Nurden Sticks With Kubota For 8 Tonne Heavyweight

• 
• 17th August 2008
• Materials Handling
 

 

Building contractor and plant hirer A.C. Nurden Ltd has added an 8 tonne Kubota KX080-3 model to its fleet, maintaining a 27-year connection with the world leading mini excavator manufacturer.

The Malmesbury, Wiltshire, business has been a Kubota user since it was established in 1980, and has operated an all-Kubota mini fleet for the past 15 years. It was one of the first companies to buy a Kubota mini excavator after the Japanese company entered the UK market in 1979.

Amongst its 30 strong fleet of Kubota machines are models ranging in size from 0.85 up to 3 tonne, plus the latest 8 tonner which is hired out with an operator.

Managing director Andy Nurden said: "I had a 7 tonner from another manufacturer a few years ago for a specific hire contract project, but when it was over we had trouble hiring it out and I got rid of it. Times have changed and there's now a growing demand for 7 and 8 tonne machines."

"I had been cross-hiring to keep our customers happy until we bought the KX080-3 after seeing it demonstrated and being impressed with its capabilities."

"As building sites get tighter, with houses packed in, there's not a lot of space to work, which is where the Kubota scores. It has a king post that allows the arm to swivel round 180 degrees, which is a big advantage over its competitors. It's a welcome addition to the Kubota range and we now have customers queuing up for it."

It was purchased from Kubota distributor Harper Plant, of Salisbury, who supplied it with a set of rubber pads in addition to the standard metal tracks. This gives it added versatility, with the metal providing excellent traction on muddy soil and the rubber tracks used on tarmac.

Andy Nurden said the machine's operator likes the roomy, air conditioned cab, while the built-in fuel pump for sucking up fuel from bowsers enables a cleaner site with improved safety.

The KX080-3 has recently been on hire carrying out site excavation work for light industrial workshops being built in the Wiltshire countryside.

It's the largest machine in the Kubota range, a high performance 8 tonner that offers state-of-the-art technology as standard. It provides class-leading performance, with exceptional safety, durability, reliability and comfort, together with low running costs and ease of servicing.

Standard features include Kubota's unique key-based 'ANTI-THEFT' system to combat the increasing theft of construction plant, and a new adjustable maximum oil flow on the auxiliary circuit to optimise the use of attachments.

It delivers a reduced rear-tail swing radius that takes it into the tightest spots, coupled with improved machine stability. The rear overhang features cast-iron protectors to significantly reduce the chances of damage to the machine when working in restricted space.

Easy access is provided to all the critical service points, which are conveniently located underneath three bonnets.

One of the first pieces of plant bought by Andy Nurden when he became a building contractor back in 1980 was a 1.25 tonne Kubota KH31 model, which he replaced after seven years of reliable service.

A trained Cotswold tiler and thatcher, soon after setting up the building business he started a plant hire operation "as there was nowhere at the time in the Malmesbury area to hire plant from."

Today, the firm has 400 pieces of plant ranging from electric mixers to teleporters, which are used on its own building projects or hired out.

Hire customers range from major national builders working within a 50 miles radius to local homeowners who choose the smaller Kubota models to help them with work such as digging out garden ponds.

"As far as minis are concerned, I must have tried all the competitors' machines over the years and consider Kubota to be head and shoulders above them all," said Andy Nurden. "They are well engineered and extremely reliable and I can't remember when we last had a breakdown. I have no trouble hiring them out and our customers are very pleased with them."

"They are not perhaps the cheapest minis on the market but it's the old story that you get what you pay for. We keep them on average for four or five years. They are maintained in our own fitting shop and serviced once a month, which helps to keep them in tip-top condition so that they maintain their excellent resale value."

He prefers to standardise on plant as it makes the work of his fitters easier, and Kubota represents the single biggest machine holding.

"I have tried other mini excavators but always come back to Kubota. I have not bought any other make in the past 15 years."

Nurden also operates a builders' merchants where a Kubota loading shovel is used for general yard duties.

"Kubota machines have played a big part in the growth of our business," said Andy Nurden. "As well as being reliable they look sleek and modern and present themselves well on site, so people have a good impression of us as a go-ahead company.

"I have dealt with Harper Plant since they took over the Kubota franchise in 2004 and have a good working relationship with their managing director, Andy Harper. Nothing is too much trouble for them and they provide a good back-up service for spare parts, with quick delivery."

Andy Harper added: "We are pleased to be the supplier of Kubota mini excavators to A.C. Nurden and look forward to looking after all their requirements in the future." 

Kubota is the UK, European and world leader in mini excavators and provides the widest range of minis available from a single manufacturer.

Following the introduction of the KX080-3 customers can now select from 18 base models, spanning the weight range from 850kg to 8 tonnes, and including the largest selection of increasingly popular zero tail swing machines.

With a legendary reputation for quality, performance, reliability and excellent resale values, their productivity and versatility make them the ideal tool for many different applications and end-users, from civil engineering to landscaping and plant hire companies to owner operators.

Further information about the market-leading Kubota mini excavators range can be obtained from Kubota (UK) Ltd - Construction Equipment Division, Dormer Road, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3UN, or contact the Kubota response hotline on Tel: 01283 227593, Fax: 01283 552528, or Email: invest@kubota.co.uk

 

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• Hub-4 Profile of Kubota (UK) Ltd
• Kubota (UK) Ltd Company Website