Business

Briggs Equipment acquires Co Tyrone hire firm JB Plant

JB Plant Hire is the latest acquisition by the Briggs Group.
JB Plant Hire is the latest acquisition by the Briggs Group. JB Plant Hire is the latest acquisition by the Briggs Group.

CO Tyrone-based JB Plant Hire has been bought by Briggs Equipment in the latest acquisition move by the US-owned group.

It comes just two years after Briggs acquired the north’s largest plant hire firm Balloo Hire Centres Limited in 2019.

Briggs followed up that deal in April 2021 by buying Balloo Hire’s Dublin-based sister business, along with Laois Hire Services, in a deal believed to have been worth around €11 million.

Briggs, which is ultimately owned by Dallas headquartered Sammons Enterprises, has continued in its acquisition strategy by buying JB Plant for an undisclosed sum.

More than 35 years in business, JB Plant is one of the leading plant hire firms west of the Bann, operating from sites in Dungannon and just outside Omagh.

Briggs said the business, which had been owned by Brian Toal, will retain the JB Plant Hire name, with all current staff and operational contacts remaining in place.

Peter Jones, Briggs Equipment’s group managing director, said: “The business has been successful over several decades and we will be building on those proven results with the backing and investment of the Briggs Equipment Group.

“This acquisition means we are delivering on our ambition of providing comprehensive plant hire coverage across Northern Ireland.

"JB Plant Hire will complement our Balloo Hire business in providing quality plant hire to a diverse customer base," he said.

“We look forward to working closely with the JB Plant Hire teams and supporting their future growth and product expansion as part of the Briggs Equipment Group.”