12.10.2010

First JCB 515-40s go to work

UK based rental company Rocket Rentals of Dursley, Gloucestershire, has taken delivery of two of the first JCB 515-40 ultra compact telehandlers, the smallest model ever produced by the manufacturer.

The two units, part of an order for six, were specified with air-conditioning, solid tyres and licensed for road use.

The first unit went straight out on a three month rental to Devizes–based contractor Gaiger Bros on a school renovation project in Warminster. The 515-40’s 1.56 metre overall width allowed it to gain access through the narrow entrance to the site.
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The JCB 515-40 proved to be ideal on this site

Without it Gaiger says that it would have been obliged to have used a high-masted forklift for handling the materials in its compound on a nearby sports field and a compact dumper to take them through the narrow entrance to the point of construction.

The customer is said to be delighted to have saved on the rental of a second machine and has also highlighted health and safety benefits keeping the load’s palletised and avoiding the manual handling of bricks that would have been necessary with the dumper option.

Rocket Rentals managing director, Simon Tomblin said: “From first sight of the new 515-40 we recognised the great opportunities it presented – opening up niche markets and allowing us to offer something different from the competition. It’s so compact and low that you can now do jobs not previously possible without losing the lift and reach capabilities that make telehandlers so popular in plant hire.”

“Versatility is the key for us and this machine can handle general construction duties as well as appealing to the waste and recycling industry – giving us a good route into a potentially lucrative sector. With this in mind we have specified one of the machines with solid puncture resistant tyres. Another great feature is the compatibility with skid steer attachments such as sweepers, augers, buckets and forks - again creating up a significant number of possible hire applications.”

The 515-40 has an overall height of 1.8 metres is just 2.97 metres long and weighs less than 3.5 tonnes.