Komatsu Company Stores - Connections - February 2022

York Excavating Company LLC offers a high-quality finished product driven by technology

Through multiple twists and turns within the construction industry, Jeff Walker established York Excavating Company LLC (YEC) as a turnkey construction business that provides services within a 40-mile radius of York, Pa. His experience has proven invaluable, as the company steadily takes on larger projects every year.

Jeff Walker, president

“I founded a paving and excavating company in 1978 and sold it in ’84,” recalled Walker. “That was my first real venture into the construction industry. From there, I spent a decade as a general superintendent over a paving division before I went out on my own again building golf courses in south central Pennsylvania. In 2000, I was building a golf course on the west end of York where I met Les, the previous owner of York Excavating. After several meetings, he convinced me to join the company. When the economy took a nosedive in 2008, I worked out a deal with him to purchase York Excavating, and here we are today still going strong.”

Today, YEC has approximately 160 employees and is diversified across all sectors of the construction industry.

A York Excavating Company operator utilizes a Komatsu PC290LCi-11 intelligent Machine Control (iMC) excavator. "Overall, we like the digging depth accuracy the iMC excavators provide because the technology keeps our operators from over-digging and eliminates another potential area for mistakes," said President Jeff Walker.

“I’ve learned that you have to be flexible and move around with the fluctuations in the economy,” stated Walker. “Currently, 40% of our business is residential, 30% is warehousing, 15% is government contracts, and the remaining jobs are a mix of institutional work and commercial projects. That’s a very different mix from the projects we completed in 2008 and will probably be different from what we’re doing in 2028. Our sweet spot is prime contracts direct with the end-user where we handle all facets of the job before the project goes vertical. We’re a turnkey operation.”

Each time the company sees projects through to completion, Walker feels proud.

“The construction industry is very rewarding because you’re able to watch projects come together from sometimes just a vision drawn on a napkin to a completed, tangible place,” said Walker. “We’re committed to delivering a quality product to our clients at a reasonable price. At the end of the day, the project must work for everybody involved, and our people are focused on making that happen.”

At York Excavating Company’s Hershey West End job site, operator Jason McCullough excavates material along a bench with a Komatsu PC490LC-11 excavator. “Out of all the machines I’ve run, the Komatsu excavators are powerful in rock,” said McCullough. “They’re able to handle the material efficiently and durable enough to not break down. It’s an impressive combination.”

Versatile jobs

YEC will take on nearly every kind of project. Recent government contracts range from installing upgraded access control points for secure facilities, to site preparation for warehouse storage. Walker enjoys when previous projects come full circle.

“In 2014, the golf course where I met Les was purchased with the intention of turning the property into a hospital,” recalled Walker. “Over the course of a five-year period, we transformed the property from a golf course into a partially built hospital, back to square one, and then redid the groundwork for a new hospital. It’s gratifying to see the transformation of property over time and know we played a role in making that successful.”

In Hershey, Pa., YEC recently began work on a two-year transformation of the 100-acre Hershey West End property that will serve the visitors and professionals of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and surrounding neighborhoods.

“Hershey West is one of the largest projects we’ve been awarded to date,” said Walker. “We’re completing the entire infrastructure package for the property, which will include medical office buildings and residential housing for staff once it's completed. We’ve completed several other mixed-use property transformations in the area and believe our turnkey capabilities and technology separate us from the competition.”

Jason McCullough, operator

Komatsu delivers

YEC recently invested in two Komatsu intelligent Machine Control (iMC) excavators with integrated GPS technology. The firm worked closely with the Komatsu Harrisburg store and sales representative Danelle Vought to add a PC290LCi-11 excavator and a PC360LCi-11 excavator.

“We’ve been interested in GPS technology since 2000 and recently saw the benefits of adding it to our excavators,” commented Walker. “The technology makes the process of digging ponds and underground infiltration areas more efficient. We’re working on using the technology for pipework as well. Overall, we like the digging depth accuracy the iMC excavators provide because the technology keeps our operators from over-digging and eliminates another potential area for mistakes.”

To move material efficiently at its Hershey West End job site, the firm also purchased a Komatsu PC490LC-11 excavator.

“We added the PC490 as a bulk material moving machine versus the finer grading capabilities of our two iMC excavators,” noted operator Jason McCullough. “Out of all the machines I’ve run, the Komatsu excavators are powerful in rock. They’re able to handle the material efficiently and durable enough to not break down. It’s an impressive combination.”

Komatsu Harrisburg’s sales representative Danelle Vought (left) works closely with York Excavating Company (YEC) President Jeff Walker to find the right machines for YEC’s projects. “There’s no doubt that dealer relationships are paramount,” stated Walker. “From Danelle to the service department, the Komatsu Harrisburg store has done an excellent job finding the right machines for us and proving they will keep us running.”

YEC’s fleet of Komatsu equipment also includes a PC228USLC excavator, a WA250 wheel loader and three HM300 articulated trucks.

Walker appreciates the service at the Komatsu Harrisburg store and stated, “Danelle is knowledgeable about the products. She gets the answers to our questions in a timely fashion. We can count on her to answer the phone and keep our equipment running.”

“There’s no doubt that dealer relationships are paramount,” he added. “The support from a dealership network can be the difference on a project’s success. From Danelle to the service department, the Komatsu Harrisburg store has done an excellent job finding the right machines for us and proving they will keep us running.”

An operator moves material with a Komatsu PC360LCi-11 intelligent Machine Control excavator. “The technology makes the process of digging ponds and underground infiltration areas more efficient," said President Jeff Walker.

Staying flexible

The change in demand from the different construction industry sectors does not intimidate Walker.

“We know that nothing is set in stone,” he noted. “We have lots of work in the pipeline. We plan to stay flexible as demand changes and continue growing the size of our company and the scale of projects we complete.” ■