Wednesday, February 25 th, 2015
The Scottish arm of UK aggregates specialists Breedon Aggregates has completed the largest acquisition of Cat® rollers in Europe and the Middle East in 2014. The 29 machine deal takes Breedon’s total investment in Cat machines in the past 12 months to £2.5 million.
Working with the UK’s largest independent aggregates business, Finning put together a package that included 25 utility rollers (11 Cat CB14Bs, 8 Cat CB24Bs, 6 Cat CB34Bs), 3 Cat CB44Bs asphalt rollers and one Cat AP500E paver. The machines were delivered in the final quarter of the year, joining the two Cat AP500Es pavers purchased by Breedon Scotland and the AP500E bought by Breedon England at the end of 2013.
The rollers will be put to use servicing single-carriageway roads, dual carriageways and motorways under major Trunk Road Maintenance contracts, led by its associate company BEAR Scotland. The deal follows a major acquisition earlier this year of loading shovels, dumpers and excavators for Breedon’s Scottish quarrying operations.
Alan Mackenzie, Chief Executive of Breedon in Scotland, commented on the deal: “After hiring a large majority of our compaction fleet for many years we looked at whole life costing of hire versus purchasing. Cat delivered a sustainable package for us. It is extremely valuable for Breedon Scotland to be able to invest in Cat machines that we know will consistently deliver.
“We are confident that the improved machine performance across our fleet will increase the productivity, efficiency and quality of our projects, which will in turn improve our financial performance. It’s not just the functionality of the Cat machines, which are important to our operations; it’s also the support Finning is able to provide. With a full five-year warranty, complete servicing maintenance and a network of branches throughout Scotland, Finning offer the best possible option for keeping our machine downtime to a minimum.
“Breedon has sites spanning the whole of Scotland, including the Hebrides, so the fact that Finning are ubiquitous across our country will have a significant positive impact on our on-going running costs.”
Overseeing the landmark deal, John Stuart, Area Sales Manager for Finning, added: “After Breedon secured the very first UK Finning paving deal at the end of last year, this further investment inspires confidence that Finning are providing the machines and services our customers expect. The largest investment of Caterpillar rollers in Europe and the Middle East is testament to Breedon’s growing success within the paving market.
“Working with the largest UK-owned aggregates business in the UK demonstrates the quality of the Cat products and diversity of EM Solutions that Finning can offer. After delivering a wide range of machines this year, from wheel loaders to industrial scale pavers, our relationship with Breedon demonstrates that Finning is a one-stop shop for top quality machines and support services.”
John Stuart concluded: “This investment further establishes Breedon’s commitment to be the lowest cost producer in the market. With our fleet of assets growing, we are able to achieve significant cost and performance synergies, which means we will be even stronger in the future.”
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