Balfour Beatty Invests in New Fleet of John Deere Tractors
2010-07-19

Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions, one of the UK’s leading utility solutions providers, has invested more than £1.3m in 33 brand new John Deere 5M and 6030 Series tractors, all equipped with front loaders.

The machines have been purchased to support ongoing overhead line projects and increase operational capacity.

The company uses tractors extensively whilst installing and renovating overhead electricity lines. The new tractors will be equipped for one of two key roles; as either winch or tow machines.

The winch tractors will each be fitted with a 2000kg winch to enable them to raise and lower insulators and other equipment to teams working on towers. Tow tractors are used to move equipment around sites as well as towing tensioners – machinery used to raise and tighten the main power cables – to and from site.

In a change from the traditional green and yellow of John Deere tractors, Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions’ machines have all been finished in the companies’ distinguishing blue, giving them a unique and smart presence at sites around the country.

Rob Sonnex, Mechanical Plant Manager for Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions, said:

“We always buy the best when it comes to our plant and vehicles, and this investment is no exception. John Deere has an excellent reputation for quality and safety, whilst the technical support and dealership back up offered by the company and its dealer, Agricultural Industrial Services, made our choice clear. The new tractors will increase our capacity for overhead line work and therefore give significant benefits to our clients, especially on projects where time is a factor.

“When it came to purchasing our new tractors, we needed machines which would stand up to the stresses and strains our important work puts on them. We take safety extremely seriously in all of our work, so this was also an important factor when choosing a manufacturer.”

John Deere’s agricultural marketing manager Chris Meacock said:

“John Deere and AIS are delighted to have won this important contract to supply our tractors to one of the country’s major utility businesses. It underlines our continuing efforts to provide market leading technology solutions to a wide range of customers.”

The investment in the tractors comes only a few months after Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions invested in a fleet of 700 Mercedes Sprinter vans to improve safety for its entire workforce.

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