Salisbury-based Harper Plant, Kubota's construction dealer in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, has passed a milestone by selling its 1,000th Kubota machine.

The unit in question was a Kubota K008-3 micro excavator, part of a package deal of K008-3s and U17-3s sold to tool and plant hire firm The Hire Shed.

The landmark was reached after eight years of continual growth for Harper Plant, during which period the business also achieved the Kubota Gold Award for Service Excellence.

Andy Harper, managing director of Harper Plant, said: 'Setting up as a service and maintenance business with a modest team of three back in 2003, to then becoming a certified Kubota dealer in 2005 … it's amazing to see the journey Harper Plant has gone on to achieve this 1,000th sale. We now boast nine full time members of staff.

'Another key facet in our development as a dealer is our aftersales support to customers, with three full-time service engineers and two specialist parts staff operating out of our HQ in Salisbury. This is backed up by Kubota's excellent service training program and parts delivery.

'Ultimately we work in a repeat business industry. If we look after our current customers, they will come back with more orders, we will get recommended to other firms and our market share will continue to rise within the territories we operate in.

'It's an exciting time for us, with the quality and popularity of the Kubota machines on the market and the value we add as a dealer, I'm optimistic for what Harper Plant can achieve as we move forward'