Ashville Aggregates and Concrete diversifies into plant hire

Ashville Aggregates and Concrete has diversified into plant hire, having entered into a joint venture with the Fox Group.

Known as Ashville Plant Hire, initially there are 12 brand new, jointly-branded excavators based at Ashville Aggregates’ West Drayton site, but under the terms of the deal it has access to all 4,500 machines on Fox Group’s books.

Ashville Aggregates and Concrete MD Daniel Louisy describes the joint venture as the perfect fit for both companies. “The Fox Group is very big in the north of the country, and now wants to get a foothold in the south,” he said. “Meanwhile, I have had ambitions to move into the plant hire sector for some time.”

The plant will be delivered to customers on the back of an Ashville Aggregates Scania XT P450 8x2 crane truck (pictured). This rear-steer lorry, which appeared on TH White’s stand at the 2022 Road Transport Expo, features an ex-military flatbed, which has been modified and strengthened in-house. Meanwhile, larger plant is moved by Fox Group’s subsidiaries B&W Plant Hire, Cotswold Roller Hire and Hurt Plant. Unless it needs a movement order, everything can be delivered the next day.

Daniel is confident that Ashville Plant Hire will be a success, and is considering purchasing a tractor unit and low-loader trailer in the future, so it can move larger equipment. Other trailers on his shopping list include a powder tanker (with a view to servicing a batch plant he plans to open in the next 12 months), and a couple of skeletals

To read the full story, pick up a copy of this week’s Commercial Motor, which goes on sale on Thursday 20 July. In the meantime, you can learn all about Daniel’s fascinating journey into the industry, find out about this latest venture, and discover what this social media star’s future plans are in the latest Torquing Trucks podcast.