Like any other hard-working and successful firm, Mills Albert relies on solid machinery technology, power, and back-up support, and Porter Equipment is ready on the sideline
In a corner of forestry, roading, and civil engineering construction company Mills Albert’s yard, near Paraparaumu on the Kāpiti Coast, sits a little Hyundai R17Z-9A mini excavator on a tandem trailer. The machine isn’t remarkable in itself: it’s one of many items on the growing asset list of this impressive family-run company.
“We’re in a bit of a growth phase at the moment, so our asset list has expanded,” says Mills Albert workshop manager, Jamie Jones.
“We’re definitely not biased to brands, as you can see from our yard, but yes, we obviously want reliable machines that’ll do what we need them to do without breaking down all the time or whatever. A good rep who will get an answer for you when you need it is really important. So far, the relationship we’ve built with Josh Hunter and Porter Equipment has been great.”
Jamie reckons that speaks volumes about the company behind the machinery. He says he’s a firm believer in trusting the person at the other end of the phone, as opposed to just the brand name on the side of the machine.
While BOMAG is Mills Albert’s preferred brand of roller, the Hyundai nameplate is relatively new around these parts.
The company — which was founded in 2002 by David Mills and Lisa Mills-Albert, alongside Paul Albert, and has now grown to employ a team of more than 100 — has been running a Hyundai HL740 wheel loader at various key sites for the past decade. Part of an annual ‘fit-for-purpose’ review programme Jamie has implemented ensures the company’s fleet remains as lean, efficient, and environmentally positive as possible.
“It’s a common thing for construction companies where you procure a machine for a job and think ‘Ah well, once that’s done, there will definitely be more work for it’. But then if you look at the books and realise that machine’s barely doing 20 hours a month or whatever, then you have to take a hard look at whether it’s worth having that asset on the fleet.”
As a resource, Porter Equipment’s extensive network has come in handy for Jamie in regard to machine procurement and replacement.
“The responsiveness from Porters is the thing that really impresses, as well as their ability to secure options for you regardless of the brand,” says Jamie.
On the excavator front, the Hyundai HX235LC-R currently working on a suburban stormwater project in Paraparaumu is the sole tracked excavator from the Korean heavy construction manufacturer on the Mills Albert fleet at present.
Operator Brent Miller says he’s been very impressed with it so far.
“The new HX is really good: a big step up from the older machines,” Brent affirms. “It’s very comfortable to work in, and the view out into the trench is really good.
“Plus, you have the camera system, so it’s got all the bells and whistles. It’s got a lot of power, which will be handy because the next job it’s going to is a big one.”
Jamie elaborates that once backfill duties are completed here in Paraparaumu, the 24-tonner will be moving to a large-scale sewer pipe upgrade project at Otaki, further up the line.
There, it will be one of 18 Mills Albert machines tasked with replacing 800mm PE pipe and 40 manholes across a five-kilometre stretch. As part of its service commitment to Mills Albert, Porter Equipment has worked with Jamie to implement strict in-field support protocols, ensuring the company — which has machinery and staff on multiple worksites across the Greater Wellington region, the Wairarapa, Whanganui District, and even up into Taranaki and the Central Plateau — knows the distributor has its back.
“If a machine is down for a certain number of hours, Porters’ service techs kick into gear. If a machine is down for 32 hours, then there will be a hire machine ready to go to replace it. We went out to all our suppliers looking for this kind of responsiveness, and Porters can supply absolutely everything we need.
“It’s beneficial for both us and them to work well together and yeah, that’s definitely the case. I couldn’t be happier with the service Porter Equipment gives us.”
That’s service and support greatly received, whether out on the job site near their Kāpiti Coast base or anywhere else in the country the growing business chooses to work.
Images by Cameron Officer