Neil’s Plant show strong Caterpillar loyalty

Lincolnshire-based plant-hire firm purchases new Cat excavator and backhoe loader 

NEIL’S Plant are celebrating 25 years of operating Caterpillar machines with the double purchase of a new Cat 432F backhoe loader and a Cat 336E LME excavator. 

Having operated Cat products since the company was founded in 1987, the latest deal – which also includes a full service and Finsight monitoring package from Finning – takes Neil’s Plant fleet to a total of 25 units.

Neil Whatling, founder of the business, explained: ‘We work with a wide customer base, from blue chip companies such as Aggregate Industries, Hanson, SITA UK and the Forestry Commission, to local contractors. Being focused on the local market, our traditional values of great service and value for money have seen us through the difficult economic climate. Thanks to this approach and due to the demand from customers, we have been able to continue to invest in our fleet.’

Supported by engineers from Finning’s Peterborough branch, Neil’s Plant have become one of an increasing number of plant hire operators to opt for Finsight support as a competitive differentiator.

Mr Whatling commented: ‘In addition to our purchase, we opted for a Finning service contract with fluid sampling and the Finsight monitoring solution. With Finsight we can now work with Finning to identify the optimum service times for our equipment. 

‘The fluid-sampling data, which is like a blood test for all of the fluids, is linked to other service information gathered by Finning engineers and analyzed by the Finsight engineering team. The results are fed back to us and our local branch helps us to schedule maintenance outside of operating hours. This all adds up to increased uptime and, ultimately, better service to our customers.’

Dave Coney, Finning territory sales manager for the Cambridgeshire and Norfolk region, added: ‘Neil’s Plant is a business that has very much grown from a grass roots approach to plant hire. They have never been afraid to invest in the latest equipment and technology, as they recognize the importance this gives them in a highly competitive market. 

‘It is testament to the approach of Neil and the team that they have seen how to combine greater fuel-efficiency, particularly from the Cat 336E, with the benefits of Finsight.’