GARETH Evans has hailed the impact that becoming an official Steelwrist sales and service partner for Scotland has had on his business.
Dunbar-based Evans Engineering Solutions is now launching a recruitment drive as the company looks to expand over the next year and provide even quicker response times to customers.
Gareth reckons around 95% of the company’s workload now revolves around Steelwrist tiltrotators, with the Scottish market showing ever increasing demand for the products.
“About two years ago I started doing installs and services for Pat (Bulcock – former Steelwrist UK MD),” he said. “Then at the beginning of this year, I became an official service partner, agent, and supplier for Steelwrist in Scotland. It’s opened up a new market for our company.
“I would say Scotland is one of the biggest markets for Steelwrist. There’s definitely a lot of tiltrotators coming into the market in Scotland. There are probably more owner/operators here – smaller, independent companies that are able to see the benefits. They run their own machines and look after their kit so they’re willing to invest the money in it.”
Gareth cited another reason for the boom in tiltrotator sales as the fact that many large-scale construction projects are focused on ‘earthmoving efficiency’ and a desire for minimal ground disturbance. With environmental aims becoming ever more ambitious, the ability to carry out more operations without burning more fuel is a massive advantage.
Gareth revealed he had his eyes opened to the full capabilities of tiltrotators during a recent trip to Shetland. Customer Stuart Malcolmson – who has a Steelwrist X18 tiltrotator on a Volvo EC140 excavator – is carrying our reinstatement and landscaping work at a wind farm on a peat bog. He explained to Gareth how an incredible amount of work was able to be carried out from one spot while sitting on a road.
Another customer is Craig Reid, from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, who bought a Steelwrist X06 with gripper for his new Volvo EW60E wheeled excavator. “That machine has got pretty much every control you can have on a joystick,” Gareth explained. “It has a two-piece boom, wheel steering running through the joystick, F&R switch to control motion, and obviously the tiltrotator.”
Looking ahead, Gareth is looking to recruit to help facilitate growth and improve the firm’s offering further. In a competitive market, he cites service as being the main selling point.
“For me personally, it all comes down to service,” he said. “It’s my business so I feel personally obligated to make sure all my customers are up and running and satisfied. We won’t leave them high and dry. If something breaks down, we’re there as quick as we can.
“I’m trying to take on a couple of staff at the moment. The plan is to find the right guys, grow the business, and provide even quicker response times.”
