UK plant hire firm makes significant investment in Hitachi fleet

In its largest order with Hitachi Construction Machinery (UK) (HCMUK) to date, Keyway has purchased 96 new machines, bringing the total of Hitachi models in its fleet to more than 400 units. The new deliveries between April and August 2015 range from two to 35-tonne excavators, including several short-tail swing models, and the company’s first wheeled excavator, the ZX140W-5.

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The nationwide plant-hire company is also considering the purchase of two ZH210LC-5 hybrid excavators, six ZW-5 wheel loaders and several other Zaxis-5 wheeled excavators. The order could be extended up to 150 machines before the end of March 2016.

This significant investment coincides with Keyway’s plans to open a new facility in Avonmouth, which will be perfectly located to serve the Bristol market. The family-run business, established in 1966, focuses mainly on the south-west England from its depot in Gloucester.

Part of the McGurk Group, Keyway specialises in operated and self-drive plant hire, supplies aggregates, and offers earthmoving, demolition and recycling, transport and waste removal services. More than 200 people are employed in its construction-related activities, which make up half of the McGurk Group’s £50m annual turnover.

Keyway founder Eamonn McGurk says: “We’ve seen a 30-40% growth, through acquisitions and widening our geographical reach, all along the M5 to the south coast of England, across the south-west. We work on between 100 and 200 projects at any one time nationwide.

“Our work on the nuclear plant at Hinckley Point and for the Environment Agency requires highly efficient low-emission machines, such as Zaxis-5 excavators. Working on housing sites also requires machines with the cleanest emissions possible.”

Several factors were involved in Keyway’s decision to strengthen its Hitachi fleet, including brand recognition, quality of the machines and the after-sales support provided by HCMUK. “Our customers ask for Hitachi by name,” says Eamonn. “The technology in Japan is renowned around the world as the best, its equipment is efficient and the machines have a high resale value.”

Service and maintenance are mostly carried out in-house, but some Keyway machines are registered on contracts with HCMUK. “The Hitachi team provide an excellent service and they really understand their products. The parts are of a high quality and the supply chain is excellent. In terms of the build quality, fault diagnostics and problem-solving, Hitachi exceeds the competition.”