Built on Trust, Safety and Reliability: Buchan Power Tools’ Growing Access Fleet with Scot JCB

For over 50 years, Buchan Power Tools has been serving customers across the north east of Scotland, building a reputation for reliability, local service and quality equipment. What began as a small, family-run business has grown steadily over the decades, with plant hire forming a core part of the operation for more than 30 years.

More recently, access equipment has become a fast-growing part of the business, driven by changing attitudes towards safety and compliance. As Partner of the business, Ewan Buchan explains, “the shift away from ladders and steps has transformed demand. Since safety has become more important, people are happy with access equipment rather than risk a ladder or a set of steps. Everybody understands everybody needs to be safe.”

Today, Buchan Power Tools operates a growing access fleet that includes three JCB S1930E electric scissor lifts and one JCB S3246E, all supplied and supported by Scot JCB.

Why JCB Access Works for Hire Fleets

When investing in hire equipment, Ewan is clear that decisions must stack up commercially while protecting long-term reputation. “It’s all about money. The outlay and the return you expect are what you look at first. But then it’s the quality and the resale value. We don’t want to keep anything until it’s worn out.”

For Buchan Power Tools, JCB electric scissor lifts offer that balance. The JCB S1930E is compact, simple to operate and ideal for indoor or low-level work, while the S3246E provides additional platform height and outreach for more demanding applications. Across the JCB electric scissor range, customers benefit from quiet, zero-emissions operation, strong battery performance and a design built for durability, including corrosion protection, robust scissor packs and market-leading stability at height.

Ewan believes reliability is critical: “You only get one chance to charge the customer for the hire. If the machine’s unreliable, there’s a good chance you lose the customer next time. The machine must perform.”

A Dealer Relationship That Makes the Difference

While product quality matters, Ewan is equally clear that people and support are what set Scot JCB apart. “We’re just a small local business, and people buy from people. If I don’t think the person selling to me is interested, they’ll get nowhere.”

That local, responsive approach has been central to the relationship with Scot JCB,  “When something has gone wrong, Scot JCB have reacted quickly and helped me. That’s the measure of a company. It’s not when everything goes well, it’s how problems are owned and fixed.”

With access to trained engineers, genuine parts and knowledgeable advice, Scot JCB provides the reassurance hire businesses need, even when issues are rare.

Investing in the Future of Hire

For Buchan Power Tools, investing in modern, high-quality equipment is about more than today’s hire rate. It signals professionalism and commitment to customers, “If I’ve got the newest and best equipment, that’s where we want to be in the market. We don’t want to be the guy with the old, out-of-date equipment”

When asked whether he would recommend JCB Access platforms and Scot JCB, Ewan’s answer is simple:

“Yeah, absolutely. I’ve had good experience and so have my customers. The backup being there at all helps get me business.”

Thinking about adding electric access platforms to your hire fleet or site operations?
Contact Scot JCB today to find out how the JCB electric scissor lift range can deliver safety, reliability and long-term value for your business.