Two Hercules loaders have not only made a difference for a Queensland business, but also resulted in an invaluable relationship with Brisbane Mini Excavator Sales
Family-owned and operated Innisfail Machinery and Engineering Company (IMEC) has built a reputation for developing positive and long-standing relationships over 50 years, with no better example of this than its rapport with Brisbane Mini Excavator Sales (BMES).
IMEC’s roots lie as an engineering workshop and agricultural machinery supplier, but it has since transformed over the years into a major player in North Queensland’s construction industry.
Still based in Innisfail today, IMEC offers a variety of services, including agriculture works, civil contracting, plant hire, roadbuilding, and the supply of bulk raw materials, to name a few.
“We’re a business that’s evolved over a long time, while remaining in the same location in Innisfail,” owner Mick Buzolich says.
Buzolich’s first interaction with fellow family-owned and operated business BMES – Australia’s exclusive dealer of Hercules loaders – came around five years ago when he was looking to purchase a new wheel loader.
Travelling down to Brisbane, Buzolich was immediately impressed with not just the machinery in stock but also the knowledge of the friendly BMES team, especially sales representative Ross Ricca.
Like Buzolich, Ricca has experience as a civil contractor and is an ex-farmer from North Queensland, who has worked with agricultural and construction machines for more than 35 years.
This experience was a key reason that he was able to understand Buzolich’s needs, while providing open and honest answers about the eventual purchase.
“Ross is a down to earth guy, he was very honest with me, and he told us how it is,” Buzolich says.
“I felt that he was being truthful, and it turns out that he was. This was important because relationships are everything to me.
“If you have good relationships with people, things go well, so I carry that philosophy into IMEC and with our clients.”
Top deal
One of the biggest factors that stood out for Buzolich about the Hercules loaders was the price point, which he says was much more competitive than some of the other options he was looking at on the market.
As a result of the already positive interaction with Ricca and the bonus of the machines’ affordability, Buzolich procured not one, but two Hercules H1050 wheel loaders.
“The two Hercules loaders cost me less than it would to purchase one loader from a big brand OEM,” Buzolich says.
“Previously, every time I bought something that I deemed was a good deal, I sort of kicked myself when I realised I should have bought two.”
Since acquiring both 10.5-tonne machines, IMEC has been using the Hercules H1050 models to load raw materials for rural road re-sheeting.
Within this process, Buzolich says a grader will firstly clean the drains out, then clean the shape of the road. He adds once there is excess material on the road, the 147.5hp (110kW) Hercules machines will load and unload it on a truck.
After a truck has delivered the re-sheet and tipped it into a stockpile, Buzolich says the re-sheet is loaded into a body truck, which then spreads it out along the road.
“The Hercules loaders have been very good for us,” he says.
“They’re fit for our purpose, not to mention they have very good speed on the road as well – they’re very quick.”
With a dumping height of up to 3.2m, Buzolich has also been impressed with the reach of both machines, making it easier to load trucks in tight positions.
“When the bucket crowds, it holds all the material, so it doesn’t spill out,” he says.
The 1.5 cubic metre bucket capacity, 3-tonne rated load and the hydraulic quick hitch on each machine have also been standouts for Buzolich.
Ongoing relationship
Having used both machines now for several years, Buzolich couldn’t be happier with his purchase decision.
Besides their quality performance, procurement of the loader pair has also resulted in an invaluable relationship with Ricca and the rest of the BMES team.
“Ross will often give me a call and tell me he’s coming up to field days near us, so we’ll always go see him,” Buzolich says.
“When I go down to the Gold Coast and Brisbane I’ll always try and visit him too.”
Given the long distance between Innisfail and Brisbane, Buzolich has been pleasantly surprised with how smooth BMES’ aftersales support has been.
This was originally something that worried him, as he thought it would be hard to get spare parts quickly. However, he was quickly proven wrong, with BMES supplying required parts fast and effectively.
“The location difference played on my mind a bit, but Ross has made sure it’s been easy to get spare parts,” Buzolich says.
“The biggest key for me with my machinery is having spare parts available, and BMES always does.”
When asked if there was potential to purchase more machinery from BMES in the future, Buzolich was straight to the point.
“Absolutely we will. If I’m going to buy anything, I ask Ross what he has in stock, and if he can help me,” he says.
“Ross is down to earth, truthful, and the whole BMES team has got plenty of knowledge of the industry.”
For more information on the Hercules H1050 wheel loaders, visit www.brisbaneminiexcavators.com.au or call (07) 3807 4333.