The  deal includes a ground-breaking three year service support package that guarantees full up-time for every machine.

Raymond Brown has taken delivery of five Cat 320s, three wheel loaders, including one 966H model and an 18t material handler.

Mark Isaac, Raymond Brown plant operator, said: “Even though the country is officially out of recession the environment is very challenging.

“We  recognise there would be significant benefits in placing an order of this nature at this time.

He added: “Not only would we have the most up to date fleet in the market, that would give us the ability to ramp up our operations in a recovery, we would also be able to benefit from competitive pricing and equipment availability.

“Learning from our recent experience, we have now moved to more service delivery approach to our fleet purchasing decision making process, where the overall cost of ownership, servicing and performance per litre of fuel, is more important than unit purchase price for example.

The £70m turnover Raymond Brown Group manages a plant fleet from its Hampshire based head office and recently came under control of a management buy-out team.

Finning sales manager  Darren Bodio explains: “The team at Raymond Brown Group  recognised that we were practicing what we were preaching by setting our own goals through our Lastability promise, to save the industry £10m in 2010.”