Hewden invests more than £60 million as market improves

Hewden said it will invest more than £50 million in its rental fleet and a further £11.4 million on transport equipment branch developments.

The fleet investment, which includes the £25 million telehandler order with Finning announced last week, will include £10 million on excavators and site dumpers, £7 million on aerial platforms and £9 million on mobile cranes.

Hewden said the investment reflected both increasing construction activity across the UK and the success of its ‘Core Fleet Guarantee’ under which customers are guaranteed next day delivery of selected machines.

This has led, said the company, to increased demand for excavators, dumpers, self-propelled aerial platforms and telehandlers.

In addition to the investment in machines, £11.4 million will be spent on 20 Scania tractor units and 13 transport trailers and other initiatives.

For example, Hewden plans to create two new major hubs depots, one in Bedford and one to the west of London. Increased demand for portable accommodation and on-site welfare units have prompted Hewden to create four new accommodation hubs across the UK, with the first in Leeds already operating.

Meanwhile, Hewden said it was achieving a very high rate of on-time deliveries under the core fleet guarantee launched in February, with a 98.78% success rate on the 20363 deliveries made so far under the scheme. That means 20363 deliveries were made by the following day.