Based in Sydney, ProCoat Group specialises in detailed residential swimming-pool builds, drainage, and site prep for the landscaping of newly constructed properties. The company has a clear preference for its choice of excavators.
ProCoat Group – Procoat – works across NSW with plans to venture into Queensland.
“We work on a variety of projects,” said owner Marty Meilcarz. “We do residential, commercial and government jobs, so the requirement to deliver quality work on time and on budget is imperative, but our specialty is detailed excavation, like swimming pools and horse arenas.”
Interesting projects completed by the company include the chimpanzees’ enclosure project at Taronga Zoo Sydney and bunker repairs at Twins Creek’s golf course.
Transition
Having started with a Dingo 11 years ago, Marty has seen his business and his fleet grow. ProCoat Group now runs 16 machines, and the 8.5-tonne excavators have proven the most efficient and effective.
After working with several different brands, Marty is now a fan of Hitachi equipment, and when Landscape Contractor visited his worksite, he had a ZX38 hard at work.
“It’s a really compact machine with a tilt hitch and an auto-grease system,” he said. “It gets into tight spots and it’s very stable. When we’re sitting on the edge of a pool it doesn’t go over with a full bucket of dirt, and I can curl the ZX38 into tight spots. It’s a great machine.”
While the performance of the Hitachi excavators has Marty smiling, there’s more to his purchasing decision than just the hardware.
Backup
The Hitachi ZX38 has proven itself over time, and Marty works it hard.
“It’s very durable. Definitely. I’m on the rockbreaker, flat out, pretty much all the time, and it doesn’t miss a beat,” he said.
What prompted Marty to look at Hitachi in the first place?
“They’ve got unreal hydraulics,” he said, “and the field servicing is a major factor. The Hitachi guys have been unreal. As soon as I make a phone call, or sometimes they’ll reach out to me if it’s due for a service, and within a day or two they’re out here and it’s all sorted.”
Confirmed
George Paradisis, in sales at Hitachi Construction Machinery, confirmed Marty’s impression of the ZX38.
“The ZX38 is a compact machine that lets Marty get into the tight-access work,” said George. “Having the stability of the extra counterweights and the extra reach, and the flexibility of the tilt hitch, means he gets a lot of the work done that he wouldn’t be able to do as quickly with a smaller machine.
“A lot of the feedback we get from Marty and other operators is the smoothness of the controls allowing them to be precise with the dig, especially next to utilities, water mains, or electrical services. Operators can be sure they’re not going to have any issue with accidentally moving and slewing.
“With the pool digs, Marty can be exactly where he needs to be, on the string line every time, and get the jobs done faster.”
Perhaps the most telling thought on Hitachi machinery was Marty’s parting comment: “This is my second Hitachi, and I’ll be going back for a third.”
To see video of the ZX38 in action with ProCoat, log on to landscapecontractor.com.au.
For more information on Hitachi construction machinery, visit hitachicm.com.au.
