Designer Image is a company which sticks with Hitachi, and which is still very much ‘in the pink’.
‘Designer Image…Designer Image…’
We mused away at the company name with the very faintest of bells ringing somewhere in the dim recesses of our collective noggins.
Then suddenly the memory became crystal clear: Designer Image, and its owner, Baden Fallon, had shown us a bright-pink Hitachi ZX17U back in the September/October 2023 issue.
Baden had been raising awareness of breast cancer, something which had closely affected a staff member.
We were happy that situation had a good outcome, and we were keen to catch up and hear how things were going with Baden and Designer Image.
Recap
For those who may not remember, Designer Image is a south-east Queensland residential landscape construction outfit. The company’s specialty is structural landscaping, complemented with soft landscaping services.
Designer Image has been successfully completing residential projects in both new-build areas and existing suburbs since 2002, and offers services which include all aspects of earthworks, retaining walls, fencing, decks, pool restorations and installation of other external features.
Brisbane-based Baden is a remarkably calm sort of bloke, considering the size of his company and the number of machines he has to care for. “We have 15 excavators,” he told Landscape Contractor, sounding as though he wished he had more. “They’re all Hitachi.”
The voice of experience
We were a little staggered at the number and asked how long Designer Image had been using Hitachi.
“I’ve had Hitachis for about eight years now,” he recalled. “We run machines from 1.7 tonne through eight tonne.”
Obviously Baden and Designer Images are happy with Hitachi machinery, and we wondered if that was due to any specific feature or facet of the excavators.
“It’s the reliability,” said Baden without hesitation. “We don’t want things breaking down, and we know we can totally count on the brand service from Hitachi
“That’s the big one.”
The personnel touch
Baden went to outline how important it was to have a good relationship with a supplier, and how his contact, Julian Korherr from Hitachi in Brisbane’s north, was a great example.
“We get really good service with Hitachi,” explained Baden. “But there’s lots of different things that are good.
“The brand itself is obviously a big part of it. Hitachi owns Hitachi. We get to deal directly with the manufacturer when we’re buying something. When we’re looking at a machine through another company in Brisbane they’re generally a dealer. When we buy a Hitachi we’re buying directly from Hitachi.”
The reliability of the machinery was, of course, a big factor, and Designer Image was particularly happy with its 15 excavators.
“The equipment’s very good,” said Baden thoughtfully. “No problem at all. “If ever anything does go wrong, Julian and Hitachi come to our rescue very quickly.”
All the way
Baden’s high opinion of both his Hitachi machinery and the company itself was obvious, and it was equally clear it was an opinion built on a great deal of experience and exceptional service.
When a sizable company is prepared to put its faith in a specific manufacturer, and make the kind of investment needed to own and run a fleet of 15 excavators, that’s a very strong recommendation indeed.
That’s Designer Image and Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia.
To explore the Hitachi range of excavators and equipment, click here: hitachicm.com.au.