Run by Mark and Andrea Davies, the fleet of tractors, excavators, trenchers and rollers presented the couple with an ongoing logistics challenge, which they set about solving by looking at what was on offer to transport their high value equipment.
Market research led them to Northern Irish company NC Engineering, manufacturers of a range of industrial and agricultural equipment; they customised some commercial low-loaders and dump trailers to the Davies’ specifications, which in due course arrived in New Zealand.
Running the units daily convinced Mark (Welshy) Davies that the superior build quality, practicality and durability of the trailers would be a great fit for other civil and agricultural contractors and farmers. So much so, that he has set up a new venture to promote, retail and import NC trailers to NZ.
A family owned business, NC Engineering was set up in 1976 and operates from a 3.25ha site in County Armagh. Alongside a range of commercial trailers, the company specialises in low-loaders in single, tandem axle and tridem formats. Gross vehicle weights can be accommodated from 8.3 tonnes with the single axle unit, through 24 tonnes on a dual to 33 tonnes on a triple-axle.
Attention to detail sees standard equipment including 50mm floors, beavertails with spring-assisted 700mm wide ramps, hydraulic brakes, full lighting kits and sprung drawbars. Optional upgrades include bolt-on bale cheese wedges, track guides, front and side outriggers, mantis ramps and hydraulic beavertails.
In the dump trailer sector, in which NC offers five targeted ranges, the 300 series trailers find favour with agricultural contractors moving into civil work. With capacities from 10 - 25 tonnes and volumes of 4.3 - 11.20 cubic metres, the 300 series are built wide and low for stability and easy loading, and have a high rear pivot point that combines with tip angles of up to 77 degrees for easy stockpiling of spoil.
The body of the 300s is built with an 8mm thick floor, 5mm sides with heavy duty horizontal bulge bars, and the patented tail door which operates without the need for hydraulics.
Running gear uses axles from 80mm to 127mm section, spring drawbars, hydraulic brakes up to 420mm x 180mm and tyre equipment up to 445-65 x 22.5
For transport operations, commercial spec step-frame trailers are available in tandem or triple-axle set-ups with ratings of 28 -- 38 tonnes, with a range of options making them customisable for specific operations.
Summing up the decision to enter into a new venture, with Jeff Hill appointed sales manager, Welshy says the company set out to solve its own logistics problems, which it did via the expertise offered by NC.
“The family-owned business operates with the same principles as our own, which includes having continuous contact with the customer to keep them informed how a job is progressing,” he told Rural News.
“The addition of the NC trailer ranges to our offering will allow other contractors to see the quality of European engineering.”
