With his Takeuchi TB210R, Maxwell Steele of Marlake Landscaping has found that good things really do come in small packages
The decision to move from hire to buy is never a light one for a small building business, and there’s more to consider than just the purchase price of a new excavator. It’s not just a time-saving tool on the job but can do the same in cutting the hours devoted to dealing with rental firms. It will help you move on to the next job more efficiently, can project a more professional image, and ease the physical strain on you and your workforce.
Marlake Landscaping operates across the bucolic county of Oxfordshire, with Maxwell Steele providing a full design and build service. From CAD drawing to finished garden or driveaway, the 28 year-old will guide his clients through the process, ensuring that their ‘outdoor room’ is a bespoke space.
“Rather than the new build experience, where every property owner gets the same, we want to make sure that our customers have something that’s unique to them. That demands a full consultation, including working through samples and drawings, all before we break ground. We’ll then install patios, sleeper beds, retaining walls, decking and much more around their needs.”
A high-quality job demands the right tools and that’s why Maxwell invested in a Takeuchi TB210R. “We’ve always used excavators, rather than digging anything out by hand,” Maxwell explains. “It’s easier on the lads and is more productive. We were hiring but I’ve had the Takeuchi micro for two years now and it’s certainly earnt its keep. It’s a very efficient materials handler because we can remove muck and hardcore out and shovel sub-base into barrows with it.”
At its current location, the 1.1 tonne Takeuchi TB210R has already removed the concrete slabs on what was a dated existing patio. That’s been replaced with the kind of porcelain paving that is very much in vogue amongst homeowners. For Maxwell, his investment has certainly been sound: “We’ve normally got at least three jobs on the go and, given our typical projects, we’re definitely using the machine every week.”
With the kind of work Maxwell undertakes, where’s he’s operating against existing structures, or tight spaces a short tail swing unit was a prerequisite. Added to that is a foldable TOPS/ROPS canopy that will get you through height restricted areas, such as smaller garages.
Moreover, an expanding track frame tucks in to a width of just 750mm, which allows it to easily navigate garden gates or narrow alleyways between properties. Extended to its 1,250mm maximum, however – with the adjustable dozer blade deployed – and you have a reassuringly stable machine. There’s power in a compact package here with a maximum dig depth of 1,755mm, together with a dump height 2,120mm. That generous working range is joined by the choice of low and high speed travel.
“I like the joystick digging controls and it’s very smooth in use,” continues Maxwell. “At the same time, we can comfortably transport it, with our four buckets, on a trailer and tow it with either our double cab Ford Transit tipper, VW Amarok or Land Rover.
“The 900mm bucket will get through most things, especially when armed with a tooth bucket, and even when we ask it to do some pretty hard graft it cracks on. We’ve also got a 150mm trenching bucket from CBL as well, which is good for drainage, pipe and cable work, so it’s a real multi-tasker.”
Dealer CBL (Clive Barford Ltd), who represent Takeuchi across the whole of southern Britain, supplied Maxwell with his TB210R and he’s full of praise for the service. “They got the digger to me just a week after I ordered it and have been very supportive on the handover and throughout.”
For builders who are weighed down with the threat of tool theft, the Takeuchi Security System (TSS) means only programmed keys can start it. Any unprogrammed key will alert the owner via VDU and alarm.
“When you’re a small firm you need all the help you can get,” concludes Maxwell. “My Takeuchi has allowed me to concentrate on other areas of the business and, ultimately, that will help us grow. I’m looking at a larger 3-tonne at some stage – and possibly even a 9 tonne – so we can take on larger jobs. With the experience we’ve had with Takeuchi, and the dealer CBL, we’ll be going back to them both.”
For further information on Marlake Landscaping visit Marlake Landscaping.
If you would like to find out more about the Takeuchi TB210R visit TB210R Compact Excavator – Takeuchi Mfg. UK Ltd.
Details of the products and services provided by Takeuchi dealer CBL can be found here: CBL – Plant Hire | Sales | Service | Parts.
