Nationwide Access's unprecedented level of investment in their UK hire fleet means that the fleet is now more than double the size of any of its competitors and will reach a level of 5,000 units later this year.

The latest expansion is the result of a £10 million investment to purchase 500 extra booms and scissor lifts to be spread throughout the UK depot network which will top the 50 mark by the end of the year. At the same time, Lavendon Group plc have acquired Vibroplant's 311 powered access units and are incorporating them into the Nationwide Access fleet.

The news follows an announcement earlier this year of a £25 million fleet investment and brings the total expenditure on machines in the UK to over £58 million in the past 18 months alone.

Lavendon Group plc chairman David Price said there would be no let up in the pace of the Group's investment throughout Europe: "Because of our economies of scale, Lavendon Group can provide powered access equipment at more competitive rates than smaller, less efficient hirers.

"We are consequently planning to significantly extend our share of the powered access market over the next two years and we are supporting the programme with a £67 million investment in new equipment in the current year. This will be followed by a similar level of investment next year."

In 1999, not an easy year for many operators in the UK powered access rental market, Nationwide Access gained a large increase in rental volumes without eroding profit margins. The customer base grew to over 8,500 accounts during the year - a 20 percent year on year increase.