GGH Hire Kubota excavator order: fleet strategy and utilisation notes for engineers
Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

First reported on The Construction Index
30 Second Briefing
GGH Hire has ordered 150 Kubota compact excavators in a multi-million-pound deal, ranging from sub-1-tonne KX008-5 units to 8.5-tonne KX085-5 machines supplied via dealer Boss Plant Sales. Around 100 excavators will replace the existing hire fleet, with 50 additional units expanding capacity to service higher demand for small-plant earthworks on constrained urban sites. The investment follows Enfield-based GGH Hire’s acquisition by St Albans-based Herts Tool Company in December 2025, with both brands continuing to operate separately under local management.
Technical Brief
- Kubota (UK) describes the 150-unit package as among its largest single equipment deals to date.
- Supply is routed through local dealer Boss Plant Sales, simplifying warranty, parts logistics and downtime management.
- Enfield-based GGH now operates under Herts Tool Company ownership, but with local management continuity retained.
- Former owner Gerry Gardiner remains involved post-acquisition, preserving client relationships and fleet utilisation knowledge.
Our Take
Kubota’s presence in multiple recent UK dealer and hire stories in our database, including the HRN Tractors appointment in Scotland and WHC Hire’s electric mini excavator retrofit, signals that the brand is consolidating share in the compact equipment segment across both sales and rental channels.
For GGH Hire and Herts Tool Company, committing to a 150-unit Kubota excavator order shortly after the 2025 acquisition effectively locks in a single OEM platform for much of their compact fleet, which typically simplifies parts, training and utilisation management but can reduce leverage in future price negotiations.
The sub‑1‑tonne to 8.5‑tonne weight range in this Kubota order positions GGH Hire to cover the bulk of urban and light civil works demand in the St Albans and Enfield catchment, which in our coverage is where UK rental houses are seeing the fastest turnover and highest utilisation rates for earthmoving kit.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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