Kubota UK reaches 50,000 excavator milestone
Kubota UK, the market-leading supplier of high quality & performance compact construction machinery, has achieved the landmark sale of its 50,000th excavator in the British and Irish market.
This is a major milestone for the company that was the first to introduce and pioneer the concept of mini-excavators into the UK in 1979. Back then; with no products of this kind on the market, there was some serious skepticism about the introduction of mini-excavators and the value they could provide to building projects. In fact, just 41 Kubota machines were sold in 1979, with one of the first being the classic KH10 mini-excavator model, a machine that can still be found working 37 years later.
Since being introduced, the popularity of mini-excavators has gone from strength-to-strength. Competing brands have entered the sector, but none have managed to take Kubota’s number one position as market leader, a reputation that has been built by providing robust, high performing and reliable machines, with excellent comfort and efficiency, and backed up by a first class after sales support.
For Kubota, its history in this sector is a real success story with momentum continuing to grow year-on-year. After the 41 Kubota machines were sold in year one (1979), it took five years for Kubota to reach 1,000 machines in 1984. By 1988, yearly sales had increased to 1,000 per annum and by 1998, approximately 20 years since the concept was first introduced, Kubota had sold its 10,000th machine within the British and Irish market. This exponential trend continued into the new millennium, with 25,000 Kubota mini-excavators sold by 2006.
In the last 10 years, growth has been phenomenal, with Kubota reaching the 50,000 landmark following a stellar 2015 for the firm, setting new records in terms of volumes and market share for the 3rd consecutive year. Whilst the brand is widely known for its mini-excavators within the UK and Irish construction market, Kubota has also expanded its product offering in 2015, with the launch of new ranges of wheeled loaders and tracked carriers.
To commemorate the achievement internally, the business will be showcasing the 50,000th machine, identified as a Kubota’s K008-3 micro excavator, within the reception of its UK’s headquarters in Thame Oxfordshire, alongside a plaque honoring the feat. The sold model of the K008-3 has been delivered to Hawes Plant & Tool Hire Ltd via Kubota dealer Boss Plant, which is fitting as the plant hire firm has been one of Kubota’s longest standing construction customers.
Externally, a whole host of activity is planned throughout 2016 to celebrate the 50,000th sale. Firstly the business will be exhibiting its original Kubota KH10 model at the Hillhead show in June, where it will be positioned next to a ‘special edition’ gold painted KX-71 machine, considered to be a modern day equivalent in terms of size and power to the KH10. Kubota will then donate the ‘gold-digger’ to the Lighthouse Club, who will be auctioning it off at its prestigious summer ball, with all money donated going to the construction industry charity.
Dave Roberts, Managing Director of Kubota UK, commented: “It is quite remarkable to consider the journey Kubota has been on to reach this 50,000 excavator sales milestone. It was not plain sailing in the early years, quite the contrary, but now the results are there for all to see.
“This significant achievement is testament to the market leading build, performance and reliability of the Kubota machines. Another major part of our success is thanks to our extensive network of independent dealers, who ensure Kubota has strong local presence in each specific territory within the UK and Ireland, which is essential to our sales strategy.
“I’d also like to thank the great team we have here at Kubota UK. Everyone works really hard to keep Kubota number 1 in terms service, product and after sales support. We have earned a fantastic reputation over the years for our machinery solutions; along with the significant value we offer the construction sector in terms of our finance packages, service capabilities and parts distribution.
“It fills me with great pride that we continue to maintain and build on our market leading position thanks to our loyal customers, some of whom have been with us since the start in 1979, as well as the ever increasing number of customers who are new to Kubota. I welcome you all to join me on Stand W3 at Hillhead, where we will be celebrating this achievement.”
For more information on Kubota and its service solutions for the construction groundcare and agriculture sectors visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268000.
Alternatively, follow Kubota on Twitter (@KubotaUK) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/KubotaUK).
Customer testimonial, Hawes Plant Tool Hire Ltd:
Back in the late ‘70s, Kubota was little known in the UK construction market, yet Roy Hawes, Managing Director of Hawes Plant & Tool Hire Ltd, was one of the early adopters of the Kubota mini-excavator in the UK; the first in the South-East to own a Kubota KH10.
Now in his 70s and still with a hunger for the industry, Roy recalls vividly his early memories of Kubota: “I remember receiving a small bright orange leaflet in the post with ‘Kubota’ emblazoned on it. It was my wife (who established the company with Roy in the mid ‘70s) who suggested we enquire about the machine as I had a few hand digging jobs on the go and needed a machine that would speed up operations.”
Roy took the plunge and purchased the new mini-excavator, through F Clarke & Sons, which was the only UK dealer at the time. Roy acquired a new KH10, together with three buckets, which marked the beginning of what would go on to be a long and enjoyable working relationship with the company.
“I completed the factory job in record time and was amazed with how well the Kubota performed. I knew straight away that there would be a market for these mini-excavators, despite what others were telling me that the compact machines were not able to operate in the toughest of conditions or be effective within larger projects.”
The orders started rolling in for Roy and his fledging team thereafter, but it was following a visit to a recently bankrupt demolition company in Swansea where the success of the mini-excavator really kicked into gear. “I’d heard that a hydraulic breaker was up for grabs. When we tested it with the KH10 we were blown away. Small, compact jobs, which would usually have taken weeks by hand, were now being finished in record time. Since then, I’ve not looked back, buying only Kubota mini-excavators for over three decades.”
Thirty-seven years after his first experience, Roy is still impressed with the rugged and durable qualities of Kubota, with the superb residual value and unrivaled reliability just two of the stand out qualities of the brand.
Hawes Plant currently operates a fleet of over 190 machines across various tonne categories. There’s no doubt that Kubota is a firm favourite with Hawes, having tried others brands over the years, they continue to come back to Kubota as the only consistent, well supported and extremely reliable mini-excavator manufacturer over the 37 year period.
With such an appetite for Kubota machines today, it’s hard to believe the sentiment felt in the late ‘70s towards a company that was just making its way in the UK market.
“I couldn’t predict how far Kubota would come when I acquired my first machine,” explains Roy. “I knew instantly that Kubota machines were high quality and for the work I was doing back then, the KH10 fitted the bill perfectly. Kubota has continued to push the limits of the mini-excavator ever since, which is why it still leads the market.”
Kubota dealer testimonial, Young Plant Equipment Sales Ltd:
Long standing Scottish Kubota dealer, Young Plant & Equipment Sales Ltd, was quick to recognise the business potential of the then new mini-excavators. In 1979 it was the second dealer in the UK to stock Kubota’s first model, the KH10D.
Business founder, the late Tom Young, was one of just a handful in the industry professionals who identified the 
potential of the mini-excavator. However, it wasn’t easy at first, in fact the construction sector at large needed convincing, meaning it was an uphill struggle for Young Plant to get the message across.
At the beginning, the only way to convince users was to offer free demonstrations and trials. Young Plant also acted as a plant hire company for the Japanese manufacturer in the time before bespoke hire specialists became aware of the high productivity levels mini-excavators can achieve.
“Back in the early days there was no bulk buying, we were selling Kubotas one-by-one – we had a demonstration model and one to sell,” explains Brian Young, Managing Director of Young Plant.
In the 37 years selling Kubotas, Young Plant has seen over 6,000 machines leave its forecourt and has continued to enjoy sustained growth, regularly seeing a 10-15% increase in sales year-on-year. Whilst good planning and a long history has been central to that success, the strength and growth of the Kubota brand in the UK, and the enduring appeal among Young Plant’s customer base, has contributed significantly to the company’s prosperity over the past three decades, as Brian explains:
“The Kubota product is remarkably reliable. When machines leave the forecourt we never see them again; there’s very rarely issues with servicing or maintenance and the introduction of its new larger range, the eight tonne KX080-4, for example, continues to be popular across the hire sector, alongside all other weight categories.”