A great finance deal is good, but does it matter at the end of the day?
With variations in finance interest often amounting to the equivalent of a cup of coffee a day over the length of the finance period, there’s no need for your equipment purchase decision to be dictated by the ‘deal’.
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 5000 hours.
“I was happy to buy the Takeuchi machine with 5000 hours on it because I knew the major components would last a lot longer than this, and when needing a replacement the cost 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 1840mm 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 he went through a similar assessment exercise as he did 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 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.
“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 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.
[colored_box color=”yellow”]Contact Semco on 1800 685 525
For further information, visit www.takeuchi.com.au [/colored_box]