22.10.2024

Ardent invests £50 million

UK telehandler and equipment rental company Ardent is to invest more than £50 million in new equipment for its rental fleet as it increases its focus on lifting related equipment

The investment is part of a plan to “become the leading material handling and lifting equipment provider in the UK.” It will include around 750 new telehandlers from Manitou and JCB for delivery in 2025 including a large number of 360 degree models, in order to take its roto fleet to around 200 machines. The company will also spend around £7 million in upgrading its delivery/ transport fleet.
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Chief financial officer Julian O’Neill said: “The transition secures the future for both Ardent and for our customers. With a laser focus on this specific sector, backed by a multi million pound investment, Ardent will be able to provide equipment and service that are second to none, setting new standards for material handling and lifting hire.”

“We are investing heavily in Ardent to create an exceptional hire sector specialist. We’ve never settled for second best, and we’re not about to start now. We’re building on our unrivalled reputation to deliver the very best equipment and exceptional levels of service and digital support, to make Ardent the first and only choice for material handling and lifting equipment.”

Ardent was formed in 2016 from the merger of Fork Rent and One Call Hire and now runs a fleet of around 7,000 units - with an average age of less than three years - from six locations across the UK. While it had inherited and maintained earthmoving equipment in its fleet, it has now decided to concentrate on the core telehandler market.