When you’re digging for a living, all that matters are
keeping your customers happy and  there’s money in the bank.  According to Matt Peters of Truck N Track Excavations, the best way to achieve that objective is having tough, reliable machines that keep on going.

Matt started his business after moving on from employment as
a mechanic with a major earthmoving equipment supplier. Having worked on a large
range of machines, he had a good idea of what machine would be his preferred
choice.

Proven, tough engineering

“I looked at a lot of machines but found the only one that
came up to the performance and comfort I needed was a Takeuchi ”, Matt recalls.
Looking for value, Matt didn’t hesitate in buying a Takeuchi TB 250 five tonne
excavator that had clocked 5,000 hours.

“I was happy to buy the Takeuchi machine with 5,000 hours on
it because I knew the major components would last a lot longer than this, and
when needing replacement, the cost and will be minimal.

“The cab is incredibly spacious, well air-conditioned,
controls are very precise, and the machine performs exactly as I need.  We have just finished a major project with
the Newcastle light rail and the machine performed faultlessly. It was ideal
for this application, particularly because of its 1840 mm wide track and
impressive power.

“Engineering of Takeuchi equipment is virtually “ bullet
proof” and easy to work on. Sound levels inside the cab are also quieter compared
with other machines. There’s also easy access in and out of the cab, with good
size grab handles for safety.

Controls are comfortable to handle and give you very precise
operation; a real benefit when you are digging around telecommunications
cables, gas lines, power and other highly expensive infrastructure.

“Some of my colleagues have wondered why I went ahead with
the TB 250 purchase when there are so many apparently attractive finance
options available for new gear.

“They eventually saw the sense of my decision when I
explained that to have this amazing performance and productivity of the
Takeuchi machine, the difference in financing was less than a cup of coffee a
day!” Matt said.

TL10v2 track loader  

Soon after Matt acquired his TB 250 excavator it was time to
update his track loader and went through a similar assessment exercise as when
looking for the excavator.

“As with the
excavator, the robust mechanical layout of the TL10v2 loader was a compelling point
and one of the key factors in the decision. In fact, I have not seen anything
else on the market that comes close in terms of value and powerful performance”,
he said.

“The TL10V2 has amazing visibility; a tilt cab that lets you
easily access the mechanicals underneath the cabin, while the swing-out rear
panel makes it a breeze to access the rear engine compartment to service air
filters and other engine components.

“When you look at a
side-by-side comparison between the TL10V2 track loader and comparable brands
you start to see the difference in the build and engineering. For example, the
size and strength of the hydraulic cylinders; the thoughtful positioning and
performance of the controls; the number of air vents for the air-conditioner,
spaciousness of the cabin and overall visibility.

“The comfortable seating position is elevated and has plenty
of headroom with ample area behind my seat to store the hard hat and pre-start
books.

“With a slide-up front door, I feel safer knowing I can
slide in and out in an emergency if needed, and access entry and exit is
possible even with attachments connected. It’s also handy to tilt the cab when
the boom is in the up or down position.

“It was also good to see there is a direct connection for a
Norm rear ripper attachment, which I have since purchased. The high flow
hydraulics with mechanical bleed-off actuators at the coupler point let me
relieve the secondary system when performing maintenance.

“Another thing you notice straight away is the TL10V2  drives effortlessly in any direction , where some
others tend to protest a bit on road surfaces, particularly on bitumen.

“On most new machines the reverse buzzer is run via the CAN
Bus system and will only run a piezo reverse alarm. However, on most of my jobs
a different sounding reversing squawker is needed. My new TL10v2 runs the reversing
buzzer as direct current which means I don’t have to pay $900 for the privilege
to run a non-OEM reverse alarm. There is also an outstanding lighting package
and inbuilt reverse camera.

The bottom line

“Perhaps I’m more particular than many other operators, said
Matt “because I look at everything in the machine: the way electricals are laid
out, protected and insulated. And when you look at the hydraulics, you can
really see the difference in the engineering design and why the Takeuchi
machine will last such a long time without giving any problems.” Matt said.

“When purchasing equipment, you really need to look at the
whole of life investment which is not only the machine. Takeuchi gives very
little or no downtime, and its major components will last for a very long time
and operate reliably.

“It’s false economy to let your buying decision to be based
on price and finance. A Takeuchi machine that’s been properly maintained will
last well beyond the end of your finance, letting you pocket more money by
ensuring minimum downtime”, Matt concluded.

source:  takeuchi