11 minute read
Hyundai Zero Tailswing R25Z- 9AK
FIRST HYUNDAI IMPRESSES LANDSCAPING CONTRACTOR
After spending some time researching the market, Armagh based Black’s Nursery and Landscaping recently invested in its first Hyundai excavator, a compact zero tailswing R25Z9AK from Northern Lift Trucks.
Established in 1988, the company, headed up by Kevin Black, has gained an enviable reputation for its expertise in the landscaping and garden nursery markets throughout the country with a broad customer base in both the private, public and commercial sectors. As a member of the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland, the company has completed a string of ‘design and build’ projects over the years and continues to grow its business and customer base. The versatility of the new Hyundai R25Z9AK compact excavator was one of the key factors in the investing decision, as was, in these days of lengthening lead times, availability - and the fact it was powered by a Kubota engine. “When you are in the market for new machinery, you don’t want to be waiting too long for its delivery,” says Kevin, who adds: “I am also a Kubota fan; their engines are very reliable. The excavator that was replaced by the Hyundai also had a Kubota engine and it never let me down. “Before investing in the Hyundai, I did my homework and didn’t read or hear any bad reports about the brand. There are a lot of bigger Hyundai excavators in use around the country, so that also gave me added confidence.”
Zero Tailswing
So, what does Kevin like about the Hyundai? “Apart from being powered by a Kubota engine, it is a zero tailswing machine and that is ideal for my type of work, especially when operating close to walls or fences, or on very restricted sites, plus at 2.5 tonne it is very easy to transport from site to site on the back of a trailer, and with just a driver’s license.” He adds: “All the controls are well laid out and close to hand, making it easy to operate – and it came with a full quick hitch, which was a bonus, as my previous machine only had a semi hitch. Now I can switch attachments from the comfort of the cab.” Taking a closer look at the Hyundai R25Z9AK, as Kevin noted, the left- and right-hand control levers are located for maximum convenience. The control switches on the left-hand console are also positioned for comfortable access and enhanced productivity, while a safety lever is installed to prevent unexpected activation
of the hydraulic attachments; when the safety lever is positioned upright, hydraulic functions are disengaged.
Working Environment
Also contributing to a relaxed working environment is the fact the cab enjoys low noise levels and great all round visibility, while the seat, console and armrests can be adjusted to suit your preferred comfort level. The pedals for travel, boom offset and attachment are also installed in a convenient position and can be folded in to gain extra foot space – and there ample storage space for all your bits and pieces, including cup holders and a lockable storage box under the seat. Keeping you in full control of how the machine is operating is a monitoring system that provides you with machine status information, including engine oil pressure lamp, battery charge lamp, engine coolant temperature and a fuel gauge.
Service & Support
With open access of doors, covers and engine hoods, air cleaner and centralised grease fittings you’ll also find it quick and easy to carry out routine maintenance. As with any machine investment, reliable aftersales support and service from the dealer is essential and Northern Lift Trucks don’t disappoint in that area. “I have dealt with the dealership in the past and they’ve always offered good support; the team there are very easy to deal with and am very happy with the package they have provided,” says Kevin.
MACHINE SPEC
Operation Weight: 2580 kg Engine Model: Kubota D1305 Engine Power: 19 kW Bucket Capacity: 0.07 m³
Close Brothers Commercial Finance is a leading provider of asset finance, invoice finance and asset based lending in Ireland. It has a range of funding solutions available and understands that there is ‘no one size fits all’ solution.
Its asset finance solutions enable businesses of all sizes to buy or lease the equipment, machinery and vehicles that they need. It provides two types of asset finance: refinance, which releases cash tied up in existing assets, and finance for purchasing equipment, machinery and vehicles, which allow businesses to spread the cost of tools. REFINANCE
Refinancing facilities enable businesses to release money tied up in existing assets, such as machinery and vehicles. The premise is simple. A financier lends you cash upfront based on the value of your asset. Then, you lease the asset from them over a fixed term, and by the end of the agreed period, you own it outright again. This type of funding gives you immediate access to working capital that might otherwise be inaccessible, but unlike a traditional loan, the amount you borrow is secured against your asset. This can reassure SMEs and lenders alike and, as a result, can be a more flexible way to improve cash flow. FUNDING FOR EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY AND VEHICLES
Types of asset finance for equipment include hire purchase, finance leasing and operating leasing. Hire purchase enables SMEs to spread the cost of an asset over an agreed period. By paying in instalments, it is easier for businesses to budget and use their cash effectively. At the end of the term, you have the option to purchase the equipment, machinery or vehicles outright. In comparison, finance and operating leases allow businesses to benefit from the use of the asset without the responsibility of ownership. There is a low initial outlay associated with this solution, so you can gain access to equipment quickly and flexibly. TAILORED SOLUTIONS
Close Brothers finance experts will take time to understand your business and will explain how each option works, as well as how it can help you to reach your goals. “We’re proud to provide a responsive, personalised service which adapts to business challenges and produces tailored funding solutions.” ABOUT CLOSE BROTHERS
Close Brothers is a UK merchant banking group providing lending, deposit taking, wealth management services, and securities trading. Close Brothers Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 250. Close Brothers Commercial Finance is a trading style of Close Brothers in Ireland. Its core purpose is to help the people and businesses of Ireland and Britain succeed over the long term. To achieve this, all of its diverse, specialist businesses have a deep industry knowledge, so they can understand the challenges and opportunities that its customers and clients face. “We support the unique needs of our customers and clients to ensure that they thrive, rather than simply survive, whatever the market conditions.” Find out more about Close Brothers’ specialist asset finance options today at www.closecommercialfinance.ie
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50 Years and Counting for Multi-Award-Winning Engineering Firm in Kilrea
50 years ago, SJC Hutchinson Engineering was established when Kilrea man Creighton Hutchinson made a life-changing decision to leave his employment with a local engineering company and set up his own business on the family farm.
Mainly agricultural engineering, Creighton soon built up a solid customer base. A lot of his work was repairing farming machinery and he also manufactured a wide range of items including cubicles and silage barriers to ornamental gates, railings, and even swings and slides. Five decades on, and Hutchinson Engineering is now a second-generation family-run business that is a subcontract manufacturer for some of the world’s bestknown companies in the materials handling, coachbuilding, and agricultural sectors. These include Caterpillar, Wrightbus, Terex, and McLaren. Their main services include laser cutting, folding, and fabrication. The company now has over 120 staff and 100,000 sq. ft. capacity state-of-the-art facilities still based on the same green site that Creighton purchased in 1974. The company is run by CEO Mark Hutchinson, supported by his brother Richard Hutchinson, who is Hutchinson Engineering’s Director of Innovation. CEO Mark Hutchinson joined the business full time in 1997, after spending many weekends and evenings helping his father since he was a small boy. As the downturn in the agriculture industry progressed Mark knew that a new direction was needed and purchased a plasma cutter which enabled them to target industrial subcontract work. A laser cutting machine was then purchased in 1999, which became a crucial piece of equipment allowing it to run unmanned overnight. Over the past 20 years, Mark has had the vision to install new technology to improve their offering to their customer base. Mark believes that as well as investing in technology he needs to invest in people which gives Hutchinson Engineering an outstanding reputation of being one of the best places to work in the area, and as a company, they are proud to have achieved Investors in People Gold and are one of a few manufacturing companies in the UK to have gained this accreditation. In Richard’s current role as Director of Innovation, he is responsible for product development and new ways of working – one of the success stories to date has been the development of a foot-operated hand sanitising station that has sold over 2500 units throughout the UK and Europe. One of the most important achievements for Hutchinson Engineering in 2020 was being a key supplier for the ‘Ventilator Challenge UK’. The company helped provide parts for 7500 ventilators which have been used to help save the lives of people throughout the UK and worldwide. Richard told us “We are proud that our team was willing to rise to the challenge at the height of the pandemic and worked alongside iconic brands such as McLaren and Rolls Royce to deliver these products within 4 weeks”. The family and employees have a desire to constantly improve and evolve. CEO Mark Hutchinson told us, “Our planned investment in 2022 of circa £4m will see a massive upgrade in our equipment to offer even better levels of lead time to our customers, along with training and empowering our staff to provide industry-leading service levels.” Mark and Richard Hutchinson share pride in all that their father and employees achieved, and want to continue the legacy into the next generation and beyond. Richard Hutchinson points out that the support of their mother Pearl has also been a huge factor in the success of the business, Richard tells us, “Mum has always been there for all of us, with any decisions and milestones throughout the 50 years of Hutchinson Engineering, from sitting in a cold car waiting for Dad to measure up gates in the early days to supporting us and encouraging us now as we invest in new facilities and equipment. We are forever grateful for her support.” Said Mark: “Unfortunately, Dad won’t be part of our 50th celebrations as he passed away in May 2021, aged 73. He endured and overcame many challenges throughout his life, the biggest being his Parkinson’s diagnosis at the age of 52.” “Dad was always front and centre in the business he set up and loved. He gave many people in the local area an opportunity when others did not. He always saw the best in people. He taught me to treat others with respect, an invaluable lesson, especially during my early years in the business. Dad was a man of integrity and honesty, and this shone through in every aspect of his life, including his business. “Finally, we would like to thank all our employees, loyal customers, suppliers, and especially our Dad for making this journey special. Here’s to the next 50!”
CEO Mark Hutchinson and Richard Hutchinson, Director of Innovation.
Operators gain valuable insight with all-new Yanmar app
Yanmar Compact Equipment EMEA has launched an innovative new app to provide operators with in-depth practical and technical information about the latest Yanmar machines; it is compatible with all new models featuring a QR code.
Simply point your smartphone camera at the code and wait to be redirected to the relevant machine page. As well as detailed user information, such as the product manual and tutorial videos, operators can access machine safety instructions, lashing and slinging diagrams and daily maintenance guidance. Users can quickly navigate every model in the Yanmar range via the easy-to-use menus and simple online search fields. For more frequent use, operators can even add a shortcut to their smartphone homepage for faster digital access. Damiano Violi, Managing Director at Yanmar Compact Equipment EMEA, commented: “We developed Yanmar Scan to provide operators with a simple way to access important machine information via their smartphone. The new tool aims makes it easy to search for machine use, machine safety and machine maintenance data and eliminates the need to keep paper copies on site. “This forward-thinking approach not only maximises efficiencies, but also further improves the user experience and makes maintenance checks, operator training and preparing machines for transport easier than ever!” To help users navigate the new app, Yanmar has created a helpful motion design video. Available in four languages, it can be accessed via the Yanmar YouTube channel.
