LEADING FRENCH HIRER INVESTS IN
COLOURFUL NEW JCB FLEET

A leading French rental company has
invested in a fleet of 20 new JCB Loadall telescopic handlers – all painted
in their striking blue and white corporate livery.

Bleu Blanc was founded in 2003 and
is one of the country’s most important regional rental companies covering
Western France with a network of 20 depots.

Employing 90 people and with a fleet
of more than 8,000 machines, the company’s main bases are in Brittany,
Normandy and Maine et Loire Sarthe. Bleu Blanc is owned by Mr Philippe
Jan, who is Chairman, The latest investment in JCB Loadalls includes ten
535-140 models, nine 540-170s and one 535-95.

Tim Burnhope, JCB’s Group Managing
Director of Product Development and Commercial Operations, said: “Bleu
Blanc has been a JCB customer now for 12 years so we are delighted to win
this repeat business from such an important rental company.”

Philippe Jan said: “It’s vital in
our industry to offer the most modern and up-to-date equipment to our customers
and this latest investment in JCB machines delivers on that promise.”

Bleu Blanc also operates JCB backhoe
loaders and the latest machines have been supplied by JCB France dealer
M3 (Dubreuil Group) which covers Western France.

The new Loadalls are already lined
up to work on house building and construction projects across the region.
While Bleu Blanc was formed in 2003 under the ownership of Philippe Jan,
the organisation can trace its roots back to 1957 when Jean Claude Mangeard,
the son of a blacksmith, created a company to lease and sell construction
equipment.

John Deere updates new 8R Series tractors

Following the introduction in spring 2011 of the new 8R Series tractors from 260 to 360hp, designed to meet European Stage IIIB emissions regulations, John Deere has announced a number of significant updates to the range for 2012.

The 8260R, 8285R, 8310R, 8335R and 8360R tractors feature the new fuel efficient PowerTech PSX 9-litre six-cylinder engine, which provides higher horsepower and torque while utilising field-proven technology to meet the new emissions standards. These new tractors each offer an increase of 15hp over the previous 8R models, with the potential to add a further 35hp boost using Intelligent Power Management (IPM) in non-stationary pto and transport applications.

This engine utilises established exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) technology, with the addition of an exhaust filter that contains a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and a diesel particulate filter (DPF), as widely used in the construction and automotive industries. This automatically cleans itself during normal machine operation.

New tracked versions of the top three models will be available from November 2011, designated the 8310RT, 8335RT and 8360RT. These machines offer increased traction, flotation and pulling power for specific applications, and feature the established AirCushion suspension system.

A new integrated front hitch with a lift capacity of 5.2 tonnes is now available ex-factory, providing enough power to lift heavy front-mounted implements such as mowers or seed hoppers. The front hitch is compatible with the John Deere intelligent Total Equipment Control (iTEC) system, which allows the operator to automate multiple tractor functions simultaneously.

Available in three versions, a new independent 1000rpm front pto delivers up to 175hp and is equipped with an interchangeable flanged shaft. This gives the operator more flexibility to use both older front-end equipment and the latest available models. In addition to the front hitch improvements, the new 8R Series tractors feature up to six SCVs at the rear, providing even greater versatility for the most demanding applications.

There is the same choice of 16/5 automatic PowerShift or AutoPowr continuously variable transmissions on all new models, wheeled and tracked, except the top of the range 8360R, which is AutoPowr only. Independent Link Suspension (ILS) is also available as standard with the 50kph AutoPowr transmission, and optional on the 40kph AutoPowr and PowerShift transmissions.

The new range is available with complimentary JDLink Ultimate telematics plus Service ADVISOR remote monitoring and diagnostics systems for the first year, as well as a new, advanced GreenStar 3 CommandCenter cab display. New ActiveCommand Steering (ACS), which won a DLG gold medal at Agritechnica in 2009, is also optionally available. The new John Deere 8R Series tractors are also fitted as standard with CESAR Datatag and immobiliser systems, with a unique transponder based key.