Family-owned company Diesel Pro has been operating out of Hexham in Newcastle for close to two decades, during which time the diesel and heavy vehicle repairs specialist has enjoyed steady growth, both broadening its range of services and expanding its staff, and formed strong relationships with a number of long-term clients.
Diesel Pro Founder and Managing Director Darren Threadgate told EEM that he and fellow founder, Diesel Pro Director Bob Carter, had established the business in 2003, with it having grown from a handful of staff in its early days to now employing approximately 30 employees across the scope of its operations.
Darren – who draws on 35 years of industry experience, having previously worked as a workshop foreman for Cummins – explained that Diesel Pro offers a comprehensive suite of services, including bumper-to-bumper repairs on all vehicle makes, models and sizes across plant, light and heavy vehicles, and provides breakdown support, along with onsite servicing and repairs.
In addition to this, Diesel Pro, which is an authorised RMS inspection station for both light and heavy vehicles, provides compliance and fleet management services, carries out electronic engine and vehicle control systems diagnosis and repairs, steering system hydraulic testing and repairs, and air conditioning service and repairs (and is a Convair authorised repairer), along with a range of other services.
It is this comprehensive approach, underpinned by a willingness to bolster its services and adapt in line with client requirements, which has seen Diesel Pro establish long-standing relationships with a number of clients, including Boral, the Australian Defence Force, Fire and Rescue NSW, Lowes Petroleum, Wormald and Cleanaway.
“As a business, Diesel Pro has operated for 17 years as a specialist heavy vehicle workshop, staffed by 22 technicians, auto electricians, A/C specialists and a fabricator welder. We believe we offer a serious one-stop shop for our customers,” Darren commented.
“We’ve got a fairly wide range of experience, and we’re always looking to add to our capabilities and gain knowledge, meaning we can provide a variety of different services for our customers. Our focus is on looking after the customer from A to Z.”
Diesel Pro Partners With Equipment Specialists To Stock Lovol Range
In line with Diesel Pro’s forward-looking outlook, and focus on adding to its range of services and client offerings, it has recently partnered with Toowoomba-based earthmoving and agriculture equipment importer Equipment Specialists, becoming an authorised Lovol Construction equipment dealer.
Darren explained that the partnership is a strong fit, complementing existing components of Diesel Pro’s business, noting that Diesel Pro is already experienced across aspects of the earthmoving industry and keen to branch out further, with the Lovol equipment range allowing it to deliver its clients additional value.
“As we looked to expand our business, we sought new opportunity,” he commented. “And, as we already had a small truck rental fleet, including concrete agitators and tippers, we were dealing with earthmovers and concrete plants on a daily basis.
“Earthmoving equipment was a natural progression. These machines will be available for sale or long-term hire. The Lovol range adds value not only to us, but certain members of our customer base as well.”
Among Diesel Pro’s Lovol range, the FL962K 20 t hydrostatic wheel loader is one of the standouts, with Equipment Specialists having recently included the K series range to Australia.
Highlighting the FL962K’s robust structure, Equipment Specialists describes it as sporting a “heavy duty construction suitable for taking on harsh Australian conditions”, with it bringing together a range of features, designed to enable efficient and effective operations, delivering increased performance, smoother operation and greater operator comfort.
The FL962K runs a 153 kW Cummins QSB7 Tier 3 engine, is equipped with a Danfoss hydrostatic transmission and hydraulic pump, DANA transfer box and Meritor wet brake axles, and has limited electrically controlled functions, which in turn eliminates potentially problematic items.
The FL962K Features:
- A ROPs and FOPs-certified lined and sealed cab, which is designed to lessen noise and vibration, equipped with air-conditioning and an air-suspension seat, and also featuring a reverse camera
- A 4m3 GP bucket (choice of GP, rock, coal, grain and bulk buckets), 5.5 t rated load capacity, 3.37m bucket lift height and a boom cycle time of 9.2 seconds
- A pilot control joystick incorporating a thumb-action F/N/R function
- An Eaton steering valve; hydraulic pressure of 3000 psi; fuel tank capacity of 180 L; travel speed of 40km/h
- A one-piece fully opening side engine cover allowing for ample access (with no bolted covers to remove); fully raised opening rear engine door; patented composite reinforced centre pivot structure and bushings
- Dimensions: 8.87m (length), 3.3m (width) and 3.42m (height)
In addition to this, Equipment Specialists states that the FL962K is a “dream machine for auxiliary attachments”, and describes it as being “a machine that rivals other big name brands in function”.
Lovol Range Delivers Value For Money
Backed by its heavy vehicle and machinery services experience, along with its involvement in the earthmoving industry, Darren told EEM that stocking the Lovol earthmoving equipment range presents Diesel Pro an opportunity to further diversify, supported by a compelling product offering.
He noted that the Lovol range stands out in the market not only because of its ability to get the job done, but also due to the level of after-sales support provided.
“Taking on the Lovol range allows us an entry to the market with a machine that is priced right, with an extended warranty and great parts support,” he commented. “These are two of the differences between the Lovol range and other products manufactured in the Asia Pacific.”
Diesel Pro is stocking selected Lovol excavators (all of which can be fitted with a blade attachment) and the complete wheel loader range, including Lovol’s H series line of loaders, comprising the FL936H, FL938H, FL956H, FL958H, FL966H, FL968H and FL976H loaders.
Lovol’s H series caters to a range of earthmoving operations decked out to deliver across a variety of applications, spanning operating weights from the 10.6 t FL936H (with a 3 t rated load capacity) through to the 25 t FL976H (with a 7 t rated load capacity).
Among the H series range, the most popular of the line-up being the FL958H weighing in at an 18 t operating weight with 5.5 trated working load, with it powered by a 178kW Deutz Weichai engine, equipped with a ZF4BP230 F4/R2 ZF power shift transmission, Lovol axles and Meritor air over hydraulic four wheel disc brakes.
Darren highlighted both the performance capabilities and the robust construction of the Lovol range, and noted that the combination of performance and price tag on offer provides consumers the best of both worlds.
“As machines, the Lovol range represents great value for money, and the three-year, 3000 hour warranty gives purchasers peace of mind they will not get when purchasing similarly priced equipment,” he commented.
“The build quality of the machine is visible on every corner, weld and lock. The interior is comfortable and ergonomic, and you will not get out of the machine at day’s end feeling like you were hit by a bus. We have had interest from NSW and Victoria so far in the wheel loader range, and the feedback on pricing and quality has been excellent.”
Diesel Pro Delivers An All-Round Service Offering
Equipment Specialists Operations Manager Lawrence Perkins told EEM that the partnership with Diesel Pro delivers a range of benefits for Equipment Specialists, pointing to Diesel Pro’s experience and breadth of service offering, along with the standing it has built as a business over its 17 years of operations.
Drawing on this industry experience, Lawrence noted that Diesel Pro has the tools, knowledge and efficient and effective approach needed to cater to its clients’ various requirements and to provide an all-round service offering.
“Diesel Pro is an extremely professional and well-respected heavy diesel mechanical repair business, and Equipment Specialists has chosen them as we know that so many of the fancy sales businesses with their multi-million dollar office buildings, signage and promo activity really let customers down when it comes to all aspects of after-sales service,” he commented.
“This is why we have aligned ourselves with Diesel Pro for the greater NSW area to serve our customers the way they should be.”
Lawrence observed that while the Lovol brand is comparatively new in Australia, its reputation continues to grow at a local level with Equipment Specialists focused on highlighting the benefits of the range in conjunction with partners such as Diesel Pro. “Diesel Pro now has a stock of Lovol loaders, and it is generating great interest already,” he commented.
“The Lovol brand is still relatively unknown in many areas of Australia, but is fast gaining a strong following due to its highly reliable and user-friendly reputation, and in some areas there have been many machines sold once people have seen this proven. It won’t take long for many of Diesel Pro’s existing customers to catch on also.”