TICKS ALL THE RIGHT BOXES

When John Doherty climbed into the cab of a new H4 Series Hidromek 230LC it didn’t take him long to realise this was an excavator that ticked all the right boxes for him. After trialling it for a week, courtesy of Blue Machinery (Southern) Ltd, he was ready to put pen to paper.

John set up his company, J Doherty Plant Hire, several years ago, having spent more than 20 years working in the industry. He bought his first excavator, a JCB140, at the age of 26 and has since operated a number of other leading brands, but this was his first experience of the Hidromek, and a productive one, too.

Blue Machinery (Southern) Ltd were appointed by Hidromek in October last year and are responsible for the sales, service and aftermarket care for the full range of the Turkish manufacturer’s products across the southern part of the UK.

Although Hidromek is a relative newcomer to the UK market, its machines work in more than 100 countries on six continents, with its impressive range of heavy-duty equipment being used across many sectors, including construction, demolition, quarrying, landscaping and recycling.

Its cutting edge and innovative... technology have already won multiple awards globally for both design and performance capabilities.

Lyndon Head is the Regional Sales Manager in the south west of England for Blue Machinery (Southern) and says adding the Hidromek brand to Blue Machinery Southern’s already comprehensive portfolio of products has generated a lot interest from across the region.

“The machine packs a powerful punch and its fuel economy is exceptional, plus, it is competitively priced, so you get a lot for your money…

“With its competitive price, strong build quality, low centre of gravity and stability, plus its excellent operating spec and easy access to the machine’s systems, we are aiming to raise the brand’s profile and share of the market in the months ahead.”

...says Lyndon who enjoys an active presence on social media platforms like Linkedin and Facebook; he also recently opened up a Tik Tok account.

Awesome Earthmovers caught up with him at a new housing development site in a disused quarry near Weston-super-Mare in Somerset where John Doherty was putting the new machine through its paces, using a variety of attachments on a number of different tasks. “It was an exciting day for us at Blue Southern as this was the first live demonstration of the H4 Series Hidromek 230LC,” says Lyndon, “and we were delighted it impressed John to the point of wanting to invest in the brand.”

Adds John: “When I first looked at the machine at Blue Machinery Southern’s depot in Portishead near Bristol I was told the only way I could fully appreciate it was to take it out on site, and sure enough that week-long trial convinced me of the quality of the brand.”

John, who already operates two 13-tonne excavators, a CASE and a Komatsu, in addition to two Kubota mini diggers, says he was immediately impressed with the Hidromek’s strength and stability. “The build quality is outstanding as is the comfortable cab with its very easy to operate controls. The machine packs a powerful punch and its fuel economy is exceptional, plus, it is competitively priced, so you get a lot for your money.”

The cab comes with a heated, air suspended seat that has a 35 degrees adjustable backrest angle which enables the operator to work comfortably and without getting tired over long working hours. Other features include proportional control pedals and joysticks, throttle control dial, interior light, cup holder and heating-cooling box.

An 8-inch touch control panel is positioned ergonomically at a point that the operator can easily reach it to gain access to all of the machine’s information, such as fuel consumption, turbo boost and hydraulic pump pressure. The control panel also allows the operator to adjust the flow required for any attachments without leaving the cab.

As part of the H4 Series, the excavator has clearly been designed with operator safety in mind, with excellent visibility from the cab, thanks to side and rear cameras to minimise any potential blind spot, while the two-piece windshield wiper system provides a wide-angle view. An automatic starting horn, swing warning system and travel warning system also contribute to safety.

Night vision is significantly improved with an increase in the number of LED headlights, and there are also red handles and warning labels that further enhance safety for the operator.

Fast access to hydraulic and engine equipment provides easy maintenance and service. Most of the maintenance can be easily carried out without getting on the machine, which shortens the service time and increases machine work time. Automatic greasing system ensures that all parts of the machine can be lubricated from one single centre.

John, who has built up a thriving business over the last couple of years, has been using a number of attachments on the Hidromek, including different buckets for digging out trenches and loading up dump trucks. Out on hire from Blue Machinery Southern was a Rammer breaker which, he says, was well matched to the Hidromek. It made short work of smashing out some seriously hard rock for a deep pipe trench. “I’ll probably invest in the Rammer, too,” he adds.

One of the main reasons John likes dealing with the team at Blue Machinery Southern is the high level of service and support they provide. “I’m proud to say I work closely with the dealership on all our projects, as they provide me with market leading brands and equipment, coupled with outstanding service and back up,” he explains. “They deal promptly with any queries I have and my working relationship with Lyndon Head is exceptional. He has helped me greatly in developing and growing my business.”

LYNDON HEAD REGIONAL SALES MANAGER Blue Machinery (Southern)

HITS THE GROUND RUNNING

Blue Hire, part of Blue Southern, may only have opened for business in November past, but it is already building a broad customer base in the South West of England, dealing with many of the most respected brands in the industry including Powerscreen, Doppstadt, Fuchs, Hidromek, Rammer and Allu.

It offers a wide range of equipment including Jaw Crushers, Cone Crushers, Impact Crushers, Scalping Screeners, Inclined Screeners, High-Speed Shredders, Slow-Speed Shredders, Trommels and Material Handlers of all sizes.

It also has a comprehensive range of attachments for hire, such as Breakers, Grabs, Shears, Demolition Tools, Crushing Buckets and Screening Buckets, with contract hire terms available for a minimum of six months; that can be extended for up to several years, depending on the needs of the customer.

A Blue Southern project, the hire business is headed up by Service Director Stuart Hardiman who has been with Blue for over 10 years, having previously served as General Manager and in that time he has built up a wealth of knowledge and experience which will help drive Blue Hire’s continued growth and success within the company.

“We looked at the market and realised that there was a demand for a hire option as not everyone wants to part with big upfront costs involved in purchasing plant or machinery,” says Stuart. “By hiring, our clients can avoid those expensive capital costs and high interest rates.

Knowing what you will be paying out each month on a hire contract means you can better utilise your capital in perhaps other areas of the business.”

Contract hire is also a good option for those who prefer to ‘try before buying’. It allows them to see the benefits and advantages of having the equipment working on site.

Another bonus in opting for a hire contract is that customers don’t have to worry about servicing and maintaining the equipment, as that will all be taken care of by Blue Hire who has at its disposal well equipped workshops, technicians and service engineers. “Every piece of equipment that leaves our depot will have been fully serviced and operating exactly as it should be,” says Stuart.

Availability of equipment is not an issue as Blue Hire has the backing of the Blue Group’s network of depots. “If we haven’t got what the customer wants we can quickly source it,” comments Stuart, who adds that Blue Hire also provide a delivery and collection service for its customers.

“Having got Blue Hire off to a good start, we are aiming to grow the business in the months ahead; we are adding a Plant Hire Controller to our team to help manage our fleet of hire machines and to visit customer sites to win new business across the south of the UK.”

If you want to know more about Blue Hire and its services, you can contact Stuart Hardiman on 07788 366308 or the Blue Southern office in Portishead on 01275 285285.