Civil Works Taranaki’s newest addition, the Hyundai HX130A LCR excavator, is already proving indispensable on large-scale projects
While Civil Works Taranaki is a relatively young company, having only existed for one-and-a-half years, owner Phil Walker has been in the contracting game for over four decades.
“Prior to forming Civil Works Taranaki, I worked for Taranaki Civil for eight or nine years, and then they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” he tells me when I catch up with him at a large-scale roundabout install project being run by main contractor Fulton Hogan, just outside the Taranaki township of Waitara, about 15km north of downtown New Plymouth.
When the owners of Taranaki Civil decided to close up shop, Phil was offered the opportunity to purchase the company’s equipment. With it came a lengthy order book of forward work that will soon see his team of three personnel double to six.
“The bulk of our work consists of large drainage projects, although we also handle retaining and roading. We don’t do residential work, so the bigger the project, the better for us. Primarily, we work for other companies like Fulton Hogan or Wheeler Contracting.”
With a 90-section subdivision project about to start – keeping half of Phil’s crew busy for at least a year – the Civil Works Taranaki machine fleet has had to expand. His new 13-tonne Hyundai HX130A LCR crawler excavator might have only arrived a fortnight before Deals On Wheels pays him a visit, but Phil says it’s been flat out since it was delivered.
“We needed it here for this project right away, so to be honest, we haven’t even had the chance to take a day and learn some of the new tricks it has onboard. But it’s going to be idle for a few days coming up, so me and the guys will take some time to get to grips with the new features on it then.”
While some of the updates to Hyundai’s latest HX series machines remain to be discovered, Hyundai heavy construction equipment isn’t entirely new to Phil. He already has an older Hyundai 80CR-9 excavator on the fleet, and that’s the main reason why investing in the brand again was a no-brainer for him.
“I really like the Hyundais, they’re great machines,” he affirms. “They get better and better, and this new one is so much smoother than other machines I’ve used over the years. We’re digging around the main fibre cable to Auckland on this site, so we must be extremely precise. For this sort of high-risk work, you need a machine that gives you smooth operation and really good feedback through the controls. Not just any digger would be ideal for this sort of job.”
Helping optimise that smooth operation are several standard and optional technologies onboard the Hyundai HX130A LCR – upgrades that have made the new HX range of crawler excavators find fast favour with all sorts of civil contractors across the country.
Right: The machine offers better speed control for the operator
These include the option of Hyundai’s Fine Swing Control system, which enables smooth movement at the start and stop of the swing operation and also works to reduce shaking when lifting. The optional Proportional Auxiliary Hydraulic control switch offers the operator better speed control, while the boom-up speed, compared to swing speed, can be adjusted to suit the task at hand. The machine also offers smooth ‘one pedal’ straight travel, ideal for long-distance movement across a job site.
The HX series also features an upgraded Intelligent Power Control (IPC) system. The primary function of the IPC is to optimise pump flow rates and available power to suit specific working conditions through individual pump control. The upshot is that the machine is never underpowered or overstressed, even when performing various tasks throughout the working day.
With excellent lifting capacity and digging force, Phil says the Hyundai HX130A LCR gives him all the grunt he needs, and in a great overall package.
“Thirteen tonnes is the sweet spot for us. Not just in terms of the machine’s capabilities at that size, but it also means we can fit it on an eight-wheel transporter. The way our yard is laid out, we can’t get big artic transporters in and out easily, so the eight-wheeler is our only option.”
Back on-site, the fact that the Hyundai HX130A LCR boasts a ‘zero swing’ body design is a big benefit to Phil as well.
“We’re mainly operating in tight urban settings, or, like here, alongside public roads, so having the digger working within its own footprint is essential for safety and just getting on with the job.”
Right: …and can perform a variety of tasks throughout the day
Speaking of safety, one immediately noticeable benefit Phil appreciates about the new machine is its upgraded camera system. Hyundai’s Advanced Around View Monitoring camera system provides the operator with a comprehensive view of the machine’s surroundings, ensuring full visibility in all directions. The system even includes a 3D ‘bird’s-eye view’ of the excavator in real-time, giving the operator a ‘top-down’ view of where the machine is positioned.
The system also includes Intelligent Moving Object Detection, which alerts the operator when people or objects are detected within the machine’s operating range (up to 5m away). Since drainage work is Phil’s primary day-to-day task – and one that often involves crew members working close to the machine – he says that the Hyundai HX130A LCR’s modifiable operating software allows him to turn off the Intelligent Moving Object Detection feature when necessary, preventing the alarm from sounding continuously.
The new Civil Works Taranaki excavator arrived with a few spec changes that Phil requested – changes that he says Hyundai heavy construction equipment distributor, Porter Equipment, was only too happy to sort prior to delivery.
“We don’t run diggers over 10 tonnes with blades, so I had them remove that. We complete a lot of drainage work through swampy land and a blade just drags you down. We also run a double ram hitch because we use a compactor attachment a lot. The 90-degree hitches aren’t suitable for that.”
In all, Phil found the ordering process very easy, guaranteeing the machine delivered to the site met his exact requirements for the busy months ahead.
“The backup you get through Porters is superb,” he says. “[Taranaki territory manager] James Adlington is great to deal with, and there’s always a solid answer to any question you might have.”
In addition to the two Hyundai crawler excavators, Phil also runs a four-tonne excavator, which he’ll be looking to upgrade in the near future.
“The replacement for that machine will be a Hyundai too. Or, if not, I will still source what I need through Porters regardless. You can’t go wrong with them on the case. And Hyundai diggers have proven themselves extremely capable for me, so I wouldn’t go anywhere else.”
Images by Cameron Officer