The announcement was made during a visit by Chancellor George Osborne to JCB Transmissions, Wrexham, which will manufacture axles and gearboxes for more than half of the kit ordered.

H.E. Services will take delivery of a wide range of products including mini excavators, Loadall telescopic handlers, 3CX backhoe loaders, skid steer loaders and tracked excavators. The machines will be supplied by JCB dealer Greenshields JCB.

JCB Chief Executive Alan Blake said: “This order follows a number of major deals JCB has secured so far this year and we are delighted that a company of H. E. Services’ reputation has chosen JCB products when updating its fleet.

“H.E. Services are long-standing JCB customers so it’s testament to both the quality of JCB’s machines and our service back-up that we have retained this important business.

“This year has certainly got off to a flying start for JCB; our order books are in their healthiest position for four years and at this stage the outlook for the rest of 2011 is extremely promising.”

H.E. Services, founded in 1972, is the UK’s largest specialist excavator hire company and boasts a fleet exceeding 2000 items of plant which are offered for hire nationwide via twelve strategically located depots.

H.E. Services Group Chairman Hugh Edeleanu said today: “Our company’s mission is to provide the best quality service and most extensive range of machines and attachments for our customers and this big investment in new JCB machines is critical to delivering that promise.

“We pride ourselves on having Britain’s most up-to-date fleet of machines and we are committed to replacing that fleet every two or three years to ensure our customers get the most efficient, powerful and high-performing products on the market.”

The machines ordered by H.E. Services include 8018, 8030 and 8065 mini excavators to be made at JCB Compact Products, Cheadle, Staffs; 520-40, 535-95, 535-125 and 540-170 Loadall telescopic handlers and 3CX backhoe loaders produced at JCB’s World HQ, Rocester, Staffs; tracked excavators made at JCB Heavy Products, Uttoxeter, Staffs and skid steer loaders.