Contractor Irvine Plant Ltd has taken delivery of a limited‑edition 80th Anniversary JCB 4CX Pro, aiming to consolidate roles across its fleet and enhance efficiency with dealer support from Scot JCB.

Owner Ewan Irvine said the purchase is a practical step as the business continues to diversify. Starting from family farming roots alongside his father, Graham, Irvine Plant is now in its ninth year as an independent operation, with a fleet spanning 1.5–22‑tonne excavators, dumpers, loaders and a gully tanker, delivering groundworks, surfacing, drainage and council works.

Explaining the move towards a leaner setup, Irvine replaced multiple machines with the multi‑role backhoe. "I sold both our wheeled excavator and loader and went for the JCB 4CX with DUALDRIVE – it made more sense for what we needed," said Ewan Irvine.

Versatility was central to the decision. "The DUALDRIVE was a big thing for us – it just gives you that extra flexibility," he said, noting the benefit of a larger front bucket for loading and crushing work linked to farm‑based crushing projects and material handling.

Quick changes at the front end were another draw for seasonal tasks. With a reconditioned self‑propelled snow blower lined up for winter maintenance, fast swaps are key. Ewan added: "We can just drop the bucket off, pick up the snow blower up and we're away!"

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The machine is being prepared for broader duties, with plans for attachments such as a road planner and potentially a front‑mounted brush to support patching and resurfacing. The limited‑edition black finish, which pairs well with the company's grey branding, also appealed. "We can use this machine for a lot of different things – that's what makes it work for us," he said.

Dealer backup proved decisive. Ewan first worked with Scot JCB Sales Engineer Scott Logan while helping one of his own customers source a mini digger. He said: "Scott was so good with the mini digger, he's been so attentive, everything's just so easy with him." He added: "Through the whole sale and everything, Scott was fantastic – that's one of the reasons we went with JCB. It's not just about the machine, it's the backup."

Proximity to depots in Edinburgh, Kelso and Glasgow underpins that support. "We're never really any more than 40-45 minutes from a Scot JCB depot – that's ideal for us. Everybody involved from Scott through to the engineers, they're nothing but good!" said Ewan.

On day‑to‑day assistance, Ewan highlighted Service Supervisor Kevin McGuigan at Scot JCB Edinburgh. He said: "He [Kevin] gave me his number and said if you've ever got a problem, just phone – sometimes it's something you can sort yourself to get back up and running." He agreed: "it's good for the customer, they [Scot JCB] are saving you money where they can."

Running costs were another factor, with parts pricing seen as competitive. "Things like filters and grease are pretty reasonable – some manufactures are an absolute fortune!" said Ewan.

The 4CX Pro, delivered on a 2026 plate and recently shown on Scot JCB's ScotPlant 2026 stand, has made a strong first impression. "It looks even better in person than it does in the photos," he said, adding that it is set to become a central part of operations and feature in future industry coverage.

Ewan's recommendation of Scot JCB and Scott Logan is unequivocal. He said: "Like the deal Scott did with my customer, I thought "I should be buying these myself". I recommend the service, they [Scot JCB] are very attentive."