent customer for Kubota construction equipment worldwide and we are delighted to be associated with them as sole supplier.

"They purchase the full range of accessories from us; from parts, buckets and tracks to anti-theft prevention and recovery devices. We believe they keep coming back for more machines because Kubota offers the most reliable, environmentally-friendly and productive fleet of mini excavators available."

Added Richard Harrison, Sales and Marketing Manager, Kubota (UK) Ltd: "It's extremely satisfying that the UK’s largest independent plant hirer has total faith in Kubota mini excavators and our distributor, Young Plant. They recognise the value of the world-beating Kubota brand as the ideal tool for so many different applications and end-users, from civil engineering to landscaping and plant hire companies to owner operators."

"Overall our sales have continued to increase significantly, further boosted by the incorporation of the unique key-based 'ANTI-THEFT' security system - the first and still the only one of its kind fitted as standard equipment by a mini excavator manufacturer."

Kubota is the world leader in mini excavators and provides the largest range available from a single manufacturer, with 18 base models spanning the weight categories from 0.85 to 8 tonnes, including the widest choice of extremely versatile zero tail swing machines.

They are supported by a nationwide network of specialist appointed Construction Equipment dealers across the UK and Ireland, together with Kubota's own dedicated sales, parts and service teams.

Further details about the market-leading Kubota mini excavators range can be obtained from Kubota (UK) Ltd - Construction Equipment Division, Dormer Road, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3UN. Tel: 01844 214500  Fax: 01844 216685. Email: enquiry@kubota.co.uk Web: www.kubota.co.uk

-ENDS-

A high resolution photo image to accompany this release is available by clicking here

Photo Caption:
Young Plant & Equipment Sales Managing Director, Brian Young, with some of the new Kubota machines supplied to the GAP Group.

ISSUED BY/ENQUIRIES TO:
Bird & Moore Ltd, Advertising,
Marketing and Public Relations,
The Old Vicarage,
26 Church Street, Uttoxeter,
Staffordshire, ST14 8AA.       
Tel: 01889 565111.
Fax: 01889 565700.
Email: birdandmoore@btconnect.com
Contact: Neil Moore, Managing Director.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF:                            
Kubota (UK) Ltd -                               
Construction Equipment,                         
Dormer Road,                                       
Thame,                                                  
Oxfordshire, OX9 3UN.                              
Tel: 01844 214500.                                       
Fax: 01844 216685.                                       
Email: richardh@kubota.co.uk                          
Contact: Richard Harrison,                                   
Sales & Marketing Manager.   

Issuers of news releases, not Targetwire, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.