Explore sells plant hire division

The rental and transport group Explore has sold its plant and tool hire division to Select Plant, the rental division of contractor Laing O’Rourke.

Explore will focus on its transport and railway plant businesses, and will continue to be exclusive transport and haulage supplier to Select and Laing O’Rourke.

Explore Transport Ltd (ETL) had been a 50/50 joint venture between Select and WS Transport, the holding company of Explore Groups. Explore had originally acquired its plant hire business from Select in 2017.

A Liebherr 920 trackled excavator adapted for railway projects, one of the machines in the fleet of Explore’s railway division.

Mark Herlihy, business unit leader of Select Plant Hire, said; “Following the sale of the plant and tools business to ETL in 2017, the business has continued to prosper as part of Explore Transport Limited.

“Select Plant Hire is delighted to be bringing this business back, and further enhancing Select’s plant capability, whilst continuing to work in an exclusive logistics partnership with Explore Transport.”

David Cox, managing director and founder of Explore, said; “We are delighted to confirm that Explore Transport will be continuing the strategic partnership with Laing O’Rourke and Select.

“Throughout the last ten years we have seen the business develop into three very distinct streams and this transaction will enable both businesses to continue to develop and benefit from the individual strengths of our organisations.”

Explore said the move would allow it to invest in growing its transport and rail services, while continued the partnership with Laing O’Rourke and Select.

Explore was founded by Cox in 2015. He is a former KPMG and HSBC finance professional and also previoulsy held a senior role at UK transport group Eddie Stobart.