Rentool Drives Continued Fleet Growth

Leading Hampshire and Dorset plant and tool hire business Rentool is searching for new head office premises, to cope with the rapid expansion of its equipment fleet. As a further three Kubota KX085-5 excavators join a line-up that includes more than 150 excavators, 130 site dumpers, telescopic handlers, compaction equipment and a wide range of power tools, Rentool’s business continues to thrive, as it works to meet growing customer demand.

“We’ve increased the fleet a lot over the last five years,” said Director Ben Collings. “We are now on the hunt for larger premises, so that we can expand further.”

Rentool was formed in 1982, by Ben’s father Bill Collings and fellow Director Toby Jackson’s father Mike. Both Ben and Toby have managed depots within the business, before taking on the overall running of the company in 2019. The firm first moved to its head office site in Chandlers Ford in 2008 and has a second depot in Poole, Dorset.

Though initially more of a tool hire business, the power tool side has become secondary to the main plant business over time, as the fleet has expanded. All equipment is supplied on a non-operated basis and Rentool covers a wide geographic area across the central South of England, from Brighton to Bridport. The customer base is equally diverse, spread across a wide range of industry sectors, from major civil engineering businesses to weekend DIY enthusiasts.

The company’s excavator fleet includes models from a sub-1 tonne micro, through to 13-tonne crawlers. Up to 98% of the mini and midi excavators have been supplied by local Kubota dealer Lister Wilder, demonstrating the firm’s confidence in the brand and its belief in the dealer’s support. Site dumpers range from 1-9 tonnes and that line-up also includes Kubota’s 3-tonne tracked machines, alongside traditional wheeled models. Rentool offers compaction equipment, fuel cubes and bowsers too, to ensure that it meets all of its customer needs on site.

“We’ve got a really broad spread of good customers, many of whom we’ve been trading with for more than 40 years,” said Mr Jackson.

Though growing rapidly to support those businesses, the company is also happy to work with other hire firms, to meet the needs of customers that may be working out of area. “We’ve built up some really good connections with other plant hirers, when needed to support our customers,” said Mr Collings.

Rentool leans towards a high specification for all of its equipment, providing the best machinery possible. While mini excavators have been offered with breakers for many years, the company now also has augers, grabs and other attachments available, with rotate function hydraulic lines installed on larger excavator models.

“Every excavator 2.7-tonnes and above is specified with a hydraulic quickhitch and auxiliary hydraulics,” said Mr Collings.

Rentool has established a strong relationship with Kubota dealer Lister Wilder and the company’s own service workshop is approved by Kubota to carry out all service and repair work during the warranty term. However, the dealer is always on hand to provide essential parts and technical back-up when required.

“The Kubota equipment is particularly good and we get excellent service from Lister Wilder,” he said.

The KX085-5 is currently Kubota’s largest compact excavator, weighing in at 8.4-tonnes with a monoboom, or 9.0-tonnes with a two-piece articulating boom. Powered by a 46.5kW (63.2hp) Stage V diesel engine, the machine uses a load-sensing two-pump hydraulic system to ensure smooth operation and consistent productivity.

A well-balanced excavator, the KX085-5 delivers up to 7.33m of forward reach and a maximum digging depth of up to 4.6m, making it a versatile model for a wide range of industry sectors. Equipped as standard with the Kubota Tracking System, operators can remotely access operational performance in real-time, to plan maintenance, diagnose faults and ensure maximum on-site security.

The KX085-5 has become an increasingly popular option for Rentool’s customers and the latest additions to the fleet, which feature the company’s new livery, complete more than £1m of investment in new equipment during 2025. As the company looks to the new year ahead, additional equipment and larger premises are at the top of the agenda.