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FAMILY FIRM CELEBRATES PURCHASE OF 200TH JCB MACHINE
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A family-run plant hire company has reached a double-century with a difference.
Harrogate firm D & S Kitching has just taken delivery of its 200th JCB machine – a 535-95 Loadall telescopic handler - from dealer TC Harrison JCB in Ossett, West Yorkshire.
Jason Kitching, a partner in the company with father David, said there is a simple explanation for reaching the milestone.
“The quality of JCB equipment is first class and you know you are getting good solid and versatile machines when you buy them”, he said.
“There are more manufacturers on the market now than ever before, but if you go for some of them you have problems of spares and parts back up – that’s not the case with JCB.
“We have been buying a JCB machine at the rate of almost one a week recently and that has taken us past the 200 mark, which is a very large fleet for us now and makes us one of the largest operators in the region.
“But they are all required as we have taken on a lot of work not only on building sites but in agriculture too, with a few required to help out in the foot and mouth crisis.”
The family firm, which employs 40 staff, was one of the first in the country to try out JCB’s 540-170 Telescopic Handler, which has a towering lift of 16.8 metres and was launched earlier this year.
TC Harrison MD Bill Sutton said: “D & S Kitching is a great family run firm to deal with. The father and son know what they want and do not waste any time in getting it. The majority of their recent purchases have been Loadall telescopic handlers and they were among the first to buy the 540-170 which is the biggest Loadall JCB has ever made.”