Busy Smiths buys Kubotas
19 April 2021
Astute forward ordering and careful management have enabled Smiths Equipment Hire to take delivery of 35 more Kubota mini excavators at a time when demand for plant is rocketing.
The company’s Kubota fleet now totals more than 120 machines.
This is a busy period for the Blackpool-based business, which has already opened a new depot in Burnley (below) this year and is currently putting the finishing touches to additional locations in Castleford and Morecambe.
Thomas Smith, joint managing director, said: “With a lot more people working at home, and current restrictions allowing construction work to continue, home-scale projects are on the rise and demand for smaller excavators is huge. This is especially the case for Kubota’s sub-5 tonne range, which are perfect for domestic jobs.”
The latest order comprises several models, including the U10-3, KX016-4, U17-3a and U27-4, as well as two recently released U50-5 machines in the 5-tonne class which have Stage V-compliant engines.
Thomas says the Kubota machines are “extremely reliable, come with an excellent backup service, and perhaps most important - customers love them.”
David Smith, Thomas’ brother and fellow managing director, tells me that business is extremely strong. “Our Burnley depot has only been opened a few months and it’s going great guns. And our business amongst homeowners and DIY users doubled last year. Utilisation has never been higher.”
