M O'Brien Plant Hire

General information

Michael O’Brien was just 17 years old when he first came over to England. Like so many young Irish lads of his generation he very quickly found work in the UK construction industry, initially starting out as a groundwork's laborer. As time went by, the young Michael got a hankering to operate the machines and blagged his way into the seat during lunch breaks. During these periods he used to practice hard to perfect his skills and in time he was given his own mount top operate.

In 1990 Michael decided to have a go at machine ownership, and in conjunction with his wife Annamarie, he formed M O’Brien Plant Hire, which at the time based in Luton. Michael’s first ever machine was a JCB 3CX, which they ran out of there back garden in the town. As the business expanded they were eventually running no less than 11 JCB 3CX’s from their back garden, but as one can imagine the neighbors rapidly got fed up with the sound of machines firing up at 5am in the morning and the late night sound of sledgehammers and tools clanging as repairs were carried out in preparation for the next day. It was at that time that the company purchased its first yard at Markyate, which is currently being refurbished to house the head office and accounts department.

Today the business runs in excess of 400 pieces of equipment, employs 20 office based staff spread between two depots, around 200 plant operators at any one time plus additional supporting plant engineers and yard staff out of their premises near St Albans adjacent to the M1. The business operates not only locally but on a nationwide basis, providing a one stop plant solution to a wide variety of clients including blue-chip company’s such as Balfour Beatty, Skanska, Costain, Carillion, Bam Nuttall, PPS Pipelines, to name but a few.

Our staff are hardworking and motivated individuals with a high knowledge of our industry, who are more than happy to help our customers with practical sound advice that comes from experience.

We invest in only the best Machinery to ensure we can provide a quality and reliable service to all of our customers no matter how big or small the Job. M O'Brien can supply a complete solution throughout our range from 0.5 tonne to 50 tonne excavators from 1 tonne to 35 tonne dumpers along with our range of telehandlers, rollers, tractors and a huge variety of attachments we can supply a nationwide complete hire solution.