WM Plant Hire has extended the working life of one of its most trusted machines by commissioning a full rebuild of its 17-year-old Cat 345C long-reach excavator through Finning UK & Ireland, delivering a 45% cost saving compared to purchasing a new machine.
The long-reach excavator, originally purchased in 2008, had delivered over a decade of service before being taken out of use. Rather than retiring the machine, WM Plant Hire opted to return it to active duty through a tailored rebuild package delivered by Finning, which consisted of a Cat-certified hydraulic rebuild and a certified component rebuild.
WM Plant Hire, based in Cannock, Staffordshire, England, near Finning, specialises in long-reach and spider excavators used in complex environments, with broad applications across marine construction, dredging, slope stabilisation, quarrying, specialist excavation, and emergency response. The company supports infrastructure contractors and public bodies across the UK and Ireland.
The decision to rebuild the machine was driven by sustainability, cost, and the company’s fondness for the excavator due to its reliability and the wealth of high-profile projects it had delivered.
Damian McGettrick, Managing Director at WM Plant Hire, said: “The machine was a game changer for us back in 2008, demonstrating to customers that long reach machines had real capability. It proved a hit with our operators due to its power and performance, and so we were keen to sustain this capability and offer it to benefit our customers. A full rebuild was the most sustainable option for us.”
The factory-built Cat 345C LRE, which features a 20m long-reach configuration with upgraded undercarriage and hydraulics, had over 12,000 hours on the clock. Finning carried out a full inspection before reconditioning the engine at its specialist Component Rebuild Centre in Leeds. Paintwork was completed in stages during the rebuild process, rather than at the end, to help prepare the machine for continued use in harsh coastal and marine environments where saltwater can be an issue.
Mark Holden, Product Support Account Manager at Finning UK & Ireland, said: “From the beginning, this was a collaborative process. We worked closely with WM Plant Hire to assess which components to replace or recondition. The final drives weren’t touched, as they weren’t worn, and we incorporated small upgrades, such as 360-degree cameras. Everything else was focused on getting the machine back to a reliable, working condition.”
Damian added: “This is the second rebuild we’ve done with Finning. The first long-reach machine is still operating without issue five years on, and that gave us real confidence to proceed with another rebuild. The process was structured, well-communicated and delivered exactly what we needed without surprises.”
Weekly progress meetings kept both sides aligned, and the rebuild was delivered within an agreed budget. The machine was also supplied with a five-year warranty on key components, offering additional peace of mind.
Mark added: “The rebuild was able to deliver 45% cost savings compared to buying a new machine. But it’s not just about saving money, more customers are recognising that rebuilds have a lower environmental impact, especially when you’re recovering and reusing large components. This machine has already been proven in the field, and now it’s ready to keep going for years to come.”
