National temporary and critical power specialist Star Power is supporting a major expansion of its capability across the UK with a £3 million investment in JCB generators.
The order for 170 generators, placed with JCB distributor Watling JCB, is a central element of a strategy for Star Power to extend its reach through a new network of operational hubs.
It includes the purchase of JCB’s new Stage 5 generators, the first JCB has supplied to the market, giving Star Power a lead in offering the world’s most advanced and sustainable power equipment.
Star Power will supply the equipment to customers through seven depots it will share with its sister company, access hire specialist Star Platforms.
Star Power’s Head of Power, Paul Ridley, and Watling JCB’s Sales Director, Chris Armitage, marked the handover of the first generators at Watling JCB’s headquarters in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
Paul Ridley said: “Star Power is determined to give customers the best options to provide secure and high quality temporary and critical power solutions, which is why we’ve selected JCB generators.
“Watling JCB will also be giving us the first class technical support its teams are world-renowned for, including advanced remote monitoring, a network of mobile engineers and a training programme for our own engineers.
“This all adds up to the partnership between Star Power and JCB providing our customers with unrivalled service, in terms of the flexibility of the power solutions we provide, their quality and reliability.”
Chris Armitage confirmed Star Power’s investment is expected to be one of Watling JCB’s biggest generator orders throughout 2023.
He said: “It’s been hugely rewarding to work with a dynamic, knowledgeable and forward-thinking customer like Star Power that aims to be an exemplar in temporary power solutions.
“Its commitment to futureproof its service for customers is perfectly demonstrated by being the first to invest in JCB’s new Stage 5 generators that meet all emissions regulations and are at the cutting edge of eco-friendly critical power generation.
“We’re looking forward to developing our on-going relationship with Star Power, not least through the technical support provided by more than 100 mobile engineers, which give Star Power’s customers an engineer close by and on-call 24 hours a day.”
Bristol-based Star Power has a strong reputation for providing highly-responsive temporary and critical power hire services for the construction, media and events, facilities maintenance, utilities, health, manufacturing, and data management sectors.
The investment in JCB equipment gives it one of the most modern and advanced generator fleets in the UK.
It will also be recruiting extra personnel and purchasing new delivery vehicles to provide the fast and highly-responsive service temporary and critical power users rely on.
Partnering with JCB on an ongoing product training programme covering all areas of maintenance and equipment capability will ensure customers obtain the best and most sustainable performance from the generators they hire.
Star Power will supply the generators through depots in Luton (Bedfordshire), Coalville (Leicestershire), Tonbridge (Kent), Reading (Berkshire), Thetford (Suffolk), Bridgwater (Somerset) and Warrington (Cheshire), along with its HQ in Portishead (Somerset).
The JCB Stage 3 and Stage 5 generators range in capacity from 20kVA to 500kVA, and are all synchronised. All the units can be run on HVO fuel, a diesel alternative which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 90% and harmful particulates by up to 86%.
The Stage 5 units ordered so far are 40kVA and 100kVA. Star Power has also worked closely with JCB Watling on the units’ specifications to ensure they are optimised for the rental market, making them easier for it’s customers to operate.
All the generators are fitted with JCB’s advanced LiveLink telematics system, allowing them to be remotely monitored wherever they are in the UK, enhancing performance and sustainable power delivery.
Star Group Managing Director, Richard Miller said: “Watling JCB has been a perfect supply partner for us and for our clients. We’re excited to be able to take such technically capable generators, backed by a quality brand, to market.
“More and more of our customers, especially those operating in the growing number of low-emission zones across the UK, want to use Stage 5 generators, not least because they can support their own clients’ carbon zero targets and reputational aspirations.
“It’s a fact that, in many inner city areas, the emissions leaving our JCB Stage 5 generators will be cleaner than the air going into them. That’s a phenomenal level of performance that we’re proud to deliver for our customers.”
