MV Kelly celebrated 20-years in business in 2015. The firm carries out groundworks, road, sewers and associated infrastructure for blue chip housebuilders and has completed over 500 projects since it began in 1995.
Holding an all-Hitachi excavator fleet comprising in the region of 300 machines, Hitachi has been MV Kelly’s preferred brand since the company’s inception. “There are four main reasons for purchasing Hitachi” said MV Kelly’s plant manager, Doug Curran, “ability, reliability, service and residual value.” The company were seeking similar qualities when they were looking for a new supplier of hitches and buckets to support its Hitachi fleet.
Curran said: “We were recommended to Hill Engineering by Hitachi, who are very familiar with Hill’s ability for quality bespoke engineering. We have specific requirements for our buckets and all are modified to our own specifications.”
Hill Engineering’s technical team flew over to Birmingham to meet M V Kelly’s operational management and operators.
Ian Hill, MD of Hill Engineering, worked from the parameters with his engineers back at the company’s factory in Newry, Northern Ireland. After some extensive R&D, a solid bucket design was created, which was the perfect design for MV Kelly – this successful modification and the quality of the fabrication secured the deal for Hill Engineering.
The buckets were supplied with Hill’s TEFRA Coupler – a first for MV Kelly and the company’s fleet. “This is the first time we have used the Hill coupler,” said Curran, “initial reports have been very good. Our operators have reported that the operation (opening and closing) time of the coupler is much quicker than others, and they are a strong and very well made hitch. The design and location of the lifting eye mounted centrally is also perfect for our operations.”
MV Kelly has taken delivery of its first 60 sets of buckets and couplers and a further 100 are on order – the deal is said to be worth in the region of £1.5million (€1.9 million).
