A fleet of 24 JCB skid steers is destined for a unique working life – as the stars of a children’s theme park.The JCB135 skid steer loaders are being enlisted for duty on the ‘JCB Robots’ driving experience at four Diggerland parks in Kent, Devon, Durham and Yorkshire.
The deal, worth £650,000, was placed through dealer Greenshields JCB and cements a long-standing relationship with Diggerland which was launched in 2000 by H.E. SERVICES boss Hugh Edeleanu. Hugh started in business back in 1972 with a single JCB backhoe loader, going on to build the UK’s largest specialist excavator hire company with a fleet of over 3,500 machines.
Diggerland and H.E. SERVICES (Plant Hire) Limited founder Hugh Edeleanu said: “The Diggerland theme parks have gone from strength to strength over the past two decades. Visitors young and old continue to be thrilled by the opportunity to operate or ride in JCB machines, whether it is driving the 135 skid steer or digging with a JCB 3CX Backhoe Loader.”
JCB Group Managing Director Global Key Accounts Yvette Henshall-Bell said: “JCB machines can be found on every continent across the globe, but being the star attraction at a theme park has to be one of the most entertaining uses we know of. Showcasing JCBs at Diggerland brings the construction world within the reach of operators of the future, which can only be good news for our industry.”The skid steers will join a host of JCB machines at the construction themed fun parks, which feature attractions such as driving the iconic JCB 3CX backhoe loader, riding in the ‘Groundshuttle’ – a JCB 540-140 Loadall with 15 seats – and being elevated to 18 metres in the air in a JCB 540-180 Loadall. The theme park also has JCB 135 skid steer and 3CX backhoe loader racing experiences for adults, amongst other events.
