A-Plant History
1947 – Ashtead Plant Hire Company Limited was founded.
1984 – With private equity support, George Burnett, Ashtead Group’s former Chief Executive, co-led a management buy-in of Ashtead Plant Hire Company Limited. Ashtead Group was formed.
1986 – Ashtead Group lists on the London Stock market.
1987 - The Acquisition of Keyplant Ltd and Harrison Hire adds 15 locations to the A-Plant portfolio.
1988 - A-Plant continues to expand through the groups acquisition of Power Products Ltd and Wimpole Hire.
1989 - A strong year for growth and coverage sees Ashtead Group complete the acquisitions of Reliant Plant, Branson and Pannell Plant, adding 18 new depots to the A-Plant network.
1990 – Ashtead Group sought to broaden its geographical base beyond the UK market and purchased Sunbelt Rentals, then a two depot business based in Charlotte, USA, and the business now known as Ashtead Technology.
1992 - Acquisition of SPW Plant Hire completed.
1993 - 5 further locations added to the A-Plant portfolio through the acquisition of City Plant Ltd.
1994 - Further acquisitions including CSE Plant, Record Plant, Steve Vick, GKN Powered Access, Dial Plant and Norman Walker.
1995 - Carter & Bradbury Ltd, Dabbs PLC and Lincoln Welding all acquired.
1996 - Another strong year sees the A-Plant UK network enhanced by 20 depots through the acquisition of Leada Acrow Ltd, Astra Pumps & Plant and ASP Ltd.
1997 - A huge 48 new A-Plant depots are created by the acquisitions of Sheriff Plant and McKeown.
1999 - UK Plant Ltd is acquired enhancing UK coverage with a further 35 depots.
2000 – Ashtead Group acquires the US equipment rental interests of Rentokil Initial plc, thereby doubling the size of Sunbelt Rentals. In the UK, the Ashtead Group also acquires Bottomey Plant and Birse Plant Hire.
2002 - A-Plant completes acquisition of Avosdrive.
2005 - Ashtead Group announces that its US subsidiary, Sunbelt Rentals, has acquired Northridge Equipment Services Inc, Brookstone Equipment & Services Inc, and the Southern Florida operations of HSS RentX. In the UK, A-Plant acquires Howard Plant.
2006 - Ashtead Group announces the acquisition of NationsRent by Ashtead’s US subsidiary, Sunbelt Rentals. Combined, they form the third largest provider in the growing US rental market. A-Plant acquires Lux Traffic Controls Limited, adding a further 40+ dedicated Traffic locations to the A-Plant network, making A-Plant the UK's largest provider of Traffic Systems on a rental basis. George Burnett retires as Chief Executive of Ashtead Group and is succeeded by Geoff Drabble.