Ian has been operating I & P McDonald Excavations at Ballarat for about five years, doing earthmoving for the building industry, in the region.
Until 6 months ago he used a 5t excavator for the work he specialises in: driveways, site cuts and plumbing trenches. Then Ian bought a 14.4t JCB JZ140D auto tracked excavator to complement it especially in site cuts.
“With the 5t machine the site cuts take a long time. The JCB now cuts this by two thirds,’’ Ian said. And since they’ve had it, he has picked up more work, that would have been beyond the capabilities of the 5t machine.
The JZ140D has a standard 4.7m boom and 2.5m dipper. Its Isuzu turbo-charged tier III 73kW engine, is renowned for reliability, durability and fuel efficiency, as well as being quiet and clean.
Ian said JCB’s zero tailswing, together with the blade at the front, was also “a must. You can turn with confidence, knowing that you are not going to break anything.’’
Ian said a big factor in his purchase was assistance and support from Tom Sheridan and Stuart Sealey at JCB Ballarat.
More information: I & P McDonald Excavations, 0429 878 006; JCB Ballarat, 03 5336 4145.
