JCB said it was one of the biggest single orders that it had ever received.
The deal cements Ipswich-based Fork Rent’s position as the owner of the UK’s biggest and youngest fleet of telehandlers, with more than 3,000 machines.
The machines are manufactured at JCB's World HQ at Rocester, Staffordshire and all are to be delivered during 2013.
Fork Rent chairman Guy Nicholls said: “Fork Rent and JCB have a great working relationship that spans over 25 years and that enables us to provide our customers with the latest technology and most highly specified machines. This latest investment in new plant delivers on our commitment to offer customers the highest level of service back up in our industry, reliability and peace of mind.”
Fork Rent is the first major hire company to buy the new top-of-the-range rigid frame JCB 540-200 Loadall, which can reach up to 20m.
Mr Nicholls added: “Fork Rent strives to be at the cutting edge of developments in the materials handling industry. As the first company to invest in JCB 540-200s, we can rightly claim to be reaching new heights in our industry with these machines. With fuel-efficient JCB Ecomax engines under the bonnet, customers can also look forward to lower fuel costs as well as exceptional reach. We are also proud to have bought more JCB telehandlers than any other UK company.”
Fork Rent bought its first JCB machine in 1987, and since then has taken more than 5,500 JCB machines through dealer Watling JCB.
Earlier this year A-Plant ordered 240 Loadalls, as part of £27m deal for 800 JCB machines.
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