Latest News
Bumpa hoist added to range
A new item of equipment added to our range in April was a Bumpa Hoist.
This 8 metre 110v hoist is ideal for shifting tiles, bricks, blocks, fittings, felt or anything that will fit onto the belt or in to one of the two bucket attachments. It can handle up to 80kg at any one time and can be reversed to take material down from a roof as well as up.
The 8m Bumpa Hoist measures 4.2m when folded up and is quick and easy for two people to set up and manoeuvre.
New Kubota KX71 joins hire fleet
In March we took delivery of another Kubota KX71-3 3-tonne mini excavator, supplied by Stanton Harcourt dealers, Leach Lewis.
With its long arm the KX71-3 delivers the combination of excellent digging depth and power, which Kubota claim makes it the industry leader in its class.
The KX71-3 includes a number of smart design features:
- Anti-theft system with individually coded keys
- Protected bucket ram hoses
- Boom ram protection
- Bushes at all pivot points for enhanced durability
- Variable displacement pumps
- Comfortable, roomy cabin
- Increased rear visibility
Busy times at Basil Hill Road
Hot on the heels of the new record month in February we managed to better that in April by a further 4%.
In April we experienced record demand for diggers and dumpers and were extremely busy with many other hire lines.
May has also started very well with orders coming in thick and fast so we are confident of another strong showing.
What our customers say about us
“Didcot Plant supply a first class service, provide reliable and well serviced machinery and on time deliveries/collections. An excellent company to deal with.”
Jo Davis
Buckle & Davies Construction Ltd
“We have worked with Didcot Plant for many years, often servicing projects for which other plant companies are geographically closer. Didcot Plant are a well run, well organised family business , good to work with and most importantly providing excellent service with good quality equipment.”
Dan Bosher
Director
Boshers Ltd
“For me when I need hire equipment I think… Didcot Plant. Big choice, quality tools, prompt service and good people. End of problem”
Tim Lightfoot
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Ltd
“Just a quick note to thank you and your team for providing us with excellent service over the years.”
Duncan Scroggs
Green & Tidy
Featured equipment
Thwaites hi-tip dumper
Our most popular dumper and therefore the dumper that we own the most of is the Thwaites 1-tonne Hi-Tip Dumper.
With its combination of narrow design and ability to load skips directly the Thwaites 1-tonne is an extremely versatile dumper.
At just 1115mm wide there are few sites it cannot access. It is four wheel drive, has hydrostatic drive and hydraulically assisted power steering.
The skip has a discharge height of 1.6m when raised. It has a carrying capacity of 1000kg in weight, 500 litres of heaped material or 400 litres struck.
Volvo 5-tonne excavator
At the heavier end of our range of mini excavators are the 5-tonne and 8-tonne excavators. The 5-tonne Volvo EC55 offers an impressive combination of comfort, power and safety.
Comfort
The EC55 was most definitely designed with operator comfort in mind. The ergonomically designed cab is roomy and offers many smart features, including fully adjustable seat, power assisted joystick controls and air conditioning.
Power
The 16-valve Volvo engine gives power, performance and low fuel consumption. Combined with the Total Power Control Hydraulic System the EC55 provides smooth yet powerful bucket dig forces. It features increased hydraulic system pressure for greater lifting capacity and increased productivity.
Safety
The EC55 is such a safe machine to operate because it has been built so strong. The undercarriage is X-shaped for better load distribution and long for stability, performance and comfort. It has anti-vibration tracks that provide smooth travel even at higher speeds.
Within the cab the EC55 will not start unless the console and safety lever are properly positioned and the instrument panel has a monitoring system that shuts off the engine in case of a major problem.
Service
We think service matters
These days too many companies seem to have forgotten what it takes to put their customers’ needs first and end up providing a sub-standard service. Too many have a ‘that’s close enough’ attitude to the way they operate.
At Didcot Plant we do not share this attitude. We think service matters.
Quality service, quality people
At the heart of everything we do is the team of people that provide you with the quality service.
Throughout our firm there are experienced plant and tool hire people that help to make your dealings with us so positive.
Prompt deliveries
You don’t order equipment just for the hell of it, you order it because you need it to do a job. If it doesn’t arrive on site promptly you lose time and as the saying goes ‘Time is money’.
We have at least four dedicated delivery vehicles on the road all day every day ensuring we maintain our reputation for prompt deliveries.
Tried and tested systems
The smooth running of Didcot Plant and our ability to provide a high level of service is thanks to the implementation of our tried and tested systems. The way we do things has been established over many years and has been formulated to make our service smooth and seamless.
We have a network of PC’s positioned at every workstation, connected to our hire management systems and each delivery vehicle is fitted with satellite tracking and navigation to make finding new site locations easier, speeding up delivery times.
Wide range, quality equipment
The range of equipment that we offer in our hire fleet and its quality is integral to us providing a superior service.
We offer a wide range of equipment from leading manufacturers and are constantly adding new items and renewing existing ones.
High levels of maintenance
Our workshop team are dedicated to turning out plant and tools maintained to the highest of standards.
Following off-hire each item of petrol or diesel plant is pressure washed off before being thoroughly checked and serviced. As well as a clean, each item of electrical equipment also undergoes ‘Clare’ electrical safety testing after every hire to ensure it is safe for use.
Back-up plan
Sometimes things go wrong and despite the most vigorous of maintenance procedures on site breakdowns and problems are unavoidable.
But it is how they are dealt with that sets the best hire companies apart.
With two dedicated mobile fitters on constant stand-by we can attend site quickly and offer a repair or exchange of the problematic equipment getting you back to work without too much fuss.
Tony Newman
High maintenance
As workshop director it is up to me to ensure that all diesel and petrol equipment is sent out in the best possible condition. Without our plant attaining a high level of reliability our service would fall apart so I stress excellence at all times in the maintenance routines within the workshop.
My workshop team strive everyday to meet the high standards that I set. These high standards begin with making sure each piece of equipment gets a thorough clean after each hire. Engine levels are then checked and topped up before the equipment gets a thorough examination aimed at spotting any faults. Only when my team are happy that all is well with the equipment is it made available for hire again.
This routine is very important to ensure that we don’t hire out sub-standard or defective plant and we take great pride in the quality of the equipment that we send out.
We also take great pride in reacting quickly to on-site problems and breakdowns, something that also falls under my responsibility. When a repair is needed on-site I have two mobile fitters that can be dispatched quickly.