DESPITE challenging times for the construction trade a plant hire business has invested £3.5m in new machinery.

The investment by Mechplant, which is part of Durham City-based Esh Group, involves more than £1m being spent this year bringing the total spend to date to over £1.8m with the remaining amount earmarked to be spent in the next 18 months.

The overall investment programme runs through to 2016 with a total planned investment value of £3.5m.

The plan involves purchase of the latest technological and advanced engineered machinery from manufacturer JCB, including excavators, rollers, dumpers and telescopic handlers.

The orders are being placed through local dealer, TCHarrison JCB, based in Sedgefield and deliveries will run through the summer months.

Steve Makinson, joint managing director of Mechplant explained: “We are absolutely committed to providing our customers with the latest equipment and technologies available.

"Many are in the utilities and construction sectors; the work they do is essential, underpins our regional infrastructure and has to continue.  To do that - they need the right tools for the job.

“Although the last four years have been very tough we are proud to be making this investment and to be investing in British manufacturing with JCB and trading with their local distributor, TC Harrison JCB.”

Mechplant serves clients in a range of sectors throughout the region from its group regional headquarters in Northumberland, Durham, Cumbria and Yorkshire.

Robert Wilson, joint managing director, of TC Harrison Group Limited said: “Mechplant has bought over 40 machines from TCHarrison JCB over the last 18 months – mostly excavators of varying sizes and specifications and some rollers.

"This is a significant investment and we are delighted that they have chosen to make that with our local depot at Sedgefield.

“We very much appreciate the business relationship we have forged together – TCHarrison JCB and Mechplant share the same outlook; we both put the customer at the heart of all we do, planning from their point of view and prioritising their needs.”

In the last quarter of 2012 and the first three months of 2013, Mechplant recorded positive growth in both revenues and profits.