The recent Hillhead quarrying show saw the UK’s premier bucket and hitch manufacturer Miller Groundbreaking launch a limited edition run of buckets to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee. The profits from each bucket will be handed over to the company’s charity of choice for 2022, the North East Homeless charity who are based in North Shields, Newcastle. The charity not only helps homeless individuals but also vulnerable people within the local area. Barry Robison, Marketing Director for Miller Groundbreaking commented; “We are facing unprecedented times not only in the UK, but further afield too and if we can help out just a little in our home region, it can make a very big difference to people who need help.”
One of the special buckets was purchased by Appleby based Hyundai dealers Taylor and Braithwaite for a new HX220A excavator destined for long term customer L&W Wilson (Endmoor). Despite a mainly rural sales area, Taylor and Braithwaite have been crowned as Hyundai European Dealer of the year for 2021 with sales exceeding 220 units. Director of Sales, Ian Burton says this is down to a combination of a high quality and reliable product backed by the ability to listen and respond quickly to customer requests.
L&W Wilson have been purchasing Hyundai equipment from Ian Burton at Taylor and Braithwaite for over 12 years and in that period have taken a variety of excavators from the range up to 30 tonnes in weight. L&W Wilson is headed by Alan Wilson and have been supplying a variety of construction services within Cumbria and North Lancashire for over forty years. General plant hire, crushing and haulage make up some of the company’s specialities whilst their contracting division undertake both commercial and residential construction operations across the region.
AWESOME EARTHMOVERS caught up with Alan and some of his team as they took delivery of the new Hyundai excavator from Taylor and Braithwaite’s Managing Director, Ian Burton. “We have a long association with Alan and his company and have been one of their preferred suppliers for over 12 years.” Ian comments “The latest addition to their fleet is the new HX220A and will be the fourth generation of Hyundai excavators Alan has taken from us.” The new Hyundai will be used on the company’s contract with one of the region’s premier housebuilders Story Homes. The site overlooking the Lake District town of Kendal has involved the L&W Wilson team extracting and processing large quantities of stone from the site, all of which is then used in the construction phase of the project. Once excavated the material is then processed by jaw crushers and mobile screens, the majority of which have also been supplied by Taylor and Braithwaite. “We run a couple of brands of excavators in the fleet.” Alan commented “They are always well maintained and remain on the fleet for up to 10 years. Graham Allonby (L&W Wilson excavator operator), had the choice of this machine or an alternative 20 tonne class excavator and immediately chose the Hyundai as he has been extremely happy with the ones he has had previously.”
Alan continued: “Graham has been with us for 21 years just completing that milestone the day before he was presented with the new machine. He started with us operating JCB 3CX’s and then moved onto excavators and has driven Hyundai Excavators for the last 10 years.
Graham has driven the 2016 R220 since it was delivered in 2016, as far as I am aware T & B have never been called out to the machine as it has had no repair work other than servicing carried out in the last 6 years”.
The latest generation of Hyundai excavators have made huge technological, productivity and fuel economy leaps from Graham’s older machine with the introduction of new Stage V emissions technology thanks to a Cummins B6.7 diesel engine. There are also massive changes for the operator thanks to the new HX cabin and all of its driver upgrades. “I’ve had a look at the new HX model before we ordered the new machine, and I was very impressed with it.” Graham explains “It’s very spacious and is laid out very well. The controls are very light and responsive, and I really like the new 360° camera system fitted to the machine, it’s a really good addition.”
The long carriage machine comes with an operating weight of 22.38 tonnes with its 700mm track shoes and is seen by the team at L&W Wilson to be the ideal size of machine for undertaking much of the development work they do with clients like Story Homes. “We are able to carry a decent sized hammer for tackling some of the rocky sites we work on with this size of machine.” Graham explains “They’re also a good size for putting footings in and undertaking much of the site drainage works.”
Whilst the profits from the Miller bucket were going to the North East Homeless charity, Taylor and Braithwaite were also donating money to a charity nominated by Graham. “We know how hard it is for charities with the cost-of-living increase.” Ian comments “As a company we regularly donate to local charities and thought that as we have a long-term relationship with L&W Wilson, we would ask them to nominate a charity of their choice. Graham has chosen the Great North Air Ambulance as the recipient of a £500.00 donation. They do some amazing work across the North of England helping people in trouble and deserve as much help as possible.”
Both the donations from Taylor and Braithwaite and of Miller Groundbreaking carries on the UK construction industry’s long held generosity towards supporting worthy causes within the country. “We have taken a couple of the limited-edition Miller buckets, the second one being donated for auction at a Lighthouse Club construction industry event. “Ian commented “Not just because the money goes to a good charity, but because we have garnered a good, long-term relationship with the manufacturer. We find that good relationships makes doing business just a little bit easier.”